Misplaced Modifiers

Front

What is a misplaced modifier?

Back

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

Front

Why is the sentence 'Though not a fan of scary movies, A Quiet Place is actually quite good.' incorrect?

Back

The modifier 'Though not a fan of scary movies' is misplaced, making it seem like 'A Quiet Place' is the one not a fan of scary movies.

Front

Identify the correct sentence: 'On her way home, Sally found a man's silver watch.' or 'On her way home, Sally found a silver man's watch.'

Back

The correct sentence is 'On her way home, Sally found a man's silver watch.'

Front

What does it mean to avoid misplaced modifiers?

Back

To avoid misplaced modifiers means to place modifiers next to the words they are intended to modify, ensuring clarity in the sentence.

Front

Which sentence correctly avoids misplaced modifiers: 'The badly wrapped burrito squirted its contents onto Abdullah's shirt, which was spicy hot and full of lettuce.' or 'Abdullah gasped as the badly wrapped burrito squirted its contents onto his shirt, which was spicy hot and full of lettuce.'?

Back

The first sentence correctly avoids misplaced modifiers.

Front

Is the sentence 'While jogging along Center Street, Elia saw a dog.' correct or incorrect?

Back

The sentence is correct.

Front

What is the problem with the sentence: 'Scrubbing the tile grout with bleach and an old toothbrush, the mildew stains began to fade.'?

Back

The problem is that it is unclear who is doing the scrubbing; it sounds like the mildew stains are scrubbing.

Front

What is an example of a misplaced modifier?

Back

An example is: 'She almost drove her kids to school every day.' (It suggests she nearly did, rather than she did drive them.)

Front

How can you fix a misplaced modifier?

Back

You can fix a misplaced modifier by rearranging the sentence so that the modifier is next to the word it modifies.

Front

What is the effect of a misplaced modifier on a sentence?

Back

A misplaced modifier can create confusion, misinterpretation, or a humorous effect in a sentence.