Putting Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers In Their Place

Misplaced Modifiers • A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is incorrectly separated from

Misplaced Modifiers • Misplaced modifier: Sam bought a used car from a local dealer

Misplaced Modifiers • Misplaced modifier: The robin built a nest at the back of

Misplaced Modifiers • Misplaced modifier: Christie almost sneezed fifteen times last evening. • Corrected

Dangling Modifiers • A modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away

Dangling Modifiers • Dangling modifier: Sitting in the dentist’s chair, the sound of the

Dangling Modifiers • Dangling modifier: Soaring through the sky, Brenda watched the highpowered jet.

Now for some practice… Go to the following website for some interactive exercises: •

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Putting Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers In Their Place

Misplaced Modifiers • A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is incorrectly separated from the word or words that it describes. • Misplaced modifiers seem to describe words that the author did not intend them to describe. • When modifiers are misplaced, the reader may misunderstand the sentence. • Generally, the solution is to place the modifier as close as possible to the word or words it describes.

Misplaced Modifiers • Misplaced modifier: Sam bought a used car from a local dealer with a smoky tailpipe. • Corrected version: Sam bought a used car with a smoky tailpipe from a local dealer.

Misplaced Modifiers • Misplaced modifier: The robin built a nest at the back of our house of grass and string. • Corrected version: The robin built a nest of grass and string at the back of our house.

Misplaced Modifiers • Misplaced modifier: Christie almost sneezed fifteen times last evening. • Corrected version: Christie sneezed almost fifteen times last evening.

Dangling Modifiers • A modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. Otherwise, the modifier is said to be dangling, and the sentence takes on an unintended meaning.

Dangling Modifiers • Dangling modifier: Sitting in the dentist’s chair, the sound of the drill made Larry sweat. • Corrected version: As Larry was sitting in the dentist’s chair, the sound of the drill made him sweat.

Dangling Modifiers • Dangling modifier: Sitting in the dentist’s chair, the sound of the drill made Larry sweat. • Corrected version: Sitting in the dentist’s chair, Larry sweated at the sound of the drill.

Dangling Modifiers • Dangling modifier: Soaring through the sky, Brenda watched the highpowered jet. • Corrected version: Brenda watched the high-powered jet soaring through the sky.

Now for some practice… Go to the following website for some interactive exercises: • www. webster. commnet. edu/grammar/quiz_list. ht m Scroll down to the heading “Structural Flaws” and do the exercises called “Modifier Placement” and “Modifier Placement II”.