MODIFIERS MISPLACED / DANGLING / SQUINTING MODIFIERS Complied by Ms. Terri Yueh

Modifiers n A modifier is a word or group of words that describe or modify. To prevent confusion, you need to place your modifiers as closely as possible to the words which they describe. ONLY Mary saw John kissed the girl. ONLY Mary saw John kissed the girl. Mary saw John ONLY kissed the girl. Mary saw John ONLY kissed the girl. ? He nearly brushed his teeth for twenty minutes every night. ? Jane: I know a man with a wooden leg named Smith Michael: Oh yeah? What's his other leg named?

Misplaced Modifiers n A modifier that is placed too far away from the word it modifies is called a misplaced modifier. Examples: n I am taking my suit to the tailor with the bad fly. Revision: I am taking my suit with the bad fly to the tailor. n The plane ascended into the night sky loaded with passengers and fuel. Revision: The plane, loaded with passengers and fuel, ascended into the night sky. n I bought a car from the salesman with low mileage and cruise control. Revision: I bought a car with low mileage and cruise control from the salesman. n ALWAYS PLACE MODIFIERS AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE WORDS WHICH THEY MODIFY!!

Dangling Modifiers n A modifier dangles when there is nothing to logically modify in the sentence. ? While reading the newspaper, my dog sat with me on the front steps. ? Boring and silly, I turn the TV show off. ? To take good pictures, a good camera must be used. ? When five years old, my grandfather brought me to Ali Mountain. ? After seeing the movie Sleepless in Seattle, a trip to the Seattle was planned.  After seeing the movie Sleepless in Seattle, Amy planned a trip to the city. ? By shopping early in the morning, it is not difficult to buy fresh vegetables.  By shopping early in the morning, we won’t have difficulty to buy fresh vegetables.

Dangling Modifiers Examples: nTnTo finish the marathon, much endurance will be required. Revision: To finish the marathon, I will need much endurance. nDnDriving down the Kenting Bay, hundreds of birds were seen. Revision 1: While driving down the Kenting Bay, we saw hundreds of birds. Revision 2: As we were driving down the Kenting Bay, we saw hundreds of birds. If the modifiers have nothing to modify in the sentence, then they are dangling and the sentence needs revision!

Squinting Modifiers nAnA modifier that modify either a preceding word or a following word. It squints at the words on its right and left and make the meaning ambiguous. ? He promised on his way home to visit us. ? The girl had been dancing gracefully entered the room. ? In summer my neighbors ask me often to go apple picking with them. I f the modifiers can modify different things in the sentence, then they are squinting and your sentence needs revision!

Split Infinitives nAnAvoid split infinitives that result in awkward sentences. ? John always tries to efficiently and promptly do his work. JJohn always tries to do his work do efficiently and promptly. ? Mr. White wanted to, if he could find time, recheck his figures.  If he could find time, Mr. White wanted to recheck his figures. ? We have to, when the real estate market returns to normal, consider purchasing an house.  W e have to consider, when the real estate market returns to normal, purchasing an house.