THE USE AND MISUSE OF MODIFIER MAGIC NEC

THE USE AND MISUSE OF MODIFIER MAGIC NEC FACET Center

What is a Modifier? A word or groups of words that describes, limits, or qualifies the meaning of another word of phrase. Modifiers can be a word, a phrase, or a clause. For example: The silver fish (word) The fish in the pond (phrase) The fish that he caught (clause) A sentence example: The little boy standing by the concession stand reminds me of my brother. What are the modifiers?

Can you imagine a world without modifiers? Click the doors to enter the Grammar Graveyard!

Click on Each Grave to See Who is Buried There!

A world without modifiers is a deathly boring world. Modifiers bring your sentences to life. He gave her the rose. He gave her the scarlet red rose he picked from the sweet-smelling garden. I sat by the ocean. I sat by the crystal blue ocean as the roaring and foamy waves crashed into the beach. She watched the sunset. She watched the blood red sun quickly sink below the horizon.

The Purpose of Modifiers To add detail to sentences. To make sentences more interesting. To create clearer communication when correctly used. Modifiers can work magic by bringing your writing to life.

Like all magical powers, modifiers can be used for good or evil. When used incorrectly modifiers can cause problems such as: Misplaced modifiers Dangling modifiers These modifier problems can result in sentences that are awkward, misleading, or unintentionally humorous.

Misplaced Modifiers Misplaced modifiers are modifiers that are not put in the right place in a sentence. They can describe the wrong word and change the intended meaning of the sentence. For Example: Covered puppy. in mud, Mark wiped off the trembling Who is covered in mud? The puppy is muddy. But it sounds like Mark is covered in mud. How could we correct this sentence? Mark wiped off the trembling puppy covered in mud.

To avoid misplaced modifiers, make sure to place the modifier as close to the item it modifies as possible. For example: Smelling sour, Tamara threw away the milk. Put that arm down Was it Tamara that smelled Tamara…. . whoa, sour? seriously. Tamara is not smelling sour, the milk is. “Smelling sour” is the modifier and “milk” is the item being modified.

…. So to correct the sentence, we need to bring the modifier (sour smelling) and the noun being modified (milk) closer together. They’re sometimes shy and need a little help…. . Now we together Before Afterhave successfully I’mwetired of Milk, I Milk, just brought think need tothat spend being apart. I modified. want to the modifier and the word is The some time apart. closer It’s notbe you, it’s me. to you. original sentence read: I agree Sour smelling, Tamara threw out the milk. Smelling, our long Sour Smelling distance relationship wasn’t working. Milk The corrected sentence should read: Tamara threw out the sour smelling milk.

Another example: Shooting lasers out of his eyes, the mad scientist was no match for the robot. Was the scientist shooting lasers out of his eyes? Corrected: The doctor was no match for the robot shooting lasers out of his eyes.

Another Example: Hidden in a fortune cookie, Sue found the engagement ring. What was Sue doing in the cookie? How can we correct this sentence and free Sue from the cookie? Sue found the engagement ring hidden in a fortune cookie.

Misplaced groups of words do not cause the only problems……. . Single words can also cause trouble. The cheese stands alone…. and he is one stinky cheese.

Behold all the possibilities that the Use your modifiers varying placement of only one word carefully, because I am in your computer can create. keeping it going…and watching What do each of these sentences say: you. Only gerbils like to run in wheels. Gerbils are the only animals that like to run in wheels. Gerbils only like to run in wheels. Gerbils won’t run in other places besides the wheel. Gerbils like only to run in wheels. Running in wheels is the only activity that gives gerbils pleasure.

For Example: Jamie almost decided that $20 was too much to pay for a ticket. Jamie decided that almost $20 was too much to pay for a ticket. What is going on here? Did Jamie almost decide not to buy the ticket, or did she think that a price close to $20 was too expensive? The placement of the word “almost” matters.

For Example: Yup, that cake is exactly flat. Sam followed the recipe, but the cake still came out exactly flat. Did the cake come out exactly flat? Corrected: Sam followed the recipe exactly, but the cake still came out flat.

Misplacing modifiers are not the only way one can abuse the magic of modifiers…. Another modifier problem is called “the dangling modifier. ” Dangling modifiers are dangerous to the health of your sentences.

The Dangling Modifier When a modifier describes a word that does not appear in the sentence, we say the modifier is “dangling. ” The reader will probably try to “attach” it to a word in the sentence, but the result may prove confusing.

How do dangling modifiers occur? Let’s take a look…… Here is a correct sentence that uses a modifier: Falling asleep, Trisha steered the car into the trees. The Modifier The item modified Falling asleep There is a clear But what if that connection between connection was the modifier and the severed? be left modifier item would modified. Trisha Then the dangling, and we would get a sentence that looked like this…. . .

What is wrong with this sentence? Falling asleep, the car steered into the bushes. Can a car fall asleep? No. But this sentence seems to say that because the word the modifier was meant to modify (Trisha) has been cut from the sentence. This leaves “Falling asleep” dangling.

What is wrong with this sentence? While waiting for the bus, the sky turned threatening. Who is waiting for the bus? The modifier “while waiting for the bus” is dangling. Because there is no subject, it seems as though the sky is waiting for the bus. It is not clear. Oh man! The bus left me again. If I ever meet that driver in a dark alley, I’ll…rain all over his head!

How can we correct this sentence? While waiting for the bus, the sky turned threatening. When correcting a dangling modifier you have 2 options: 1. You can insert a subject near the start of the sentence. 2. You can insert a subject after the comma. For this example, #1 works best: While we waited for the bus, the sky turned threatening.

Another Example: After running the marathon, exhaustion overcame me. What does the modifier “after running the marathon” modify? That word is missing from the sentence. It seems like “exhaustion” is running the marathon. Exhaustion The end is in sight, I must keep going!! Oh no!! I was just I’m wining, I’m winning! overcome by Exhaustion will never Exhaustion!! catch me!

How can we correct the sentence? After running the marathon, exhaustion overcame me. Remember, you have 2 options: Insert a subject at the beginning of the sentence, or Insert a subject after the comma Option #1 After I ran the marathon, exhaustion overcame me. OR Option #2 After running the marathon, I was overcome by exhaustion.

One More Example: While kneading the dough, the oven warmed up. Who is kneading We know that thethe oven dough? There is the no is not kneading subject that dough. to Soperform how could action. Therefore we correct this it sounds like the oven is sentence? kneading the dough. Correction: While Norma kneaded the dough, the oven warmed up.

Caution to Writers Spotting dangling modifiers in your own writing may prove difficult. Your brain automatically supplies the missing information. So as you edit your paper, think of your reader. You may know what you mean, but he or she might be confused.

Now that you have learned to harness the magic of modifiers for good, it is time to practice your skills! Modifier Let’s begin by correcting misplaced modifiers. Remember to bring the modifier and the item modified closer together! Item modified

How could we correct this misplaced modifier? The woman was feeding the cat in blue pumps. What is the modifier? in blue pumps Who is wearing the pumps? The woman Move the modifier (in blue pumps) closer to the item it modifies (woman). Corrected: The woman in blue pumps was feeding

How could we correct these misplaced modifiers? Beating his chest, Stewart watched the gorilla go berserk. Corrected: Stewart watched the gorilla beating his chest go berserk. Jane came close to winning the race. She almost sprinted at the finish and beat her competitor. Corrected: She sprinted at the finish and almost beat her competitor.

Now let’s review “dangling modifiers!” Remember that dangling modifiers are dangling because the sentence is lacking a word for them to modify. You must correct the sentence by supplying the missing information.

How could we correct this dangling modifier? Having finished the main course, dessert was eaten. � What is the modifier? Having finished the main course � What does it modify? The sentence is missing a word for it to modify. “Having finished the main course” is an action But there is no “doer” of that action. § We need to insert a subject to perform the

How could we correct these dangling modifiers? After visiting the processing plant, meat will never seem the same again. Corrected: After visiting the processing plant, I’ll never see meat the same again. The fundraiser was a success, having run 100 laps for $10, 000. Did the meat visit the processing plant? The fundraiser did not run laps. Corrected: The volunteers made the fundraiser a success, having run 100 laps for $10, 000.

Go forth and use the magic of modifiers to improve your writing! I foresee grammaticallycorrect, vibrant, and well constructed sentences in your future.