Transcript Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Misplaced and
Dangling Modifiers
(thanks Cindy!)
Q: What is a modifier?
A: a word or phrase that describes another
word, phrase, or clause
Types:
–Adjectives--modify nouns and pronouns (for
example: the RED house)
–Adverbs--modify verbs, adverbs, adjectives
(for example: he ran QUICKLY.)
–participle phrases—verbs acting like
adjectives (LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, he
noticed that he was late.)
Q: So, what is a
misplaced modifier?
A: a modifier that is in the wrong place;
a word or phrase whose placement
suggests that it modifies one word when it
is actually intended to modify another
word.
Example: I glimpsed a rat sorting the
recyclable materials.
Misplaced Modifier: example
a modifier that is in the wrong place; a word or phrase
whose placement suggests that it modifies one word
when it is actually intended to modify another word.
The word the Misplaced
Modifier really describes
The word the Misplaced
Modifier seems to describe
I glimpsed a rat
sorting the recyclables.
Misplaced Modifier
Misplaced Modifiers: more examples
Misplaced Modifier
More beautiful than any human being, the
explorer noticed the mermaid..
The word it seems the
Misplaced Modifier describes
Misplaced Modifier
The word the Misplaced
Modifier really describes
The word it seems the
Misplaced Modifier describes
Moaning in haunting voices, the house
contained many ghosts.
The word the Misplaced
Modifier really describes
Q: How do I fix Misplaced Modifiers?
1. Identify the Misplaced Modifier
2. Identify the word that is being
modified
3. Identify the word that should be
modified
4. Revise the sentence, so that you
place modifying phrase as close as
possible to the word it modifies.
Q: How do I fix Misplaced Modifiers?
Incorrect:
The professor posted the notes for the
students covered in class.
Correct:
The professor posted the notes covered
in class for the students.
How to correct Misplaced Modifiers
Incorrect: More beautiful than any human being,
the explorer noticed the mermaid.
Correct: The explorer noticed the mermaid, who
was more beautiful than any human being.
Incorrect: Moaning in haunting voices, the
house contained many ghosts.
Correct: The house contained many ghosts,
moaning in haunting voices.
Another type: Dangling Modifier
What is a Dangling Modifier?
A: the word being described is not in the
sentence; a word or phrase that cannot
logically describe any word or word group
in the sentence.
Dangling Modifier
Walking through the park, the
grass tickled my feet.
The Dangling Modifier seems to describe the “grass” walking
through the park, but can the grass walk through the park?
Dangling Modifiers: Examples
Dangling Modifier
Using a variety of educational techniques,
the students were taught grammar.
The Dangling Modifier seems to describe “students,” but were the
students the ones using the educational techniques?
Dangling Modifier
To improve his essay, each page was
proofread. The Dangling Modifier seems to describe
“page,” but can the pages really improve
his essay?
Q: How do I fix
Dangling Modifiers?
1. Add a subject right after the
dangling modifier
OR
2. Add the subject into the dangling
modifier
How to correct Dangling Modifiers:
1. Add a subject right after the dangling modifier
2. Add the subject into the dangling modifier
Incorrect: Using a variety of educational
techniques, the students were taught
grammar.
Correct: Using a variety of educational
techniques, the teacher taught the students
grammar.
Incorrect: To improve his essay, each page was
proofread.
Correct: To improve his essay, he proofread each
page.
Your turn:
What is wrong with the following
sentences? Correct the following
sentences by writing them correctly on
your own sheet of paper.
Your turn: choose 5 of the following sentences to write correctly on
your own paper. Show to Ms. Tharel for points!
1. Sam found a letter in the mailbox that doesn’t belong to her.
2. Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car seemed to run better.
3. Bright and full of flowers, Jenny entered the meadow.
4. With three minutes to write, the exam was nearly finished.
5. Careful not to make a tear, the delicate paper was wrapped around
the gift.
6. Two cars were reported stolen by the Farmingdale police yesterday.
7. Take time to look over the brochure that is enclosed with your family
8. Removing each other’s fleas, the zoo workers watched the monkeys
9. The patient was referred to a psychologist with several emotional
problems.
10.We could see the corn growing from our car window in Kansas.
Homework:
• Choose one of the following Misplaced or Dangling
Modifiers sentences.
• On a half sheet of colored paper, write the incorrect
sentence, and draw a picture illustrating the incorrect
sentence.
• On the other side of paper, write a correct version of
the sentence.
Incorrect sentences:
The fire alarm went off while cooking my dinner.
I gave olives to my friend that I stabbed with my fork.
Cindy saw daisies climbing up the side of a hill.
Hopping briskly through the vegetable garden, I saw a toad.
Looking through the telescope, the moon looked enormous.