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Lesson 4 - Modifiers

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23 views19 pages

Lesson 4 - Modifiers

Uploaded by

hillaryevee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Misplaced

and
Dangling
Modifiers
Avoiding Common Sentence Errors
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Identify misplaced and dangling modifiers in sentences.


• Revise sentences to correct these errors.
• Write clear and effective sentences without modifier issues.
What Are Modifiers?

Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide


description or detail in a sentence.

Examples:
• Single word: quickly, happy, bright
• Phrase: running through the park
• Clause: who won the race
COMMON MISTAKE IN USING MODIFIERS

 Misplaced Modifiers
 Dangling Modifiers
Read the sentences.

I saw an unusual
tree walking
yesterday.

The man went to


see a dentist with a
toothache.

The green
children's rain
boots are on sale
today.

Do you notice anything?


Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is positioned so far from the word it


modifies that it creates confusion or changes the
meaning.

Examples:

I saw an unusual tree walking yesterday.


The sentence
has a misplaced
modifier. How
I saw an unusual tree walking yesterday.
can it be
corrected?
A modifier is a word or group of
This sentence could be correct if trees walked. Since
that's not likely, move the modifier “walking yesterday”
words that describe other words next to “I” to show it is modifying the subject of the
or phrases. Typically, a modifier sentence.
goes before or after the word it
Walking yesterday, I saw an unusual tree.
is describing. A misplaced
modifier is one that has been
placed next to the wrong word,
making the sentence unclear.
The man went to see a dentist with a toothache.

In this sentence, it's the dentist who has the toothache, not the man.
The modifier “with a toothache” should go next to “man” unless the dentist has a toothache.

The man with a toothache went to see a dentist.


The green children's rain boots are on sale today.

It's more likely that the rain boots are green and not the children.
To correct this sentence, place the modifier “green” before “rain boots.”

The children's green rain boots are on sale today.


How can you correct the misplaced modifiers in these
sentences?
He put the squeaky dog's
toy on the rug.

They picked colorful


flowers for their guests
from their garden.

She brought a basket to


her friend filled with
apples.
Read the sentences. Do you notice anything wrong?

Hiking on the trail, the


wind was blowing
strongly. Having finished the
report, the computer
was
turned off.

To become an excellent
cook, many recipes must
be made.
Dangling Modifiers

A dangling modifier has no clear word to modify in the


sentence, leaving the description unclear.

Examples:

Hiking on the trail, the wind was blowing


strongly.
This sentence
has dangling Hiking on the trail, the wind was
blowing strongly.
modifier. How
can they be
Sentences with dangling modifiers sound awkward. In
this case, it sounds like the wind was hiking on the

corrected?
A dangling modifier is different trail. One way to correct a sentence with a dangling

from a misplaced modifier. modifier is to add a subject to the modifier. In the

Unlike a misplaced modifier, a revised sentence, hiking on the trail modifies the

dangling modifier does not have subject.


anything to modify, or describe, Hiking on the trail, they felt the
in the sentence. The word, or wind blowing strongly.
subject, it is supposed to
describe is missing from the
sentence.
Having finished the report, the computer was turned off.

Sentences with dangling modifiers can also be rearranged and reworded


to sound less awkward and more concise.

Joseph turned off the computer after finishing his report.


To become an excellent cook, many recipes must be made.

There isn't just one way to revise a sentence with a


dangling modifier. Try rearranging it or changing the
words to see what sounds best. And always make sure
the sentence has a clear subject.

You must experiment with many recipes to become an excellent cook.


How can you correct the dangling modifiers in these
sentences?
Walking to school, rain
clouds were moving closer.

While reading the


book, the lights were Singing fearlessly, the
flickering. audience was cheering.
Strategies to Correct Modifiers

1. Identify the modifier.


2. Ensure that it is close to the word it modifies.
3. Revise dangling modifiers by adding a clear subject.
Practice Time!

Identify and correct the errors.


1. Walking to school, the rain soaked my shoes.
2. She served cake to the children on paper plates.
3. Covered in frosting, Tom enjoyed the birthday cake.
Determine whether it contains a misplaced modifier, a
dangling modifier, or no error.
1.Sitting on the bench, the dog barked at the stranger walking by.
2.Running to catch the bus, Sarah's backpack fell off.
3.The students who wanted to learn quickly finished the book.
4.To finish the project on time, careful planning is required.
5.Smiling brightly, the photographer took the couple’s photo.
6.Covered in sauce, the child enjoyed the pasta.
7.After studying for hours, the exam was still very difficult.
8.The pizza was delivered to the wrong address by mistake.
9.Having overslept, the train was missed by John.
10.The old man walked slowly across the street, holding his cane.

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