Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. Rollerblading frantically to keep up with the others, the hill proved too steep for manuel, and he fell to the ground. Using what they learn, students will create misplaced modifier cartoons. The powerpoint provides several examples for mastery and later for students to identify. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to edit confusing sentences with misplaced modifiers. In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether that sentence contains a dangling modifier dm or a misplaced modifier. Drooling in anticipation of the treat, gizmo waited for sylvia to reward him with. Fixing misplaced modifiers rearranging sentence parts will often fix a misplaced modifier. Modifiers can include the present participle of a verb ing or the past participle of a verb ed. Modifiers a modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes another word or group of words in a sentence. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. Modifiers other than participles can turn up in the wrong place in your sentence. Unlike misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers cannot be fixed simply by moving it to a different place in the sentence.
Though he may well be able to learn while multitasking, it is not nearly as efficient as focusing only on studying. Thanks to modifiers, words like the bird become the soaring bird. Susan put the cake on the table, which was chocolate. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a modifier without something to modify. Most often, these words are placed in front of the words they modify. Examples please ask customers to smoke outside politely. This lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier. Modifying phrases must go next to the word that they modify. I heard that senator jones had been shot on the morning broadcast. The modifier, using astronavigation, is unclear in this sentence. Driving up the rockstrewn mountain, the tire went flat.
Misplaced modifiers when a modifier is ambiguously or illogically modifying a word, we consider it a misplaced modifier. Modifier in english grammar with examples pdf parts of. Reading a book frequently will change the whole course of a mans life. A misplaced modifier is a phrase, clause, or word that is incorrectly separated from the word it modifies. A misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify.
Note how different placement of the word only creates a difference in meaning between these two sentences. Riding in a swiftly moving vehicle, the landscape becomes blurred. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a phrase that confuses readers by attaching itself to the wrong subject. These modifiers may be clauses, phrases, or single words. Students then have to pick the correct sentences that do not have misplaced modifiers. Modifiers grammar academic guides at walden university. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses. Choose the option that has no misplaced or dangling modifier. Looking towards the west, a tornado stirred up dust and debris. Misplaced prepositional phrases place modifying words,phrases,and clauses as close as possible to the words they modify. Avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers t 2000, 1999, 1998, 1998 margaret l. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Misplacedanddanglingmodifiers 1 misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes.
Misplaced modifiers, for example, can create some pretty funny double meanings. Spinning away from the stovetop, ramona knocked a pan to the floor. A common mistake when using modifiers is misplacing them, which in turn modifies or describes the wrong word or word group. It can add extra information, describe an action, or simply clarify details about a noun in a sentence. Either the sentence or the dangling modifier must be changed by adding needed information or rearranging the structure of one of the phrases or clauses. Misplaced mofdifiers samples of misplaced modifiers periodically circulate through email, purportedly examples of prose taken from police or insurance reports. Misplaced modifiers are words or phrases that do not clearly point to the word or phrase they modify, in this way obscuring meaning. Mark lester and larry beason point out that misplaced modifiers do not make sentences ungrammatical. A misplaced modifier happens to modify something that you did not intend to modify, oftenor hopefullywith humorous consequences. In each case, see if you can explain both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning. In most cases, modifiers should be near the words they modify. Misplaced modifier a misplaced modifier is a word or group of words that does not link clearly to what it is intended to modify. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 9th grade lesson.
Most commonly, misplaced modifiers are funny because the modifiers describe the wrong element in the. Modifiers should be placed as closely as possible to the words they modify in order to keep the meaning clear harris 120. When a modifier is erroneously placed in a sentence, we refer this to as a misplaced modifier. Remember that most modifiers come as close to their targets as possible. This misplaced modifiers worksheet is suitable for 6th 9th grade. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise.
When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Students multitask everyday, indeed many times a day, students believe they are very adept at juggling two or three different activities while studying for a midterm. Misplaced and dangling modifiers university of lynchburg. A misplaced modifier is an adjective or adverb that is out of position. In addition, it explains how misplaced modifiers can change the meaning of a sentence.
If a modifier is in the wrong place, the meaning of the sentence can change. Misplaced modifiers because word order is often important to the meaning of a sentence, a modifier, be it a phrase or a word. A typical example of a dangling modifier is illustrated in the sentence. Because he was so protective, olivers car had an overly elaborate security.
When they are out of place, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 312, students explore brainpop features and resources to learn about misplaced modifiers, including dangling and squinting modifiers. Having flown out of the nest, the girl couldnt find the bird. Rearrange the sentence so that it begins with the word being modified or change the modifier to a subordinate clause with a subject and a verb. How do we correct a misplaced or dangling participle. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is. The lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier.
The children attended the public school wearing uniforms. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. Dangling and misplaced modifiers think you understand dangling and misplaced modifiers. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies describes. A misplaced modifier makes the meaning of a sentence ambiguous or wrong. There are several hilarious newspaper headlines that perfectly illustrate this. A modifier should be placed next to the word it describes. Well also be fixing them by rewording the sentence or moving the modifier so that it is close to the word that it is supposed to modify.
It is a word or phrase that qualifies modifies a word, phrase or clause. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. The most common type of misplaced modifier question on the act english test involves a modifying phrase. Easy examples of misplaced modifiers in these examples, the misplaced modifiers are. In prescriptive grammar, misplaced modifiers are usually regarded as errors. Dolger discovered an ancient mayan civilization using astronavigation.
This worksheet explains what a modifier is, and then it gives examples and practice identifying them. A modifier is a word or group of words that clarifies a noun. Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups. Given the infinite combinations and permutations available in the english language, we have several ways of correcting a misplaced or dangling participle. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word or phrase incorrectly separated from the word it modifies. The modifying phrase with her new baby should logically modify how the sister walked. Squinting modifiers a word or phrase placed in a position so that it modifies either a preceding word or the word after it example. Limiting modifiers such as only, almost, simply, etc. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling. In this example, a is an article modifying car, making it the modifier. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word or word group placed so far away from what it refers to or modifies that the reader may be confused. Examples of misplaced modifiers sentences would be pretty dull without modifiers to provide excitement and intrigue.
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. Misplaced modifiers are also meant to describe something or someone, but the modifiers are in the wrong place in the sentence. Illustrated misplaced modifier examples to make you smile. For example, he served buns to the boys on white bowls.
The only noun in the main clause is water the water was not swimming. Place a prepositional phrase used as an adjective or as an adverb near the word it modifies. Crying on the examination table, the doctor gave the small child his vaccine. Here is a classic example from grockit of a sentence on the act english test with a misplaced modifier. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. Sisters reunited after 18 years in checkout counter miners refuse to work after death. This is actually a reallife example of an ad with a modifier glitch.
The bad news is that misplaced modifiers can confuse your reader. In the following examples of misplaced modifiers, the adjective in boldface currently modifies the noun it is closest to underlined. Modifiers, used correctly, clarify the meaning of a sentence. To become a good photographer, the camera must be used carefully. Here are some examples illustrating modifiers working properly.
A modifier that is placed too far away from the word it describes is called a misplaced modifier. My sister walked in as i was scrubbing the floor with her new baby. Misplaced modifiers unit 73200 information about misplaced modifiers can be found in 3200frames 14881526. The following are examples of misplaced modifiers and how they can be corrected. Then they will exchange cartoons with a partner, and identify the intended and unintended meanings.
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