Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

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What is a dangling modifier?

Back

A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence, often leading to confusion about what is being modified.

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What is a misplaced modifier?

Back

A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies, causing ambiguity or confusion in the sentence.

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Identify the error: 'Walking down the hallway, all the lockers were open.'

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This sentence contains a dangling modifier because it suggests that 'all the lockers' were walking down the hallway.

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How can you correct a dangling modifier?

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To correct a dangling modifier, rewrite the sentence to clearly indicate what is being modified, often by adding a subject.

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Identify the error: 'Trevor gave a sculpture to his girlfriend that he had carved out of soap.'

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This sentence contains a misplaced modifier because it suggests that 'his girlfriend' is the one who carved the sculpture.

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What is the best way to fix a misplaced modifier?

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To fix a misplaced modifier, rearrange the sentence so that the modifier is placed next to the word it is intended to modify.

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Identify the error: 'While on vacation last December, Kyle encountered a coyote skiing in the mountains.'

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This sentence contains a misplaced modifier because it implies that the coyote was skiing.

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What is the purpose of modifiers in a sentence?

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Modifiers provide additional information about a noun or verb, helping to clarify or enhance the meaning of the sentence.

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What is an example of a sentence with a dangling modifier?

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'After reading the book, the movie was disappointing.' (It suggests that the movie read the book.)

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What is an example of a sentence with a misplaced modifier?

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'She almost drove her kids to school every day.' (It suggests that she almost drove, not that she did drive.)