Misplaced Modifiers PPSH

MISPLACED MODIFIERS
What are Modifiers?
 Modifiers are words or phrases that further explain or modify an action or a noun.
 Misplaced modifiers are words or phrases that are not located properly in relation to
the words they modify. Thus, the sentences tend to be illogical or confusing in meaning.
 How do we know if a sentence has a misplaced modifier?
It rarely makes sense if you analyse it carefully. For example:
Example 1
Sentence A painting was placed on the couch that Anna had painted.
The modifier that Anna had painted
The Problem The verb "painted" modifies "couch" not "painting"
Correction A painting that Anna had painted was placed on the couch.
The example above is a misplaced modifier. To rectify this grammar error, rewrite the sentence
so that you place the modifiers as close as possible to the words, phrases, or clauses they
modify.
Example 2
Sentence: The grocer wrapped the vegetables for the customers picked from the shelves.
The Problem: The modifier, “picked from the shelves,” appears to modify “the customers.”
Because the customers are not picked from the shelves, this is a misplaced
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modifier.
Correction: The grocer wrapped the vegetables picked from the shelves for the customers.
A modifier can also be a word that describes another word. One-word modifiers include only,
even, almost, hardly, nearly and often. These are also known as limiting modifiers. Different
placements of these one-word modifiers in a sentence provide different interpretations.
Consider the meanings of these sentences:

o I drafted only letters.
o I only drafted letters.
The first sentence I drafted only letters means that I drafted nothing but letters - no report, no
minutes, just letters.
The second sentence I only drafted letters means that all I did was to draft letters. I didn't
read, edit, correct, or modify them. I only drafted them.
How about these sentences?
a) Only Ali cleans his plate.

b) Ali only cleans his plate.
c) Ali cleans only his plate.
Sentences Meanings
Only Ali clean his plate; everyone else does not clean
a) Only Ali cleans his plate
their plates.
Ali only cleans the plate; he does not do other than

b) Ali only cleans his plate.
cleaning the plate such as drying the plate or putting it
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back on the drying rack.
c) Ali cleans only his plate. Ali cleans only his plate; he does not clean other
people’s plates.
Checklist to prevent misplaced modifiers
 Locate a modifier.
 Locate the word it is modifying.
 Make sure the modifier is as close as possible to the word or phrase it is modifying.
 Place limiting modifiers (only, even, almost, nearly, just) in front of the words they modify.
UNCLEAR (×) CLEAR (√)

You will only need to draft one pile of letters. You will need to draft only one pile of letters.
("Only" modifies "one," not "need.")
Modifying phrases and clauses should be placed close to what they modify.

The interviewer was described as a four-foot- The interviewer was described as a four-foot-
petite man with a large mole on his nose petite man weighing 200 pounds with a large
weighing 200 pounds. mole on his nose. ("200 pounds" describes the
man, not the nose.)
Sentences should flow from subject to verb to object without lengthy detours along the way.
When adverbs separate subject from verb, verb from object, or helping-verb from main-verb, the
result can be awkward or confusing.

Tia, after failing to revive the baby, decided to After failing to revive the baby, Tia decided to
seek for assistance. seek for assistance. (Subject and verb are no
longer separated.)
Infinitives ("to" + verb, such as: "to go," "to catch," "to shout") usually should not be split unless
necessary, especially in formal writing.

The long-suffering man must try to, if possible, If possible, the long suffering man must try to
stay away from fatty food. stay away from fatty food.
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Exercise 1
Use the following steps to check for Misplaced Modifiers.
i. Find the modifier.

ii. Make sure the modifier has something to modify.
iii. Make sure the modifier is as close as possible to the word, phrase, or clause it modifies.
1. The man informed me all about his upcoming projects in the green suit.
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Responding to the foreign substance, the scientists observed the chemical.
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. The lady shouted across the street wearing a Wonder Woman costume.
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. I can’t believe the municipal council has almost torn down the whole historical building.
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. The security guard was so exhausted that he nearly had forty winks just now.
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. We saw a rubbish dumping site on the way to the campus.
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. We saw a tent behind the building made of plastic sheets.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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8. Spark plugs at any automobile service centres are available.
______________________________________________________________________________
9. You will only need to plant one row of corn. (intended meaning: plant one row of corn; not
more than one)
______________________________________________________________________________
10. An object when it vibrates in air produces sound.
______________________________________________________________________________

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MISPLACED MODIFIERS

What are Modifiers?

The modifier that Anna had painted

The Problem The verb "painted" modifies "couch" not "painting"

Consider the meanings of these sentences:

How about these sentences?

a) Only Ali cleans his plate.

Ali only cleans the plate; he does not do other than

Checklist to prevent misplaced modifiers

UNCLEAR (×) CLEAR (√)

UNCLEAR (×) CLEAR (√)

UNCLEAR (×) CLEAR (√)

UNCLEAR (×) CLEAR (√)

Use the following steps to check for Misplaced Modifiers.

i. Find the modifier.

2. Responding to the foreign substance, the scientists observed the chemical.

6. We saw a rubbish dumping site on the way to the campus.

7. We saw a tent behind the building made of plastic sheets.

10. An object when it vibrates in air produces sound.

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