Can you identify the MISPLACED MODIFIER?

Modifiers Modifier Describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about other words in a sentence Can be a word or group of words (phrase) Rationale: The formal definitions of modifiers and misplaced modifiers are explained in this slide. Click mouse to advance slide.

2 TYPES OF BAD MODIFIERS Misplaced Dangling

Can you see why these are no good?

Misplaced modifier A modifier in the wrong place in a sentence Makes sentences awkward, confusing, or unintentionally humorous You can fix it by moving it within the sentence.

Patti rushed to the store loaded with cash to buy Sam’s birthday present. Misplaced Process: 1. What is the modifier? 2. What word does it describe, clarify, or give more detail about? 3. Where should the modifier be placed? **Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.**

The man walked toward the car carrying a briefcase. Misplaced Process: 1. What is the modifier? 2. What word does it describe, clarify, or give more detail about? 3. Where should the modifier be placed? **Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.**

Dangling modifier • The word being modified is missing entirely * UNLIKE misplaced, you can’t fix it by just moving things around.

Having arrived late for class, a written excuse was needed. Dangling Process: 1. Is the person/thing doing the action identified 2. Does the phrase modify the closest noun? 3. Is there missing info?

Misplaced: On her way home, Jan found a gold man’s watch. The example above suggests that a gold man owns a watch. Good: On her way home, Jan found a man’s gold watch. Now it is the watch that is gold. Misplaced: We ate the lunch that we had brought slowly. The sentence above suggests that we brought a lunch slowly. Good: We slowly ate the lunch that we had brought. Misplaced: The child ate a cold bowl of cereal for breakfast this morning. Good: The child ate a bowl of cold cereal for breakfast this morning.

Misplaced: The dealer sold the Cadillac to the buyer with leather seats. The sentence above suggests that the person had leather seats, not the car. Good: The dealer sold the Cadillac with leather seats to the buyer. Misplaced: The three bankers talked quietly in the corner smoking pipes. Good: The three bankers smoking pipes talked quietly in the corner. Misplaced: The waiter served a dinner roll to the woman that was well buttered. Good: The waiter served a dinner roll that was well buttered to the woman. Misplaced: Ralph piled all of his clothes in the hamper that he had worn. Good: Ralph piled all of his clothes that he had worn in the hamper.

Misplaced Modifiers Activity INCORRECT: They were delighted to see a field of daffodils climbing up the hill. Directions: 1. Write the INCORRECT EXAMPLE at the top of the page. 2. Draw a picture to represent the ridiculousness of the sentence. 3. At the bottom of the page, write the sentence correctly. CORRECT: Climbing up the hill, they were delighted to see a field of daffodils.