Chapter Thirty-Two Misplaced Modifiers Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins and Paul Harris Camden County College

Misplaced Parts When building a sentence, avoid needless separation of related parts of the sentence. A misplaced modifier is positioned in a sentence so that it is unclear which word, phrase, or clause is modified.

Misplaced Parts Modifiers such as almost, only, just, even, hardly, nearly, and merely, should be placed immediately before the words they modify. Example: My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. This sentence indicates that the mother only works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk.

Misplaced Parts Ex.: My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. We must place the modifier before a different word so the sentence is clearly understood. Ex.: My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. Revised: My mother works only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Misplaced Parts Example….. Her job is to file newspaper articles about handgun use in the library. A modifying phrase should clearly indicate what the phrase modifies. Revised….. Her job in the library is to file newspaper articles about handgun use.

The librarian explains computer to do research Modifying Clauses Modifying clauses should be placed near the words they modify. Revised….. Before the class begins, the librarian explains how they use the computer to do research. Example….. The librarian explains how they use the computer to do research before the class begins.

Squinting Modifiers Avoid squinting modifiers… These modifiers appear to modify both preceding and following words, creating ambiguous meanings. Example…. Students who review researching skills often will benefit.

Squinting Modifiers Students who review researching skills often will benefit. What does this sentence mean? Students who often review researching skills are the ones who will benefit. or Students who review researching skills are the ones who often benefit.

Avoid Split Infinitives An infinitive is the “to” form of a verb: to dance, to listen, to sew. Example: I decided to quickly research the median incomes of police officers. Revised: I decided to research quickly the median incomes of police officers.

Dangling Modifiers A dangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that does not modify any element in a sentence. Example: Researching on the internet, many facts are easily obtained for the report. Who was researching? What is the subject of the sentence? If “many facts” is the subject, who is researching on the internet?

Dangling Modifiers Revised: Researching on the internet, we easily found many facts for the report. “We” is the subject so we are researching on the internet.

Dangling Modifiers A dangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that does not modify any element in a sentence. Example: Because of going to many parties, my term paper was late. How would you revise this sentence?

Practice Review Incorrect Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Incorrect Christina enrolled in an animal training program after graduation which was organized by a circus.

Practice Review Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Bob trained a pig to use a litter box with love and patience. Incorrect

Practice Review Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Incorrect The veterinarian explained why a pet owner should not hit her kitten on Monday night.

Practice Review Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Incorrect The animal trainer rode on the elephant with a broken foot. Who had the broken foot , the trainer or the elephant?

Practice Review What does this sentence mean? Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: What does this sentence mean? The lioness in the cage caring for her cub watched the trainer. or The lioness watched the trainer who was caring for her cub. The lioness watched the trainer caring for her cub in the cage. Incorrect

Practice Review Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: The horses at the riding stable only galloped for experienced riders. Incorrect: galloped ONLY for experienced riders.

Practice Review Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Having a coat that was well cared for, the dog was happy and healthy. Correct

Practice Review Brushing your dog daily, his tangles are eliminated. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Incorrect Brushing your dog daily, his tangles are eliminated.

Practice Review Correct Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Correct Using human products on pets can be very harmful to the animal’s skin and eyes.

Practice Review Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Working with animals of all types, the pay is not as important as the personal satisfaction. Incorrect: a person must be working with the animals.

Practice Review Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Because of caring for so many animals, the grooming schedule was not completed at the zoo. Incorrect: a person must be caring for the animals.