Avoiding Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

Definition: Modifier oModifier: a word, phrase, or clause that provides information about another word in the sentence oThe student sitting in the front row is asleep. Modifier: tells what student you are talking about.

Definition: Present Participle Modifier oPresent participle: the -ing form of a verb Walking quickly into the room, the teacher started her lecture. Present participle modifier

Definition: Past Participle Modifier oPast Participle: the past tense form of a verb (often ending in -d or -ed) Frightened by the doctor, the baby began screaming. Past participle modifier

First Rule for Modifiers oBe sure that the modifier points to a word in the sentence. Don’t let your modifier “dangle.” oWorking hard, my test scores improved quickly. oWorking hard, I improved my test scores quickly. ? NO YES

Second Rule for Modifiers oKeep your modifiers as close as possible to the words they are describing. oI caught an elephant in my pajamas. (How he got in my pajamas I’ll never know!) oIn my pajamas, I caught an elephant.

Try a couple! oWritten at the last minute, I got only a C- on my essay. oWritten at the last minute, my essay got only a C-. oI gave the computer to a friend that was always breaking down. oI gave the computer that was always breaking down to a friend.

To review dangling and misplaced modifiers, see Chapter 18.