Grammar

1. Grammar Misplaced Modifiers

2. What is a Misplaced Modifier? Sometimes our brains work faster than our mouths. We want to get the information out on what we are describing, but we sometimes put it in the wrong place. Thus we modify the wrong words. Example: Uncle Al shot the tiger that sprang at him with his rifle. This sentence has a misplaced modifier in the form of “with his rifle.” Whose rifle is it?

3. Misplaced Modifiers Again: Uncle Al shot the tiger that sprang at him with his rifle. Our brains make this correct, but as written it is not. Uncle Al shot the tiger that sprang at him with his rifle. As written, this means the tiger, not Al, has the gun. To fix it, the modifier with his rifle needs to be moved. There are two ways to fix it: • With his rifle, Uncle Al shot the tiger that sprang at him. • Uncle Al, with his rifle, shot the tiger that sprang at him.

4. Misplaced Modifiers Examples Mr. Leab posted the notes for the students covered in class. What’s wrong with this sentence? To correct it, think about what was covered. Mr. Leab posted the notes for the students covered in class. This says the students were covered in class. So it’s misplaced. Mr. Leab posted the notes covered in class for the students. Now this says that the notes were covered in class, not the students.

5. Misplaced Modifiers Examples Walking through the park, the grass tickled my feet. What’s wrong with this sentence? To fix it, think about what did the walking. Walking through the park, the grass tickled my feet. This says the grass tickled my feet as it walked through the park. Is that possible? As I walked through the park, the grass tickled my feet. or Walking through the park, I found the grass tickled my feet.