Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or. A misplaced modifier happens to modify something that you did not intend to modify, oftenor hopefullywith humorous consequences. While she was playing at the park, lindy accidentally stepped on a piece of glass without any shoes on. Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. Modifiers can include the present participle of a verb ing or the past participle of a verb ed. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. Misplaced modifiers are important to be aware of in order to avoid them, and this quizworksheet will help you test your understanding of their problems and. Above the modifier,write m for misplaced or d for dangling. When a sentence opens with such a modifier, readers expect the following clause to name the actor. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position.
Misplaced and dangling modifiers university of lynchburg. Rewrite each sentence correctly and check the answers using the answer key below. Correcting misplaced modifiers if a modifier appears in the wrong place in a sentence, the meaning of the sentence may be confusing. Smoking my cigar, a fire engine came roaring around the corner. The modifying phrase with her new baby should logically modify how the sister walked. He sat very quietly, rolling his eyes in his chair. Think you understand dangling and misplaced modifiers. I am pretty sure that the misplaced modifier is requires both a subject and a predicate. The most common type of misplaced modifier question on the act english test involves a modifying phrase.
She drove across the desert with a lump in her throat. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. Choose the sentence in which the modifiers are correctly placed. When you are finished, hit the check my work button at the bottom of the page to check your answers. It can add extra information, describe an action, or simply clarify details about a noun in a sentence. Modifiers a modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes another word or group of words in a sentence.
When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Due to the fact that it is a clause that is placed improperly separated from the main modifying word which means that there should be subject and a predicate in order to understand the meaning. You may write the new sentences on notebook paper if you choice. Correct walking to school,i found the morning pleasant. Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, desmond saw moms pristine birthday. When modifiers are misplaced, the reader may misunderstand the sentence. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence. A modifier is a word or group of words that clarifies a noun. Avoid rephrased sentences, focus on the misplacement of the modifiers and the dangling modifiers. Mark lester and larry beason point out that misplaced modifiers do not make sentences ungrammatical. These modifiers may be clauses, phrases, or single words. Note how the placement of the modifier creates different possible meanings. Modifiers are words and phrases that basically modify a word or sentence.
Practice underline the misplaced word or words in each sentence. Such words should be placed immediately before the word they modify. Dangling and misplaced participles often give rise to absurdly humorous scenarios. A modifier a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in a sentence. Displaying top 8 worksheets found for misplaced modifier. This is actually a reallife example of an ad with a modifier glitch. Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a. Grammar can be confusing at times, test yours below. Modifying phrases must go next to the word that they modify. The following sentences contain misplaced modifiers. View each sentence and see if you think there is a problem with either a dangling modifier or a misplaced modifer you may use your notes to help.
Note how different placement of the word only creates a difference in meaning between these two sentences. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to edit confusing sentences with misplaced modifiers. Linguistech is a reference web site for language professionals. The modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it is describing. Misplaced modifiers because word order is often important to the meaning of a sentence, a modifier, be it a phrase or a word, should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Most modifiers are either adjectival these modify nouns or adverbial these modify verbs, adjectives and adverbs. A dangling modifier is much like a misplaced modifier, except the modifier lacks a word or group of words to modify. She got a job with macys after she left school which lasted for more than fifteen years. A misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly. Quia practice quiz dangling and misplaced modifiers. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. Modifiers, used correctly, clarify the meaning of a sentence. A modifier is a word or group of words that describes another word or group of words in a sentence. According to laurie kirszner and stephen mandell in the sixth edition of writing first, a modifier is a word or word group that identifies or describes another word or word group in a sentence.
The artist isnt spouting the water, the blue whale is. On the night of the raid, two police officers arrested mr. A misplaced modifier is an adjective or adverb that is out of position. In other words, they seem to give a better understanding of a word or sentence. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses. This sentence reads as if the keys slipped on the wet sidewalk. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. In prescriptive grammar, misplaced modifiers are usually regarded as errors. It consists of a language technologies tool box, a training and documentation centre and a virtual community. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that doesnt clearly relate to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. Refer to discovery, 320324, for additional practice. If a modifier is in the wrong place, the meaning of the sentence can change.
In the following examples of misplaced modifiers, the adjective in boldface currently modifies the noun it is closest to underlined. Write the correction in the spaces above the sentences, using arrows if necessary to show the correct position of the modifier. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections. Circle the sentence that uses misplaced modifiers or dangling modifier correctly in the following sentences below. This lesson will help you with the following objectives. Make sure to have a writing consultant check your rewritten sentences to ensure their correctness. Slipping on the wet sidewalk, the keys fell from amaurys pocket.
Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. Practice sheet correct the following misplaced or squinting modifiers. In addition, it explains how misplaced modifiers can change the meaning of a sentence. Some of the worksheets for this concept are dangling and misplaced modifiers, misplaced modifiers, 7 misplaced and dangling modifiers, grammar work misplaced and dangling participles, name date misplaced and dangling m e 1, misplaced modifiers, misplaced modifiers introductory project, name date misplaced modifiers. Misplaced modifiers exercises the vehicle was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence with a slightly flat tire. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 9th grade lesson. James outside three rivers stadium on the night of the raid on charges of marijuana possession. Misplaced modifiers exercises answers the following are suggested answers. This misplaced modifiers worksheet is suitable for 6th 9th grade. She saw a kitten and a puppy on the way to the store. A modifier that is incorrectly placed is called a misplaced modifier. To learn more about misplaced modifiers in the context of the acts, read through the lesson called act english practice. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifier that is incorrectly separated from the word or words that it describes.
Modifiers describe, specify, or limit the meanings of other words. In most cases a modifier should be near the word or phrase it modifies. A modifier should be placed next to the word it describes. Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that add detail or description to part of a sentence.
Rearrange the sentence so that it begins with the word being modified or change the modifier to a subordinate clause with a subject and a verb. Determine whether the sentences below contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. We can limit the applicability of this phrase by introducing various modifiers into it. Misplaced modifiers exercises answers the following are. Be careful when using modifiers, especially modifying phrases and clauses.
Misplaced modifiers seem to describe words that the author did not intend them to describe. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a modifier without something to modify. The doll belongs to my sister whose head is missing. This worksheet explains what a modifier is, and then it gives examples and practice identifying them. A modifier is a word or phrase which limits the meaning of another word. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. I hope sometimes to hear the student symphony concerts this semester. Here is a classic example from grockit of a sentence on the act english test with a misplaced modifier. Each of the following sentences are either correct or incorrect. My sister walked in as i was scrubbing the floor with her new baby. A misplaced modifier occurs when the modifier is located too far away from the word it modifies and the sentence does not make sense. Fix the misplaced modifiers in each given sentence. Dangling modifier walking to school,the morning was pleasant. In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether the sentence is a dangling modifier dm or a misplaced modifier mm.
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. When they are out of place, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. No one can shoot anything on this property except the owner. Practice exercise b revise the following sentences to correct any dangling or misplaced modifiers. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes.
Exercise a underline the misplaced modifier or dangling modifier in each sentence. Misplaced modifiers unit 73200 information about misplaced modifiers can be found in 3200frames 14881526. The first worksheet explains what a modifier is, and then it gives examples and practice identifying misplaced modifiers. The only noun in the main clause is water the water was not swimming. The lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier. Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups such as verbal phrases that suggest but do not name an actor. You do complete the worksheet independently, then do the final check independently. I hope to sometime hear one of the student symphony concerts this semester. Looking out of door, the courier delivery guy appeared in front.
The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. Adjectives and adverbs are the most common types of modifiers, but there are others. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. Choose the most suitable answer that identifies either dangling or misplaced modifier in the sentence. A dangling modifier as a misplaced modifier eries public schools. The vehicle had a slightly flat tire and was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence. Students then have to pick the correct sentences that do not have misplaced modifiers.