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

Give an example of a misplaced modifier.

Back

"She almost drove her kids to school every day." (It sounds like she nearly did, but didn't actually drive them.)

Front

What is a dangling modifier?

Back

A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.

Front

Identify the dangling modifier in this sentence: "Running down the street, the dog barked at me."

Back

The phrase 'Running down the street' incorrectly modifies 'the dog' instead of the person running.

Front

What is the correct way to fix a dangling modifier?

Back

Rephrase the sentence to clearly indicate what is being modified, e.g., "Running down the street, I saw the dog barking at me."

Front

What is the problem with this sentence: "The man walked his dog in a blue shirt."

Back

It suggests that the dog is wearing the blue shirt instead of the man.

Front

How can you correct the sentence: "The man walked his dog in a blue shirt."?

Back

Rephrase it to: "In a blue shirt, the man walked his dog.".

Front

What is the purpose of modifiers in a sentence?

Back

Modifiers add detail and description to sentences, helping to clarify meaning.

Front

What is an example of a correct modifier placement?

Back

"The cat sat on the mat quietly." (The modifier 'quietly' clearly describes how the cat sat.)

Front

What is the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier?

Back

A misplaced modifier is incorrectly placed in a sentence, while a dangling modifier lacks a clear subject to modify.