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Misplaced Modifiers

Learn to spot and fix misplaced modifiers with examples and exercises. Improve your writing clarity and accuracy.

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Misplaced Modifiers

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  1. Misplaced Modifiers

  2. Q: What is a modifier?

  3. A: a word or phrase that explains (modifies) a word, phrase or clause Types: • adjectives (modify nouns and pronouns) (for example: the RED house) • adverbs (modify verbs) (for example: he ran QUICKLY) • modifier phrases (modify an action or an actor) (LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, he noticed that he was late)

  4. Q: What is a misplaced modifier?

  5. A: a misplaced modifier is a word or word group whose placement suggests that it modifies one word or phrase when it is intended to modify another.

  6. In a clear, logical sentence, you will find most modifiers right next to the words they describe: The waitress served Gilbert a plate of gray meatloaf sauced with lumpy gravy. Notice that sauced with lumpy gravy, a participle phrase, follows meatloaf, its target noun. If too much distance separates a modifier and its target, the modifier is misplaced: Sauced with lumpy gravy, the waitress served Gilbert a plate of gray meatloaf.

  7. Misplaced Modifiers • More beautiful than any human being, the explorer noticed the mermaid. • Wild and untamed, Jack entered the jungle. • Moaning in haunting voices, the house contained many ghosts.

  8. Q: How do I fix it?

  9. A: Revise the sentence, taking care to put modifying words, phrases, and clauses in a position that clearly identifies the target noun and that does not awkwardly interrupt a sentence. HINT: Usually, you can just add in or move around words

  10. Examples: Incorrect: More beautiful than any human being, the explorer noticed the mermaid. Correct: The explorer noticed the mermaid, which was more beautiful than any human being.

  11. Examples: Incorrect: Wild and untamed, Jack entered the jungle. Correct: Jack entered the wild and untamed jungle.

  12. Examples: Incorrect: Moaning in haunting voices, the house contained many ghosts. Correct: The house contained many ghosts that moaned in haunting voices.

  13. Self Test: What is wrong with the following sentence?

  14. 1. Bright and full of flowers, Jenny entered the meadow.

  15. 1. Bright and full of flowers, Jenny entered the meadow.1. Jenny entered the meadow, which was bright and full of flowers.

  16. 2. SOGGY WITH TOMATO JUICE, SAM SCARFED DOWN THE SANDWICH BEFORE LEAVING THE LUNCH ROOM.

  17. 2. SOGGY WITH TOMATO JUICE, SAM SCARFED DOWN THE SANDWICH BEFORE LEAVING THE LUNCH ROOM. • 2. SAM SCARFED DOWN THE SANDWICH, WHICH WAS SOGGY WITH TOMATO JUICE, BEFORE LEAVING THE LUNCH ROOM.

  18. Extra practice • Directions: • On side 1, circle the misplaced modifier and rewrite the sentence correctly. • On side 2, complete this challenge:

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