M Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 1 Misplaced Parts, Dangling Modifiers Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins and Paul Harris, Camden County College Camden County College Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins and Paul Harris, Camden County College Camden County College

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 2 Misplaced Parts w 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.A misplaced modifier is positioned in a sentence so that it is unclear which word, phrase, or clause is modified.

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 3 w Modifiers such as almost, only, just, even,hardly, nearly, and merely, should be placed immediately before the words they modify. Example:Example: My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. w This sentence indicates that the mother only works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk. w Modifiers such as almost, only, just, even,hardly, nearly, and merely, should be placed immediately before the words they modify. Example:Example: My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. w This sentence indicates that the mother only works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk. Misplaced Parts, and Modifiers

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 4 w We must place the modifier before a different word so the sentence is clearly understood. w Examples……… My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays. w Revised………… My mother works only on Saturdays and Sundays. Misplaced Parts, and Modifiers

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 5 Misplaced Parts, Modifying Phrases 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…..

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 6 Modifying Clauses 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 explains how they use the computer to do research. Revised….. Before the class begins, the librarian explains explains how they use the computer to do research.

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 7 w Avoid squinting modifiers… These modifiers appear to modify both preceding and following words, creating ambiguous meanings.These modifiers appear to modify both preceding and following words, creating ambiguous meanings. Example….Example…. Students who review researching skills often will benefit.Students who review researching skills often will benefit. Squinting Modifiers

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 8 Students who review researching skills often will benefit.Students who review researching skills often will benefit. What does this sentence mean?What does this sentence mean? Students who often review researching skills are the ones who will benefit.Students who often review researching skills are the ones who will benefit.Or Students who review researching skills are the ones who often benefit.Students who review researching skills are the ones who often benefit. Squinting Modifiers

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 9 w Example: I decided to quickly research the median incomes of police officers. I hoped to, without much preparation, write the research paper. w Example: I decided to quickly research the median incomes of police officers. I hoped to, without much preparation, write the research paper. w Revised: I decided to research quickly the median incomes of police officers. Without much preparation, I hoped to write the research paper. w Revised: I decided to research quickly the median incomes of police officers. Without much preparation, I hoped to write the research paper. Avoid Split Infinitives An infinitive is the to form of a verb: to dance, to listen, to sew.

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 10 Dangling Modifiers w Example: Researching on the internet, many facts are easily obtained for the report. A dangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that does not modify any element in a sentence. w Who was researching? w What is the subject of the sentence? Many facts is the subject.Many facts is the subject. w If many facts is the subject, who is researching on the internet?

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 11 w We is the subject so we are researching on the internet. w Revised: Researching on the internet, we easily found many facts for the report.Researching on the internet, we easily found many facts for the report. Dangling Modifiers

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 12 Dangling Modifiers w Example: Because of going to many parties, my term paper was late. w How would you revise this sentence? A dangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that does not modify any element in a sentence.

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 13 Modifiers - Practice Review w Christina enrolled in an animal training program after graduation which was organized by a circus. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: IncorrectIncorrect

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 14 Modifiers - Practice Review w Bob trained a pig to use a litter box with love and patience. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: IncorrectIncorrect

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 15 Modifiers - Practice Review w The veterinarian explained why a pet owner should not hit her kitten on Monday night. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: IncorrectIncorrect

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 16 Modifiers - Practice Review w The animal trainer rode on the elephant with a broken foot. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: IncorrectIncorrect w Who had the broken foot, the trainer or the elephant?

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 17 Modifiers - Practice Review w The lioness watched the trainer caring for her cub in the cage. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: w What does this sentence mean? w The lioness in the cage caring for her cub watched the trainer. or w The lioness watched the trainer who was caring for her cub. IncorrectIncorrect

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 18 Modifiers - Practice Review w The horses at the riding stable only galloped for experienced riders Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Incorrect: galloped ONLY for experienced riders. Incorrect:

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 19 Modifiers - Practice Review w Having a coat that was well cared for, the dog was happy and healthy. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: CorrectCorrect

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 20 Modifiers - Practice Review w Brushing your dog daily, his tangles are eliminated. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: IncorrectIncorrect

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 21 Modifiers - Practice Review w Using human products on pets can be very harmful to the animals skin and eyes. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: CorrectCorrect

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 22 Modifiers - Practice Review w Working with animals of all types, the pay is not as important as the personal satisfaction. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Incorrect: a person must be working with the animals. Incorrect:

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 23 Modifiers - Practice Review w Because of caring for so many animals, the grooming schedule was not completed at the zoo. Identify each sentence as being CORRECT or INCORRECT: Incorrect: a person must be caring for the animals. Incorrect:

- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 24AnyQuestions?