BENG101P - Modifiers

What is a Modifier?

A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that adds description to a sentence.

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Typically, you will find a modifier snuggled right next to—either in front of or behind—the word it logically describes.

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​SHARE OUT 🤚: What types of words or phrases can be modifiers ?

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Sometimes, a writer places a modifier too far away from the word it should describe.

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Born in the confusion is a misplaced modifier.

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Misplaced Modifiers

Multiple Choice

What is a misplaced modifier?

• A modifier that is not close to the word it describes

• A modifier that is close to the word it describes

• A modifier that is missing from the sentence

Examples of Misplaced Modifiers

​MISPLACED: Aidan wore his one collared shirt to the job interview,

which was stained with yellow mustard.

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CORRECT: Aidan wore his one collared shirt, which was stained with yellow mustard, to the job interview.

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MISPLACED: The host served sandwiches to the guests on paper plates.

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CORRECT: The host served the guests sandwiches on paper plates.

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

• The cowboy in the leather vest was thrown by the bull.

• The train station which was made of red brick was located downtown.

• She was making a sweater for her grandma that was warm.

This happens when the word a modifier is describing is completely missing from the sentence.

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This creates ambiguity and can confuse the reader

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Dangling Modifiers

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Examples of Dangling Modifiers

​DANGLING: Fumbling in her purse, the keys could not be found.

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CORRECT: ​ Fumbling in her purse, she could not find her keys.

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DANGLING: While driving to work​, a car accident was witnessed on the highway.

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CORRECT: While driving to work, Nicholas witnessed a car accident on the highway. ​

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Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

• Because he injured his hand, John had difficulty typing the essay.

• To become a good dentist, you must clean, fill, and file many teeth.

• Having finished the assignment, the TV was turned on.

Multiple Choice

Read each sentence. Then select the correct answer below.

Tonya was petting the cat eating a candy bar.

• contains a misplaced modifier

• contains a dangling modifier

• is correct as written

• contains no modifier

Multiple Choice

After the football game, the leftover pizza went into the refrigerator.

• contains a misplaced modifier

• contains a dangling modifier

• is correct as written

• contains no modifier

Multiple Choice

While singing a high note, the crowd clapped for the singer.

• contains a misplaced modifier

• contains a dangling modifier

• is correct as written

• contains no modifier

Multiple Choice

Each of these three sentences contains a misplaced modifier or a dangling modifier. Choose the sentence that fixes it best.

While standing in line for movie tickets, lightning flashed.

• Lightning flashed while standing in line for movie tickets.

• While John stood in line for movie tickets, lightning flashed.

• While standing in line for movie tickets, lightning flashed on John.

• While stadning in line for movie tickets, a bolt of lightning flashed.

Multiple Choice

The girl danced on the stage with curly brown hair.

• Correct as is.

• While on the stage with curly brown hair, the girl danced.

• The girl danced on the curly, brown-haired stage.

• The girl with curly brown hair danced on the stage.

Multiple Choice

The man walked the dog in a pinstriped suit.

• The man in a pinstriped suit walked the dog.

• While in a pinstriped suit, the dog was walked.

• Because the dog was in a pinstriped suit, the man walked him.

• Correct as is.

Multiple Choice

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Created from the finest sands of the Mediterranean, highly skilled artisans of the early Renaissance crafted stained glass, which still adorns thousands of cathedrals all over Europe.

• highly skilled artisans, of the early Renaissance, crafted stained glass that still adorns thousands of cathedrals all over Europe

• stained glass crafted by highly skilled artisans of the early Renaissance still adorns thousands of cathedrals all over Europe

Multiple Choice

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

When only 10 years old, the boy’s father and mother sent him away to boarding school to expose him to a more rigorous academic environment.

• the boy’s father and mother sent him away to boarding school, a more rigorous academic environment, to expose him

• the boy’s father and mother sent him away to boarding school to expose him to a more rigorous academic environment

• the boy was sent away to boarding school by his father and mother to be exposed to a more rigorous academic environment

Multiple Choice

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Unable to play safely with other children, Jenny's mother pulled her out of summer camp early.

• Jenny's mother early pulled her out of summer camp.

• Jenny was pulled out of summer camp early.

• Jenny earlier was pulled out of summer camp.