What is a misplaced modifier? How to fix misplaced modifiers One-word modifiers Phrase modifiers Clause modifiers Review A Review B Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
What is a misplaced modifier? How to fix misplaced modifiers One-word modifiers Phrase modifiers Clause modifiers Review A Review B Correcting Misplaced.
Dec 28, 2015
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What is a misplaced modifier?
How to fix misplaced modifiers
One-word modifiers
Phrase modifiers
Clause modifiers
Review A
Review B
Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
What is a misplaced modifier?
In each position, almost modifies a different word.
The placement of one little word can make a big difference.
Most, but not all, of the students have finished.
everyone has finished the test.
Notice how the meaning of this sentence changes when almost is moved from one place to another.
All of the students have come close to finishing.
AlmostEveryone has finished the test.almost
NounNoun
Participial phrase
A word, phrase, or clause that seems to modify the wrong word or word group in a sentence is called a misplaced modifier.
What is a misplaced modifier?
Are the guest houses visiting the coast?
No, it is the tourists who visit the coast. The phrase visiting the coast should be placed closer to tourists.
Tourists can stay in guest houses visiting the coast.
Was the deer on his way to work?
NounNoun
Prepositional phrase
Some misplaced modifiers can be funny.
What is a misplaced modifier?
Bo saw a deer running over a hill on his way to work.
Common sense tells us that Bo, not the deer, was on his way to work.
But the noun deer is closer to the modifying phrase, so it sounds as though the deer is on his way to work.
The mayor said yesterday her opponent spoke honestly.
A misplaced modifier that seems to modify either of two words is called a squinting modifier.
What is a misplaced modifier?Squinting modifiers
VerbVerb
Adverb
Did the mayor say it yesterday?
Or did her opponent speak yesterday?
Startled, the noise made the kitten jump in the air.
A misplaced modifier can be a one-word adjective or adverb, a phrase, or a clause.
Participial phrase
Adverb clause
Adjective
What is a misplaced modifier?
She has a picture of her children sitting on her desk.
Fred said before he left he would wash the dishes.
OR
OR
OR
On Your Own
[End of Section]
What is a misplaced modifier?
Determine whether the underlined word or phrase is a misplaced modifier. Write M for a misplaced modifier or C if the modifier is not misplaced.
___ 1. One observer sighted a plane through binoculars that she could not identify.
___ 2. Please tell Terry when he gets home Mom wants him to make dinner.
___ 3. Refreshed, we got an early start the next day.
about wasps.
Place modifying words, phrases, and clauses as near as possible to the words they modify.
How to fix misplaced modifiers
Where should these two phrases be placed in this sentence?
Scott found a book.
checking the shelves
about wasps
Scott found a bookChecking the shelves,Who was checking the shelves? Scott was.
What is about wasps? The book is.
Mr. Reyes has read the essays but nothing else.
Be especially careful to place these modifiers right before the word they modify, so that your meaning is clear.
How to fix misplaced modifiersOne-word modifiers
almost even hardly just
merely nearly not only
Mr. Reyes has read only the essays.
Only Mr. Reyes has read the essays.
Mr. Reyes, and no one else, has read the essays.
=
=
When a sentence contains several modifying phrases, follow these steps to make sure none of them are misplaced.
How to fix misplaced modifiersPhrase modifiers
Step 1: Find the basic sentence.
Bill caught six fish on the lake in his favorite spot using fancy lures.
Bill caught six fish.
How to fix misplaced modifiersPhrase modifiers
Phrase 1:
Bill caught six fish
in his favorite spot
This phrase should modify caught.
Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify.
in his favorite spot.
Bill caught six fish in his favorite spot on the lake.
How to fix misplaced modifiersPhrase modifiers
Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify.
Phrase 2: on the lake
This phrase should modify spot.
How to fix misplaced modifiersPhrase modifiers
Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify.
Phrase 3: using fancy lures
This phrase should modify Bill.
Bill caught six fish in his favorite spot on the lake.
Using fancy lures,
Step 1: Determine which word or word group the clause should be modifying.
Adjective clause
Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.
Adjective clause
When a modifying clause seems to be misplaced, follow these steps to fix the sentence.
How to fix misplaced modifiersClause modifiers
Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.
OR
The clause should modify vase.
Step 2: Determine whether a phrase or another clause is coming between the clause and the word it should be modifying.
Prep. phrase
How to fix misplaced modifiersClause modifiers
The prepositional phrase separates the adjective clause from the noun it modifies, vase.
Adjective clause
Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.on the table
Adjective clause
How to fix misplaced modifiersClause modifiers
Step 3: Decide where to move the phrase or clause that is causing the confusion.
Curt set the vase that he had made
Moving the phrase to the end of the sentence eliminates the confusion. Now, the clause is next to word it modifies.
on the table.
Prep. phrase
Adjective clause
Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.on the table
Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier.
1. At the meeting the mayor discussed the cost of draining the swamp with city council members.
2. My nephew told me that he wanted to become a doctor when he was six years old.
3. Brook and I spotted several deer kayaking down the river.
4. The coach said in the locker room the team had played their best.
[End of Section]
How to fix misplaced modifiers
On Your Own
[End of Section]
Identify the misplaced modifier in each sentence.
1. Mom promised if I would buy gas I could borrow her car.
2. The chipmunks hid the nuts they collected in the tree.
3. I found some letters my grandfather had written in the attic.
4. The weather forecaster said yesterday the winds would be dying down.
5. The car safely left the road that had a flat tire.
Review A
4. Maya practiced the song she would sing onstage repeatedly.
[End of Section]
Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier.
Review B
1. According to the experts, the mummy had nearly been buried for four thousand years.
2. Alex saw a wild rabbit riding his bike on the trail.
3. Remind Lyle before our trip to Greece he must get his passport renewed.
5. When they got off the bus, the rows of shops attracted the tourists.
The End
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