Mode to Chords

I met this guy at the beach and he was explaining modes to me- he was talkin' about playing modes like chords. He'd play in E modal:

-------------
-------------
-------------
-2--4--5--7--
-3--5--7--9--
-0--0--0--0--
and so on. That's cool and everything, but how do you extend the chords? He said something about what would be like the minor or suspended, but he said it too fast and I didn't catch it. Could someone help?