Note how the placement of the modifier creates different possible meanings. Students then have to pick the correct sentences that do not have misplaced modifiers. The children attended the public school wearing uniforms. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word or word group placed so far away from what it refers to or modifies that the reader may be confused. Having flown out of the nest, the girl couldnt find the bird. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 9th grade lesson. To become a good photographer, the camera must be used carefully. When they are out of place, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Drooling in anticipation of the treat, gizmo waited for sylvia to reward him with. A typical example of a dangling modifier is illustrated in the sentence. Learn how to correct misplaced and dangling modifiers. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a modifier without something to modify.
In most cases, modifiers should be near the words they modify. A modifier is a word or group of words that clarifies a noun. Limiting modifiers such as only, almost, simply, etc. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Choose the option that has no misplaced or dangling modifier. Misplacedanddanglingmodifiers 1 misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes. For example, he served buns to the boys on white bowls. Well also be fixing them by rewording the sentence or moving the modifier so that it is close to the word that it is supposed to modify. How do we correct a misplaced or dangling participle. Misplaced and dangling modifiers university of lynchburg.
Avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers t 2000, 1999, 1998, 1998 margaret l. The modifying phrase with her new baby should logically modify how the sister walked. This worksheet explains what a modifier is, and then it gives examples and practice identifying them. Remember that most modifiers come as close to their targets as possible. Modifying phrases must go next to the word that they modify. Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a. The following are examples of misplaced modifiers and how they can be corrected.
Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word or phrase incorrectly separated from the word it modifies. Dolger discovered an ancient mayan civilization using astronavigation. Illustrated misplaced modifier examples to make you smile. My sister walked in as i was scrubbing the floor with her new baby. A misplaced modifier happens to modify something that you did not intend to modify, oftenor hopefullywith humorous consequences. Then they will exchange cartoons with a partner, and identify the intended and unintended meanings. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that doesnt clearly relate to the word or phrase it is intended to modify.
A misplaced modifier makes the meaning of a sentence ambiguous or wrong. A misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. Crying on the examination table, the doctor gave the small child his vaccine. In this example, a is an article modifying car, making it the modifier. Mark lester and larry beason point out that misplaced modifiers do not make sentences ungrammatical. This is actually a reallife example of an ad with a modifier glitch. Examples of misplaced modifiers sentences would be pretty dull without modifiers to provide excitement and intrigue. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses.
This lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier. In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether that sentence contains a dangling modifier dm or a misplaced modifier. Modifiers, used correctly, clarify the meaning of a sentence. Turn the misplaced or dangling participle into a dependent. Fixing misplaced modifiers rearranging sentence parts will often fix a misplaced modifier. Unlike misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers cannot be fixed simply by moving it to a different place in the sentence. When a modifier is erroneously placed in a sentence, we refer this to as a misplaced modifier. It is a word or phrase that qualifies modifies a word, phrase or clause. The modifier, using astronavigation, is unclear in this sentence. Dangling and misplaced modifiers think you understand dangling and misplaced modifiers. Modifiers a modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes another word or group of words in a sentence. Spinning away from the stovetop, ramona knocked a pan to the floor.
Driving up the rockstrewn mountain, the tire went flat. Either the sentence or the dangling modifier must be changed by adding needed information or rearranging the structure of one of the phrases or clauses. The only noun in the main clause is water the water was not swimming. Sisters reunited after 18 years in checkout counter miners refuse to work after death. I heard that senator jones had been shot on the morning broadcast. Here are some examples illustrating modifiers working properly. A common mistake when using modifiers is misplacing them, which in turn modifies or describes the wrong word or word group. The bad news is that misplaced modifiers can confuse your reader. Misplaced prepositional phrases place modifying words,phrases,and clauses as close as possible to the words they modify.
A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. It occurs when the modifier has no clear referent, often causing confusion and twisting the meaning of words in an unintended fashion. Students multitask everyday, indeed many times a day, students believe they are very adept at juggling two or three different activities while studying for a midterm. It can add extra information, describe an action, or simply clarify details about a noun in a sentence. Here is a classic example from grockit of a sentence on the act english test with a misplaced modifier. A modifier should be placed next to the word it describes. Given the infinite combinations and permutations available in the english language, we have several ways of correcting a misplaced or dangling participle. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. Misplaced modifiers are words or phrases that do not clearly point to the word or phrase they modify, in this way obscuring meaning. Because he was so protective, olivers car had an overly elaborate security.
Rollerblading frantically to keep up with the others, the hill proved too steep for manuel, and he fell to the ground. Misplaced modifiers are also meant to describe something or someone, but the modifiers are in the wrong place in the sentence. Misplaced modifiers unit 73200 information about misplaced modifiers can be found in 3200frames 14881526. Modifiers should be placed as closely as possible to the words they modify in order to keep the meaning clear harris 120. Modifiers can include the present participle of a verb ing or the past participle of a verb ed. Note how different placement of the word only creates a difference in meaning between these two sentences.
Thanks to modifiers, words like the bird become the soaring bird. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. If a modifier is in the wrong place, the meaning of the sentence can change. Place a prepositional phrase used as an adjective or as an adverb near the word it modifies. A misplaced modifier is an adjective or adverb that is out of position. The lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a phrase that confuses readers by attaching itself to the wrong subject. Misplaced modifiers because word order is often important to the meaning of a sentence, a modifier, be it a phrase or a word. In prescriptive grammar, misplaced modifiers are usually regarded as errors.
Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. Examples please ask customers to smoke outside politely. A modifier that is placed too far away from the word it describes is called a misplaced modifier. Modifiers other than participles can turn up in the wrong place in your sentence. Looking towards the west, a tornado stirred up dust and debris. Misplaced modifiers when a modifier is ambiguously or illogically modifying a word, we consider it a misplaced modifier. Reading a book frequently will change the whole course of a mans life.
The powerpoint provides several examples for mastery and later for students to identify. Most often, these words are placed in front of the words they modify. Misplaced mofdifiers samples of misplaced modifiers periodically circulate through email, purportedly examples of prose taken from police or insurance reports. These may result in unintended humorous word pictures. The most common type of misplaced modifier question on the act english test involves a modifying phrase. Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. Susan put the cake on the table, which was chocolate. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 312, students explore brainpop features and resources to learn about misplaced modifiers, including dangling and squinting modifiers. Modifier in english grammar with examples pdf parts of. Rearrange the sentence so that it begins with the word being modified or change the modifier to a subordinate clause with a subject and a verb.
Most commonly, misplaced modifiers are funny because the modifiers describe the wrong element in the. In the following examples of misplaced modifiers, the adjective in boldface currently modifies the noun it is closest to underlined. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is. These modifiers may be clauses, phrases, or single words. Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups.
Riding in a swiftly moving vehicle, the landscape becomes blurred. There are several hilarious newspaper headlines that perfectly illustrate this. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling. Get a good laugh with misplaced modifiers bka content. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies describes. Squinting modifiers a word or phrase placed in a position so that it modifies either a preceding word or the word after it example. Using what they learn, students will create misplaced modifier cartoons. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. In each case, see if you can explain both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning. When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing.
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