Identifying Word Modifiers

1. Identifying Word Modifiers A modifier is a word/phrase that makes the meaning of another word/phrase more specific. Types of word modifiers: • Adjective- modifies a noun Ex: Sarah gave a broad smile. • Adverb- modifies a verb Ex: Sarah smiled broadly.

2. Identifying Phrase Modifiers Like one-word modifiers, phrases can also be used as adjectives and adverbs. Examples: • It was time for celebration. (adj. phrase) • Walk with care on icy pavements.(adv. phrase)

3. Identifying Clause Modifiers Like words and phrases, clauses can also be used to modify nouns and verbs. Examples: • Vermeer is the painter that I like best. • Before Toni left for work, she took the dog for a walk.

4. Dangling Modifiers • A dangling modifier is a word/phrase/clause that does not clearly and sensibly modify a noun or verb. Dangling: Time seemed to stand still, watching the sunset and listening to the birds. Correct: Time seemed to stand still as we watched the sunset and listened to the birds. Dangling: Together, the litter along the highway was picked up, bagged, and hauled away. Correct: Together, we picked up, bagged, and hauled away the litter along the highway.

5. Dangling Modifiers and Understood Subjects • Exception- watch out for understood subjects. This is where the subject is not explicitly stated, but is understood to be the person being addressed. These typically take place in requests and commands. Ex: To find the correct spelling, look up the word.  To find the correct spelling, (you) look up the word.

6. Dangling Modifiers and Understood Subjects Other examples of understood subjects: • Please answer the phone. [Who is to answer? You are- the person being spoken to.] • Please don’t drink out of the carton. [Who is not to drink out of the carton? Once again, the person being addressed.] • Listen carefully to his question. [Who is to listen? The person being addressed.]

7. Dangling Modifiers- Practice • Jogging in the park, a rabbit peered at me from the underbrush. • Listening closely, distant thunder could be detected. • To master a musical instrument, practice or natural talent is usually needed. • Even when equipped with the best gear, the rock cliff was difficult to climb.

8. Misplaced Modifiers • A misplaced modifier is a word/phrase/clause that modifies the wrong word. Misplaced Modifier: My cousin’s dog was chasing the geese, barking and yapping. Correct sentence: Yapping and barking, my cousin’s dog was chasing the geese.

9. Misplaced Modifiers Misplaced Modifier: I read about the bank robbers who were captured in this morning’s paper. Correct sentence: I read in this morning’s paper about the bank robbers who were captured. Misplaced Modifier: The security guard was watching for the arrival of the armored car through the window. Correct sentence: The security guard was watching through the window for the arrival of the armored car.

10. Misplaced Modifiers- Practice • I could see the scouts marching over the hill with my binoculars. • As a child, my grandfather taught me how to make tortillas. • One advertiser handed out roses to customers with dollar bills pinned to them. • I borrowed a radio from my sister with an antenna. • Did you find any of the hats your mother used to wear in the attic?

11. Misplaced Modifiers-Practice • Our cat waited on the porch for us to come home patiently. • In a tank at the aquarium, we watched the seals play. • She ate two peaches and a plate of strawberries watching TV. • We gave the boxes of cereal to the children with prizes inside. • Blackened beyond recognition, even the birds refused to eat the toast.