Misplaced Modifiers 23-24

COMPETENCIES:
Define the terms modifier.

Identify misplaced modifier in
sentences.
Correct misplaced modifiers in
sentences.
Modifier
–An expression that limits or describes another

word or phrase
–Words, phrases, or subordinate clauses
–Example: Little boats (little describes boats)

2
Types of Modifiers
• Adjectives - modify nouns or pronouns
– Little boats stay close to shore.
• Adverbs - modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs
– Little boats sail slowly. (adverb)
Not usually a problem
Can be problematic
• Participial phrases - function as adjectives and are participles (verbs ending in -ing) plus other
words
– Having no GPS, our boat stays close to shore.
• Prepositional phrases - function as adjectives or adverbs, preposition + noun or noun equivalent
– With only one sail, our boat stays close to shore.
• Infinitive phrases- as modifiers can function as adjectives or adverbs
– To avoid risk, we sail our boat close to shore.
• Subordinate clauses - as modifiers they contain a subject + verb but function as adjectives or
adverbs
– Little boats that stay close to shore avoid taking risks. 3
Misplaced modifier
 A modifier in the wrong place in a sentence.
 Makes sentences awkward, confusing, or
(unintentionally) humorous.
 Example
Tyler almost found fifty cents under the sofa cushions.
Correct placement of modifiers:
 General Rule: Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they
modify.
 One-word modifiers go before the word or phrase they
modify
 Example
Tyler almost found fifty cents under the sofa cushions.
Tyler found almost fifty cents under the sofa cushions.
Types of Modifiers
Words, phrases, or subordinate clauses

WORD
– Little boats slowly sail. (adverb)
6
 Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.
modify
 Example
There are two parking only spaces left in the lot.
There are only two parking spaces left in the lot.
 Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.
modify
 Example
We need gas badly.
We badly need gas.
Remember!
One-word modifiers can easily be misplaced.
Always be mindful of the following words:

almost, even, exactly, hardly, just, merely,
nearly, only, scarcely, simply, etc
Types of Modifiers
Can be problematic
PHRASE
• Participial phrases - function as adjectives and
are participles (verbs ending in -ing) plus other
words
–Having no GPS, our boat stays close to shore.
10
Misplaced phrase modifier:
 Buffy called her adorable kitten opening the
can of food and filled the bowl.
Correctly placed phrase modifier:
 Opening the can of food, Buffy called her
adorable kitten and filled the bowl.
 The mysterious woman walked toward the
car holding an umbrella.
 Holding an umbrella, the mysterious woman
walked toward the car.
Types of Modifiers
Can be problematic
PHRASE
• Prepositional phrases - function as adjectives or
adverbs, preposition + noun or noun equivalent
–Our boat, with only one sail, stays close to
shore.
13
 The patient was referred to the physician
with stomach pains.
 The patient with stomach pains was
referred to the physician.
 The young lady was walking the dog on the
telephone.
 The young lady on the telephone was
walking the dog.
 I heard that there was a robbery on the
evening news.
 I heard on the evening news that there was
a robbery.
Types of Modifiers
Can be problematic
PHRASE
• Infinitive phrases- as modifiers can
function as adjectives or adverbs
–To avoid risk, we sail our boat close to
shore.
17
 The plug must be in the outlet to operate
correctly.
 To operate correctly, the plug must be in the
outlet.
 Jennifer studies grammar to write well.

 To write well, Jennifer studies grammar.
Types of Modifiers
Can be problematic
CLAUSE
• Subordinate clauses - as modifiers they
contain a subject + verb but function as
adjectives or adverbs
–Little boats that stay close to shore avoid
taking risks. 20
Misplaced clause modifier:
 She wore a bicycle helmet on her head that
was too large.
Correctly placed clause modifier:
 She wore a bicycle helmet that was too
large on her head.
 We returned the wine to the waiter that was
sour.
 We returned the wine that was sour to the
waiter.
 We are looking for a babysitter for our
precious six-year-old who doesn’t drink or
smoke and owns a car.

 We are looking for a babysitter who doesn’t
drink or smoke and owns a car for our
precious six-year-old.
Simple Drills:
1. Uncle Louie bought a running stroller for the baby
that he called “Speed Racer.”
2. The teacher served cookies to the children wrapped
in aluminum foil.
3. Charlie spotted a stray puppy driving home from
work.
4. To raise the money for charity, a plan was developed
by Mason.
5. The man was stopped for speeding in the blue
sweater.
Drills:
1. I almost saw the whole movie, but I around
midnight fell asleep.
2. Joe promised to mow the lawn running out the
door.
3. The initials were those of the lovers carved on the
tree.
4. The cat was rescued after the building had been set
on fire by a fireman.
5. He was told to take the pill every four hours by the
doctor.
Drills:
6. I smoked my last cigarette sitting on the porch.
7. The woman walked toward us wearing the feather

hat.
8. The jet crashed into a cliff carrying 155 passengers.
9. I hardly ate any breakfast.
10. I watched the mechanic fix the car with admiration.

Drills:
11. I earn fifty dollars a week scarcely.
12. I found the bag of cookies reaching into the

cupboard.
13. We borrowed a mower from a neighbor that was

broken.
14. We saw a squirrel climbing up the telephone pole .
15. Mel disappeared around the bend running rapidly.

Drills:
16. We've almost found all the pieces to the puzzle.
17. She vowed on her birthday to go on a diet.
18. The jacket was just too small in the store.
19. The pedestrian was hit by a car sitting on the curb.
20. The waiter served a dinner roll to the woman that

was well buttered.

Misplaced Modifiers 23-24

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COMPETENCIES:

Define the terms modifier.

–An expression that limits or describes another

–Example: Little boats (little describes boats)

• Adjectives - modify nouns or pronouns

Always be mindful of the following words:

Correctly placed phrase modifier:

Correctly placed clause modifier:

7. The woman walked toward us wearing the feather

8. The jet crashed into a cliff carrying 155 passengers.

9. I hardly ate any breakfast.

10. I watched the mechanic fix the car with admiration.

12. I found the bag of cookies reaching into the

13. We borrowed a mower from a neighbor that was

14. We saw a squirrel climbing up the telephone pole .

15. Mel disappeared around the bend running rapidly.

17. She vowed on her birthday to go on a diet.

18. The jacket was just too small in the store.

19. The pedestrian was hit by a car sitting on the curb.

20. The waiter served a dinner roll to the woman that

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