1. Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
What is a misplaced modifier?
How to fix misplaced modifiers
One-word modifiers
Phrase modifiers
Clause modifiers
Review A
Review B

2. What is a misplaced modifier?
The placement of one little word can make a big difference.
Notice how the meaning of this sentence changes when almost is moved from one place to another.
Almost
Everyone has
everyone has finished the test.
almost
finished the test.
All of the students have come close to finishing.
Most, but not all, of the students have finished.
In each position, almost modifies a different word.

3. What is a misplaced modifier?
A word, phrase, or clause that seems to modify the wrong word or word group in a sentence is called a misplaced modifier.
Participial phrase
Tourists can stay in guest houses visiting the coast.
Noun
Noun
Are the guest houses visiting the coast?
No, it is the tourists who visit the coast. The phrase visiting the coast should be placed closer to tourists.

4. What is a misplaced modifier?
Some misplaced modifiers can be funny.
Prepositional phrase
Bo saw a deer running over a hill on his way to work.
Noun
Noun
Was the deer on his way to work?
Common sense tells us that Bo, not the deer, was on his way to work.
But the noun deer is closer to the modifying phrase, so it sounds as though the deer is on his way to work.

5. What is a misplaced modifier? Squinting modifiers
A misplaced modifier that seems to modify either of two words is called a squinting modifier.
Adverb
The mayor said yesterday her opponent spoke honestly.
Verb
Verb
Did the mayor say it yesterday?
Or did her opponent speak yesterday?

6. What is a misplaced modifier?
A misplaced modifier can be a one-word adjective or adverb, a phrase, or a clause.
Adjective OR
Startled, the noise made the kitten jump in the air. OR
Participial phrase
She has a picture of her children sitting on her desk.
Adverb clause OR
Fred said before he left he would wash the dishes.

7. What is a misplaced modifier?
On Your Own
Determine whether the underlined word or phrase is a misplaced modifier. Write M for a misplaced modifier or C if the modifier is not misplaced.
___ 1. One observer sighted a plane through binoculars that she could not identify.
___ 2. Please tell Terry when he gets home Mom wants him to make dinner.
___ 3. Refreshed, we got an early start the next day.
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8. How to fix misplaced modifiers
Place modifying words, phrases, and clauses as near as possible to the words they modify.
Scott found a book.
about wasps
Where should these two phrases be placed in this sentence?
checking the shelves
Checking the shelves,
Scott found a book
about wasps.
Who was checking the shelves? Scott was.
What is about wasps? The book is.

9. How to fix misplaced modifiers One-word modifiers
Be especially careful to place these modifiers right before the word they modify, so that your meaning is clear.
almost
even
hardly
just
merely
nearly
not
only =
Mr. Reyes has read only the essays.
Mr. Reyes has read the essays but nothing else. =
Only Mr. Reyes has read the essays.
Mr. Reyes, and no one else, has read the essays.

10. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers
When a sentence contains several modifying phrases, follow these steps to make sure none of them are misplaced.
Bill caught six fish on the lake in his favorite spot using fancy lures.
Step 1: Find the basic sentence.
Bill caught six fish.

11. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers
Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify.
Phrase 1:
in his favorite spot
This phrase should modify caught.
Bill caught six fish
in his favorite spot.

12. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers
Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify.
Phrase 2:
on the lake
This phrase should modify spot.
Bill caught six fish in his favorite spot
on the lake.

13. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers
Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify.
Phrase 3:
using fancy lures
This phrase should modify Bill.
Using fancy lures,
Bill caught six fish in his favorite spot on the lake.

14. How to fix misplaced modifiers Clause modifiers
When a modifying clause seems to be misplaced, follow these steps to fix the sentence.
Adjective clause
Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.
Step 1: Determine which word or word group the clause should be modifying. OR
Adjective clause
Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.
The clause should modify vase.

15. How to fix misplaced modifiers Clause modifiers
Step 2: Determine whether a phrase or another clause is coming between the clause and the word it should be modifying.
Adjective clause
Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.
on the table
Prep. phrase
The prepositional phrase separates the adjective clause from the noun it modifies, vase.

16. How to fix misplaced modifiers Clause modifiers
Step 3: Decide where to move the phrase or clause that is causing the confusion.
Adjective clause
Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.
on the table
Prep. phrase
Adjective clause
Curt set the vase that he had made
on the table.
Moving the phrase to the end of the sentence eliminates the confusion. Now, the clause is next to word it modifies.

17. How to fix misplaced modifiers
On Your Own
Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier.
1. At the meeting the mayor discussed the cost of draining the swamp with city council members.
2. My nephew told me that he wanted to become a doctor when he was six years old.
3. Brook and I spotted several deer kayaking down the river.
4. The coach said in the locker room the team had played their best.
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18. Review A Identify the misplaced modifier in each sentence.
1. Mom promised if I would buy gas I could borrow her car.
2. The chipmunks hid the nuts they collected in the tree.
3. I found some letters my grandfather had written in the attic.
4. The weather forecaster said yesterday the winds would be dying down.
5. The car safely left the road that had a flat tire.
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19. Review B Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier.
1. According to the experts, the mummy had nearly been buried for four thousand years.
2. Alex saw a wild rabbit riding his bike on the trail.
3. Remind Lyle before our trip to Greece he must get his passport renewed.
4. Maya practiced the song she would sing onstage repeatedly.
5. When they got off the bus, the rows of shops attracted the tourists.
[End of Section]

20. The End