1. Psst…your modifier is dangling Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

2. Modifier Modifier - a word or phrase that gives extra detail about another word in the sentence. -The tall man -The woman in the building was dancing. Modifiers should be closest to the word it modifies.

3. Misplaced Modifier Misplaced Modifier - occurs when it is difficult to tell what word is being modified. Ex: He served steak to the men on paper plates. (the men are on paper plates???) Correct: He served the men steak on paper plates.

4. Misplaced Modifier Ex: He went to the library wearing a leather jacket. (the library wears a leather jacket?) Correct: Wearing a leather jacket, he went to the library. OR He was wearing a leather jacket when he went to the library The library has several books about dinosaurs in our school. (Dinosaurs?? In SCHOOL?!?!) Correct: The library in our school has several books about dinosaurs.

5. Dangling Modifier Descriptive phrases that point to or modify words that are not clearly stated in our sentences, which causes them to not make sense. Ex: Walking to college on a subzero morning, my left ear became frozen. ( who was walking?) Correct: Walking to college on a subzero morning, I froze my left ear. OR When I was walking to college on a subzero morning, my left ear became frozen.

6. Dangling Modifier Ex: Looking out the airplane window, the volcano seemed ready to erupt. (maybe the volcano is afraid of flying?) Correct: Sonia was looking out the airplane window at the volcano that seemed ready to erupt. Ex: Strolling hand in hand to the farm, the young bulls broke out of the field and headed toward us. (maybe the bulls wanted to expand their circle of love?) Correct: As we were strolling hand in hand to the farm, the young bulls broke out of the field and headed toward us.

7. Fix the headlines! 1.Jails for Women in Need of a Face Lift (Daily Record/ [Morristown, NJ], 11/24/89) 2. Dr. Ruth Talks About Sex With Newspaper Editors (Rutland [Vermont] Herald, 4/14/86) 3.Police Kill Man with TV Tuner (The Blade-Tribune [Oceanside, CA], 6/3/86) 4. Sisters Reunited After 18 Years in Checkout Line at Supermarket (Arkansas Democrat, 9/29/83)

8. Fix the sign!

10. Fix it! 1.Trying hard to write my term paper, my baby sister kept disturbing me with her crying. 2.When inflated with air, six people can ride on this raft. 3.Disappointed that vacation would soon end, September came all too quickly.

11. Fix it! 1.My cousin went on and on, describing the details of her wedding in the elevator. 2. They will rebuild the houses destroyed with stricter standards. 3.At the carnival, clowns were handing out toys to children in colorful paper bags.

12. Fix it! 1.I received a letter from my Brazilian pen pal in the mail. 2.Not seeing the pothole, the skateboard went flying. 3.A woman passed by, leading a springer spaniel in a long black dress.

13. Fix it! 1.A tarantula bit one of the dockworkers that had a hairy, huge body. 2.While camping, I saw a bear in my pajamas. 3.After reading the paper, the telephone rang.

14. Fix it! 1.Having been thrown in the air, the dog caught the stick. 2.Pygmies hunted elephants armed with spears. 3.Working all afternoon, the foundation was completed.

15. Drawing Assignment! Draw two pictures side-by-side: one representing the sentence with the misused modifier and one representing the corrected sentence. Use any of the ones we have already worked on (either from the PowerPoint or your worksheet) or one from the following: Dipped in yogurt, many people love fresh strawberries. The patient was referred to a psychologist with several emotional problems. Mr. Reynolds showed a car to his daughter that had just come off the assembly line. Dressed in a diaper and drooling, grandpa read a book to his granddaughter. Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg address while traveling from Washington to Gettysburg on the back of an envelope. While trying to get ready for school, the doorbell rang suddenly. Covered in mustard and relish, I enjoyed the hot dog. The hunter crouched behind a tree waiting for a bear to come along with a bow and arrow. We saw several monkeys on vacation in Mexico. Having been thrown in the air, the dog caught the stick. I found my missing baseball glove cleaning my room. While singing hymns, the family dog ran through the church surprising his owners. We saw the trapeze artist swinging dangerously through our binoculars. Covered with hot melted cheese, we ate the pizza. Hanging on the wall, my mom really liked the picture.