Placement of Modifiers

Modifiers

by Mr. Atkins

Poll

Learning Target 1

Place phrases and clauses correctly in sentences.​

Assess your current knowledge and skill with this learning target.

• I know and understand the difference between phrases, dependent clauses, and independent clauses.

• Not only do I know and understand phrases and clauses, but I can also use them correctly in my writing,

• I need a refresher and some practice with phrases, dependent, and independent clauses.

• I thought this was math class. 

Poll

​Learning Target 2

​Recognize and correct misplaced and dangling modifiers.

Assess your current knowledge and skill with this learning target.

• I know what a modifier is

• I know what misplaced and dangling modifiers are

• I can identify and correct misplaced and dangling modifiers in my writing or other's writing

• I need a refresher and some practice with modifiers

​Placing Modifiers Correctly

​Part of being an effective writer is placing modifiers so that your meaning is clear and knowing how to revise misplaced and dangling modifiers. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that makes the meaning of another word or word group more specific.

​Modifiers should be placed near the word or word group they modify. A misplaced modifier can create confusion or accidental humor.

​While driving and texting, the cow was struck and died.

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​The soccer mom handed out pb&j sandwiches to all the kids in ziploc bags.

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​I saw a dead squirrel driving on the highway.

Open Ended

Correct the following sentence. Re-write the entire sentence correcting the misplaced modifier. 

The soccer mom handed out pb&j sandwiches to all the kids in ziploc bags.

Open Ended

Correct the following sentence. Re-write the entire sentence correcting the misplaced modifier. 

I saw a dead squirrel driving on the highway.

​Dangling Modifiers

​A modifier that does not clearly modify any word or word group in a sentence is a dangling modifier.

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While you usually can correct a misplaced modifier by rearranging the sentence, in the case of a dangling modifier, you may need to add or replace words to clarify your meaning.

​Dangling Modifiers

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Dangling: After reading the speech, a discussion took place.

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In this example, the phrase does not clearly modify anything in the sentence. After all, the discussion did not read the speech.

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Revised: After reading the speech, we discussed it.

Now, the phrase modifies we.

​Dangling Modifiers

​Dangling: Holding her torch for more than 120 years now, we marvel at the sculptor's achievement.

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The phrase seems to modify we, but that doesn't make sense.

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Revised: The statue has been holding her torch for more than 120 years now, and we marvel at the sculptor's achievement.

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Adding words to the modifier and following the comma with and has clarified the sentence's meaning.

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Open Ended

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

Open Ended

Having injured his dominant hand, it was difficult to write the exam.