Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

Common Core Standards: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.aCCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.a Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.cCCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.c Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.

Essential Question Can you recognize and correct misplaced and dangling modifiers?

A modifier describes some other word in a sentence. For example, the sentence below has several modifiers: Amy's favorite red purse, the one she always carries, was stolen last week. Amy's favorite red -- describes the purse Always-- describes the verb ”carries. Last-- describes ”week” the one she always carries-- a descriptive phrase, describes “purse”

Wait! What is a CLAUSE? Modifiers-- words, phrases, or clauses that provide description in sentences Clause--- A group of Subject - Predicate construction Example: My dog Fido, who loves pizza crusts, eats under the kitchen table.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DANGLING MODIFIERS AND MISPLACED MODIFIERS?

Dangling Modifiers do not have a clear term to modify in a sentence. Example: Climbing the mountain, my backpack fell in the mud. Modifier- “Climbing the mountain” What it modifies- “I” PROBLEM: It sound as if the backpack was climbing the mountain Correct: My backpack fell in the mud as I was climbing the mountain. DANGLING MODIFIERS

Misplaced Modifiers do not clearly associate with the word or phrase they modify. Example: He gave his sister the stuffed bear with a polka-dot dress. Modifier: “with a polka-dot dress” What it modifies: “sister ” PROBLEM: It sound as if the bear has a polka-dot dress. Correct: He gave the stuffed bear to his sister with a polka-dot dress. MISPLACED MODIFIERS

The boy ate a pizza. who has a mohawk loaded with cheese and sausage Whimpering for a dog bone Sentence modifiers Where do they go? (choices on next slide)

Make the A. The boy, loaded with cheese and sausage, ate a pizza. B. The boy ate a pizza who has a mohawk. C. Whimpering for a dog bone, the boy ate a pizza. D. The boy, who has a mohawk, ate a pizza loaded with cheese and sausage. Make the sign for the letter that you think is correct.

A. The boy, loaded with cheese and sausage, ate a pizza. B. The boy ate a pizza who has a mohawk. C. Whimpering for a dog bone, the boy ate a pizza. D. The boy, who has a mohawk, ate a pizza loaded with cheese and sausage. misplaced dangling ANSWERS: correct!

See the humor?

Let’s look at an example of misplaced modifiers. Then, you will analyze some on your own.

Driving up in a police car, the lost child was found. What is the modifier? What did the writer INTEND to say? What did the writer incorrectly say?

Driving up in a police car, the lost child was found. What is the modifier? What did the writer INTEND to say? What did the writer incorrectly say? Driving up in the police car Driving up in a police car, the officer found the lost child. The lost child was driving up in a police car.

1. The thief was arrested after the house was robbed by the police chief. What is the modifier? What did the writer INTEND to say? What did the writer incorrectly say? Was robbed by the police chief The house was robbed by the thief The house was robbed by the police chief

2. We saw several peacocks on vacation in Florida. What is the modifier? What did the writer INTEND to say? What did the writer incorrectly say? on vacation in Florida We were on vacation in Florida the peacocks were on vacation in Florida

3. After doing my chores, my mom gave me a dollar. What is the modifier? What did the writer INTEND to say? What did the writer incorrectly say? After doing my chores After I did my chores, After mom did my chores

4. I saw a bear on the way to work. What is the modifier? What did the writer INTEND to say? What did the writer incorrectly say? on the way to work On the way to work, I saw a bear. A bear was on the way to work