Placing Modifiers Correctly Dangling Modifiers Placing Modifiers Correctly

What is a misplaced modifier? A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies/describes. Because of the separation, sentences with this error often sound awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. Furthermore, they can be illogical.

Misplaced Modifier A misplaced modifier item might look like this . . . Broken and dusty, Steven found an old computer in the garage. Broken and dusty, the garage had an old computer that was found by Steven. In the garage, Steven found an old computer that was broken and dusty. The computer — not Steven, not the garage — is broken and dusty.

Place a present participle phrase right before or right after the word it describes. Present participle: verb + ing Dripping with hot fudge and whipped cream, the children ate banana splits. The children ate banana splits dripping with hot fudge and whipped cream. That sounds as if the children are dripping with the hot fudge! Okay! Now the banana splits are dripping with hot fudge!

Place a past participle phrase right before or right after the word it describes. Past participle: regular = verb + ed (irregular forms vary) In the living room, Sergio kicked the television angered by the football score. Angered by the football score, Sergio kicked the television in the living room. Is the television is angered by the football score? Right! This sounds as if Sergio is angered by the football score!

Place an adjective clause right after the word it describes. An adjective clause begins with a word such as that, which, or who. The landscaper wrestled the old lawnmower through the long grass that coughed and choked. The landscaper wrestled the old lawnmower that coughed and choked through the long grass. Have you ever heard grass cough and choke? That makes sense! An old lawn mower can cough and choke!

To place modifiers correctly, avoid passive voice verbs. Passive voice: form of be + past participle + by. Typing furiously, the essay was finished by Maria just before the 3 P.M. deadline. Typing furiously, Maria finished the essay by the 3 P.M. deadline. I wish my essays typed themselves! But, that’s just not logical! This is logical! Maria can type an essay!

Quick Test Directions: In the items that follow, choose the sentence in which the modifiers are correctly placed.

Item 1 Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, John Henry saw Mom’s pristine birthday cake. John Henry, sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, saw Mom’s pristine birthday cake Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, Mom’s pristine birthday cake caught John Henry’s attention.

Item 2 Loudly slurping the bowl of hot soup, Maria’s impolite behavior annoyed the other diner patrons. As Maria loudly slurped the bowl of hot soup, her impolite behavior annoyed the other diner patrons. Loudly slurping the hot soup, the other diner patrons were annoyed by Maria’s impolite behavior.

Item 3 Seated by the window, Brianda munched popcorn on the long bus ride home. Seated by the window, popcorn was munched by Brianda on the long bus ride home. Brianda munched popcorn seated by the window on the long bus ride home.

Item 4 Yaya struggled up the three flights of stairs in her new jeans, which were too tight for comfort. Too tight for comfort, Yaya struggled up the three flights of stairs in her new jeans. In her new jeans, Yaya struggled up three flights of stairs, which were too tight for comfort.

Item 5 Twisting in the strong wind, we knew the hurricane was close as we watched the trees. We knew the hurricane was close as we watched the trees twisting in the strong wind. We knew the hurricane was close, twisting in the wind, as we watched the trees.

Item 6 Applying red fingernail polish, Brahndo asked Janet if she could interrupt her beauty regimen to go to the mall. Brahndo asked Janet , who was applying fingernail polish, if she could interrupt her beauty regimen to go to the mall. Brahndo asked if Janet could interrupt her beauty regimen to go to the mall, which was applying fingernail polish.

Item 7 Struggling with the Algebra problem, the pencil tapped nervously on Sergio’s desk. Struggling with the Algebra problem, Sergio’s desk was tapped nervously with the pencil. Struggling with the Algebra problem, Sergio nervously tapped his pencil on the desk.

Item 8 Marking her score sheet with care, the hope this week was that Brianda would pass her vocabulary quiz. Marking her score sheet with care, Brianda hoped that this week she would pass her vocabulary quiz. Hoping that this week she would pass her vocabulary quiz, the score sheet was marked carefully by Brianda.

Item 9 Splashing in the puddles left by the thunderstorm, Steven cooled his hot feet. Splashing in the puddles left by the thunderstorm, the cool water refreshed Steven’s hot feet. Splashing in the puddles, the thunderstorm cooled Steven’s hot feet.

Item 10 Huddled by the door, the rain made the wet kitten cry to come in. Crying to come in, the door is where the wet kitten huddled during the rain. Huddled by the door, the wet kitten cried to come in from the rain.

Let’s try some! Dangling Modifiers