2. English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. English Essentials John Langan Beth Johnson Chapter Twenty Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

3. English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 2 When building a sentence, avoid needless separation of related parts of the sentence. –A misplaced modifier is positioned in a sentence so that it is unclear which word, phrase, or clause is modified. Misplaced Parts

4. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 3 almost, only, just, even, hardly, nearlymerelyModifiers such as almost, only, just, even, hardly, nearly, and merely, should be placed immediately before the words they modify. –Example: My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. This sentence indicates that the mother only works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk. almost, only, just, even, hardly, nearlymerelyModifiers such as almost, only, just, even, hardly, nearly, and merely, should be placed immediately before the words they modify. –Example: My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. This sentence indicates that the mother only works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk. Misplaced Parts

5. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 We must place the modifier before a different word so the sentence is clearly understood. Ex.: My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. Revised: My mother works only on Saturdays and Sundays. Misplaced Parts

6. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 A modifying phrase should clearly indicate what the phrase modifies. Example….. Her job is to file newspaper articles about handgun use in the library.Example….. Her job is to file newspaper articles about handgun use in the library. Revised….. Her job in the library is to file newspaper articles about handgun use.Revised….. Misplaced Parts

7. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 6 Modifying clauses should be placed near the words they modify. Modifying clauses should be placed near the words they modify. Example….. The librarian explains how they use the computer to do research before the class begins.Example….. The librarian explains how they use the computer to do research before the class begins. Revised….. Before the class begins, the librarian explains how they use the computer to do research.Revised….. Before the class begins, the librarian explains how they use the computer to do research. Modifying Clauses

8. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 7 Dangling Modifiers A modifier that opens a sentence must be followed immediately by the word it is meant to describe. Otherwise, the result is a

9. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 8 Dangling Modifiers Here’s an example: Jumping from limb to limb, the spectators at the zoo were delighted by the monkeys. (The spectators weren’t jumping, were they?)

10. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9 Dangling Modifiers That’s the trouble with Your sentences take on an unintended meaning. Let’s correct the sentence about the monkeys.

11. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 10 Dangling Modifiers Incorrect: Jumping from limb to limb, the spectators at the zoo were delighted by the monkeys.Correct: Jumping from limb to limb, the monkeys delighted the spectators at the zoo. How did the sentence change?

12. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 11 Dangling Modifiers We put the subject right after the opening word group. Jumping from limb to limb, the delighted the spectators at the zoo. Can we fix the sentence another way?

13. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 12 Dangling Modifiers Yes! We can place the subject within the opening word group. While the were jumping from limb to limb, they delighted the spectators at the zoo. Let’s review...

14. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers English Essentials ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 13 Correcting Dangling Modifiers Decide on a logical subject, and do one of the following: 1. Place the subject right after the opening word group.OR 2. Place the subject within the opening word group.