Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

What is a modifier in a sentence?

• A word or phrase that adds additional information
• A word that explains an action
• A phrase that changes one's action
• A clause that cannot be its own sentence

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is the modifier in the following sentence?
Brian, the man with the bushy red beard, is Lydia's husband. 

• Brian
• the man with the bushy red beard
• is
• Lydia's husband

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is a dangling modifier?

• a modifier that is not in the correct spot in a sentence
• a modifier whose subject is unknown
• a modifier that does an action
• a modifier that is both a clause and a phrase

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is the dangling modifier in the sentence below?
Running to catch the bus, his lunch box was dropped.

• was dropped
• his lunch box was dropped
• running to catch
• running to catch the bus

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is the dangling modifier?
Before waking up, the lights were flickering in the room. 

• Before waking up
• waking up
• the lights were flickering in the room
• were flickering

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is the dangling modifier?
Rummaging through her giant handbag, the sunglasses escaped detection.

• escaped detection
• the sunglasses
• her giant handbag
• Rummaging through her giant handbag, the sunglasses escaped detection.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is a misplaced modifier?

• A clause that is separated by more than one adjective.
• when a phrase is describing a clause 
• A description that is improperly separated from the word its describing.
• when a modifier's subject is not defined in the sentence

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is the misplaced modifier?
Covered in dirt, I gave my dog a bath. 

• a bath
• Covered in dirt
• Covered
• I gave my dog a bath

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is the misplaced modifier?
Once caught, the police officers took the thieves to jail. 

• the police officers
• once caught
• took the thieves
• to jail

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

What is the misplaced modifier?
Professor Jones, who was late with another essay, waited for the slacker student.

• Professor Jones
• slacker student
• waited for the slacker student
• who was late with another essay

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C