WRITING CENTER

Modifiers

CONTENTS Click on any heading below to jump directly to that topic.

MISPLACED MODIFIERS .................................................................................................. 1
LIMITING MODIFIERS ..................................................................................................... 2
DANGLING MODIFIERS ................................................................................................... 2
FREE MODIFIERS ........................................................................................................... 3
PRACTICE EXERCISES ..................................................................................................... 4

Modifiers are parts of speech that give more information or descriptions to nouns or verbs in
a sentence. Modifiers are found either in the adjectival or adverbial form. Generally,
adjectives will modify nouns and adverbs will modify verbs. Modifiers can be single words or
entire phrases.

MISPLACED MODIFIERS
To avoid a misplaced modifier, place modifiers as close to the modified words as possible.
Examples: INCORRECT: The fugitive was described as a five-foot tall man with a
moustache weighing 130 pounds. weighing 130 pounds should be
modifying man in this sentence, but the placement of the modifier makes
it seem like the moustache weighed 130 pounds, not the man
CORRECT: The fugitive was described as a five-foot tall man weighing 130
pounds, with a moustache.

INCORRECT: The dress is hanging on the clothesline that I have been

sewing on for weeks.
CORRECT: The dress that I have been sewing on for weeks is on the
clothesline.

Move awkwardly placed modifiers, especially modifying phrases. When modifying nouns, the
modifier is usually placed before the noun it modifies.
Example: INCORRECT: Daniel, after taking a long summer vacation, had trouble
adjusting to regular life as a student. The sentence is not incorrect, but the
placement of the modifier makes it awkward.
CORRECT: After taking a long summer vacation, Daniel had trouble
adjusting to regular life as a student.

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Modifiers

AVOID SPLITTING INFINITIVES

Avoid splitting infinitives with a modifying phrase. An infinitive is to plus a verb: to run, to
leave, to see, etc. An infinitive is split when a word is placed between to and the verb.
Example: INCORRECT: Students should try to whenever possible get enough rest.
This sentence has a split infinitive: to is split by whenever possible and
separated from the rest of the phrase get enough rest.
CORRECT: Students should try to get enough rest whenever possible.

LIMITING MODIFIERS
For clear meaning, put limiting modifiers—such as almost, even, just, merely, nearly,
not, and only—in front of or right after the words they modify.

Note: Limit the use of these words in academic writing, as they tend to weaken your
argument.
Example: INCORRECT: Almost a handful of students attended the wrong lecture.
almost is intended to modify the verb attended, so it should be placed
near the verb
CORRECT: A handful of students almost attended the wrong lecture.

DANGLING MODIFIERS
Dangling modifiers happen when the word to be modified is absent or implied. The modifier
“dangles” because it does not refer to any particular subject and often occurs at the start or
end of sentences. Dangling modifiers make the meaning of the sentence absurd because the
modifier either seems to modify a word which it cannot sensibly modify, or is left without any
word to modify at all. To correct a dangling modifier, either rearrange the words in the
sentence or add words to make the meaning logical and clear.
Examples: INCORRECT: The mountains were snow-covered and cloudless, flying over
the Rockies. Mountains cannot fly, so an “actor” needs to be included in
the sentence. Placing the modifying phrase at the start of the sentence
clarifies the meaning.
CORRECT: Flying over the Rockies, we saw the snow-covered and
cloudless mountains.

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Modifiers

INCORRECT: Hopelessly baffled by the problem, our teacher was asked for
the right answer.
CORRECT: Hopelessly baffled by the problem, we asked our teacher for
the right answer.

FREE MODIFIERS
Free modifiers are phrases that can appear at the beginning (initial modifier), middle (medial
modifier), or end (final modifier) of sentences. These types of modifiers add detail to written
work and are usually set off with commas.

Often, free modifiers can be moved to different places in the sentence, while maintaining
correct grammatical formatting.
Examples: INITIAL MODIFIER: A comprehensive history final, the test lasted a full
two hours.
MEDIAL MODIFIER: The test, a comprehensive history final, lasted a full
two hours.
FINAL MODIFIER: The test lasted a full two hours, a comprehensive
history final.

At other times, changing the location of the modifier changes the meaning of the sentence.
Examples: INITIAL MODIFIER: Tossing her books on the table, she ran into the
kitchen and grabbed a snack.
MEDIAL MODIFIER: She ran into the kitchen, tossing her books on the
table, and grabbed a snack.
FINAL MODIFIER: She ran into the kitchen and grabbed a snack, tossing
her book on the table.

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Modifiers

PRACTICE EXERCISES
Eliminate the dangling modifiers in the following sentences by rewriting each sentence so
that each modifier clearly modifies a word in the sentence. You will have to supply the words.
1. Just after eating my lunch, the telephone rang.

2. When putting on lipstick, a mirror is needed.

3. Strolling through the French Quarter, the cafes particularly impressed me.

4. Being very hungry, this sandwich looks as good as fried chicken to me.

5. When shaving, Mother often tells Dad about her plans for the day.

Underline the free modifier in the following sentences.

1. A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.
—A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

2. Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.

—James Baldwin

3. Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly.

—Kazuo Ishiguro

4. Sensing a possible rival, I watched him warily, wondering who he was.

—Ralph Ellison

Last edited: 05/26/2021 DRR 4