Transcript What is a misplaced modifier?
Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
How to fix misplaced modifiers
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 Most, but not all, of the students have finished.
In each position,
almost
modifies a different word.
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.
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.
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
honestly.
Verb her opponent spoke Verb Did the mayor say it yesterday?
Or did her opponent speak yesterday?
What is a misplaced modifier?
A misplaced modifier can be a one-word adjective or adverb, a phrase, or a clause.
Adjective
Startled, OR
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.
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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How to fix misplaced modifiers
Place modifying words, phrases, and clauses as near as possible to the words they modify.
Scott found a book.
Where should these two phrases be placed in this sentence?
about wasps 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.
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 merely even nearly hardly not just only Mr. Reyes has read
only
the essays.
Only
Mr. Reyes has read the essays.
=
Mr. Reyes has read the essays but nothing else.
=
Mr. Reyes, and no one else, has read the essays.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Prep. phrase
The prepositional phrase separates the adjective clause from the noun it modifies, vase.
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.
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.
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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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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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.
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