Misplaced Modifiers - Part 1

Misplaced Modifiers - Part 1

by Nicole Cremeens

Misplaced Modifiers

• ​a word, phrase, or clause that describes another element (called the "target") in the sentence.

• ​Modifiers are typically linked to words right before or right after it.

  • ​EX: Maxwell took a huge bite of the pizza on the plate.

• ​When modifiers are too far from their "target," we call them misplaced modifiers because they're in the wrong place.

  • ​EX: Glen took down the shutters painting the house earlier.

Multiple Choice

What is the correct target for the modifier?

• Lisa

• brought

• pancakes

• table

Open Ended

Rewrite this sentence so the modifier is in the correct place.

Multiple Choice

What is the correct target for the modifier?

• puppy

• rest

• game

• fetch

Open Ended

Rewrite this sentence so the modifier is in the correct place.

Multiple Choice

Is the modifier misplaced?

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Is the modifier misplaced?

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly avoids misplaced modifiers?

• Whining in a pitiful manner, Rodney waited for a commercial break to let the dog in from the rain.
• During a commercial break, Rodney let the dog in from the rain, which was whining in a pitiful manner.
• During a commercial break, Rodney let in the dog, who had been whining pitifully out in the rain.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has the correctly placed modifier?

• The dog belongs to that child with the brown spots.

• The dog with the brown spots belongs to that child.

• With the brown spots, the dog belongs to that child.

• To that child, the dog belongs with the brown spots.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that correctly placed the modifiers.

• The man picked up the box of books with arthritis.

• The man with arthritis picked up the box of books.