Mastering Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers in English Writing

1. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers(thanks Cindy!)

2. 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.)

3. 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.

4. 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. Misplaced Modifier: example The word the Misplaced Modifier really describes The word the Misplaced Modifier seems to describe Iglimpsed a rat sorting the recyclables. Misplaced Modifier

5. Misplaced Modifiers: more examples Misplaced Modifier More beautiful than any human being, theexplorernoticed themermaid.. Moaning in haunting voices, the house contained many ghosts. The word the Misplaced Modifier really describes The word it seems the Misplaced Modifier describes The word it seems the Misplaced Modifier describes Misplaced Modifier The word the Misplaced Modifier really describes

6. Q: How do I fix Misplaced Modifiers?1. Identify the Misplaced Modifier2. Identify the word that is being modified3. Identify the word that should be modified4. Revise the sentence, so that you place modifying phrase as close as possible to the word it modifies.

7. Q: How do I fix Misplaced Modifiers? Incorrect: The professor posted thenotesfor thestudentscovered in class. Correct: The professor posted thenotescovered in classfor thestudents.

8. How to correct Misplaced Modifiers Incorrect: More beautiful than any human being, theexplorernoticed themermaid. Correct: Theexplorernoticed themermaid, who wasmore 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.

9. 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?

10. Dangling Modifiers: Examples Dangling Modifier Using a variety of educational techniques, the students were taught grammar. To improve his essay, each page was proofread. The Dangling Modifier seems to describe “students,” but were the students the ones using the educational techniques? Dangling Modifier The Dangling Modifier seems to describe “page,” but can the pages really improve his essay?

11. Q: How do I fix Dangling Modifiers? • Add a subject right after the dangling modifier • OR • 2. Add the subject into the dangling modifier

12. 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.

13. Your turn: What is wrong with the following sentences? Correct the following sentences by writing them correctly on your own sheet of paper.

14. Your turn: choose 5 of the following sentences to write correctly on your own paper. Show to Ms. Tharel for points! • Sam found a letter in the mailbox that doesn’t belong to her. • Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car seemed to run better. • Bright and full of flowers, Jenny entered the meadow. • With three minutes to write, the exam was nearly finished. • Careful not to make a tear, the delicate paper was wrapped around the gift. • Two cars were reported stolen by the Farmingdale police yesterday. • Take time to look over the brochure that is enclosed with your family. • Removing each other’s fleas, the zoo workers watched the monkeys. • The patient was referred to a psychologist with several emotional problems. • We could see the corn growing from our car window in Kansas.

15. 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.

16. CiNdY iS rAdIcAl!!