Lost and Dangling Modifiers
Lost and Dangling Modifiers
Q: What is a
modifier?
A: a word or phrase that qualifies (modifies)
a word, phrase or clause
Types:
– adjectives (modify nouns and pronouns) (for
example: the RED house)
– adverbs (modify verbs) (for example: he ran
QUICKLY)
– modifier phrases (modify an action or an
actor) (LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, he noticed
that he was late)
Q: What is a misplaced
modifier?
A: a misplaced modifier is a
word or word group whose
placement suggests that it
modifies one word or phrase
when it is intended to modify
another.
Misplaced Modifiers
i. More beautiful than any human being,
the explorer noticed the mermaid.
ii. Wild and untamed, Jack entered the
jungle.
iii. Moaning in haunting voices, the house
contained many ghosts.
Q: How do I fix it?
A: Revise the sentence, taking
care to put modifying words,
phrases, and clauses in a
position that clearly identifies the
headword and that does not
awkwardly interrupt a sentence.
HINT: Usually, you can just
expand the main clause.
Examples:
Incorrect: More beautiful than any
human being, the explorer
noticed the mermaid.
Correct:
To improve his essay, David
proofread each page.
Examples:
Incorrect:
While reading the novel, the
pages that contain important
information should be marked.
Correct:
While reading the novel, you
should mark the pages that
contain important information.
Self Test: