Noun A content work that qualifies the meaning





















- Slides: 21
Noun: A content work that qualifies the meaning of a noun or a verb.
• Looking under the bed, my birthday gift was spotted. -Looking under the bed, I spotted my birthday gift. • Wrapped in silver foil, I ate my hamburger. -I ate my hamburger that had been wrapped in silver foil. • Shining in the distance, I saw a star. -I saw a star shining in the distance.
Limiting Modifiers: Only, Just, Even, Almost, and Nearly -Limiting modifiers should be before the word they modify. • Doctors in Buffalo, New York just recently conducted a study. • The doctors studied nearly 50 students taking medication for procrastination. • A planner was given to only half the students.
• A misplaced modifier can result in a completely different meaning, because the modifier is modifying another object. -Example: The fire fighter raced into the building, sweating profusely. Sweating profusely, the fire fighter raced into the building.
• The bartender served beer to the patrons in a glass. -The bartender served beer in a glass to the patrons. • Johnny Knoxville ate tacos with dirty hands. -With dirty hands, Johnny Knoxville ate burgers.
Awkwardly Placed Modifiers Awkward sentence: Harry, studying for his O. W. L. S. , was interrupted by a dragon. Studying for his O. W. L. S. , Harry was interrupted by a dragon. Keep it simple!
Subject+Verb+Modifier+Object Ron received an embarrassing howler. The modifier should always go right next to the object it’s modifying. An adverb should NEVER separate a verb from its object!
What is an infinitive? An infinitive consists of “to” and the base form of a verb. Examples: to laugh, to read, to think.
Splitting an infinitive occurs when a modifier is placed between “to” and the verb. Awkward: He urged me to if possible visit the museum. Better: He urged me to visit the museum if possible.
Using split infinitives to avoid awkwardness Awkward: We wanted actually to go to the park for once. Better: We wanted to actually go to the park for once.
When both splitting infinitives and not splitting infinitives sound alright. Alright: He asked to quickly go to the library. Better: He asked to go to the library quickly.
• A modifier that doesn’t refer to anything specific in the sentence. • They suggest but don’t name an actor. • Examples -After going to the library, the essay was finished. -Did the essay go to the library? -While eating lunch, the electricity went out. -Was the electricity eating lunch?
• Participial phrase -Deciding to play college football, Mr. and Mrs. Wright hugged Andrew. -When Andrew decided to play college football, Mr. and Mrs. Wright hugged him. • Preposition followed by a gerund phrase -After becoming a princess, the paparazzi followed her. -After becoming a princess, Diana was followed by paparazzi.
Common Kinds of Dangling Modifiers • Infinitive phrase -To pass the test, the review should be completed. -To pass the test, Abby had to complete the review. • Elliptical clause -Though not an official member, the band welcomed Sally with open arms. -Though Sally wasn’t an official member, the bank welcomed her with open arms.
• Name the actor in the modifier • Name the actor in the subject of the sentence Don’t Forget: You can’t fix a dangling modifier just by moving it.
To pass the test, the review should be completed. A) Split infinitive B) Misplaced modifier C) Dangling modifier – correct answer D) Limiting modifier He urged me to if possible visit the museum A) Limiting modifier B) Split infinitive – correct answer C) Misplaced modifier D) Dangling modifier
Wrapped in silver foil, I ate my hamburger A) Misplaced modifier – correct answer B) Split infinitive C) Dangling modifier D) Limiting modifier A planner was given to only half the students. A) Dangling modifier B) Limiting modifier – correct answer C) Split infinitive D) Misplaced modifier
The fire fighter raced into the building, sweating profusely. A) Misplaced modifier – correct answer B) Limiting modifier C) Dangling modifier D) Split infinitive After becoming a princess, the paparazzi followed her. A) Limiting modifier B) Split infinitive C) Misplaced modifier D) Dangling modifier – correct answer
Looking under the bed, my birthday gift was spotted A) Dangling modifier B) Limiting modifier C) Split modifier D) Misplaced modifier – correct answer He asked to quickly go to the library. A) Split infinitive – correct answer B) Misplaced modifier C) Dangling modifier D) Limiting modifier
The bartender served beer to the patrons in a glass. A) Dangling modifier B) Limiting modifier C) Misplaced modifier – correct answer D) Split infinitive Deciding to play college football, Mr. and Mrs. Wright hugged Andrew. A) Split infinitive B) Limiting modifier C) Dangling modifier – correct answer D) Misplaced modifier