modifiers

1. modifiers

2. Modifiersare words or word groups that modify (describe or give information about other words in a sentence)

3. Modifiers can make your writing more specific and more complete.

4. They give the reader a clear picture of what you want to say and they help you say it precisely.

5. Steps to check for errors • Find the modifier • Does the modifier have something to modify? • Is the modifier in the right place, as close as possible to the word, phrase or clause it modifies.

6. Modifiers can be: • Adjectives • Adverbs • Nouns

7. Dangling modifiers (without providing a word for it to describe) Misplaced modifiers (too far away from the word it describes) There are two types of mistakes with modifiers

8. A dangling modifier When the opening modifier is not followed by the word it describes. Sitting on the wet rocks, I feel the breeze of the wind crossing my body.

9. You can correct a dangling modifier in one of two ways: • Rewrite the sentence so that the introductory modifier logically refers to the subject of the sentence it introduces • Change the introductory phrase to a clause.

10. Feeling depressed, an evening with my friends was needed.Climbing out of the bathtub, my towel fell on the floor.Convinced the problem could be fixed with a balanced budget, the economy could be healthyagain.

11. Nearly exhausted, the game was almost over.Distracted by the bright lights, my car drove off the road.To feel safe, a rottweiler was bought by Tania.

12. Misplaced modifiers Describes the wrong sentence element because it is incorrectly placed within the sentence. Carlos asked Henri to help him fix his flat tire in the restaurant.

13. Commonly misplaced words are:onlyalmostjustmerelynearly

14. I told him not to carry a rifle in his car that was loaded.Traffic was so bad that she later wrote a letter to the city council in the tunnel.It had taken her two hours only to go five miles.

15. Crawling under the refrigerator, my mother noticed the spider.I saw a bird driving my motorcycle down the highway.My sister returned the dog to her neighbor that hadchewed up her sofa.

16. Check opening modifiers, especially phrases and clausesCheck phrases beginning with –ing and –ed verb forms

17. The end!