Questions and Answers
What is a modifier in a sentence?
What is the result of using modifiers incorrectly?
What is a misplaced modifier?
What is an example of a misplaced modifier in a sentence?
Signup and view all the answers
Why do simple modifiers like 'only', 'almost', and 'just' often get used incorrectly?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the importance of placing modifiers correctly in a sentence?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main reason why 'Rona almost found fifty cents under the sofa cushions' is a confusing sentence?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a dangling modifier?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is 'Riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly' an incorrect sentence?
Signup and view all the answers
How can you correct a dangling modifier?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main difference between 'Riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly' and 'As Michael was riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly'?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main difference between 'The patient was referred to the physician with stomach pains' and 'The patient with stomach pains was referred to the physician'?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Modifiers
- A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause.
- Modifiers can be used correctly or incorrectly, leading to clear or confusing sentences.
Dangling Modifiers
- A dangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes something that has been left out of the sentence.
- When a modifier is left dangling, the reader is left wondering what the modifier is supposed to modify.
- To correct a dangling modifier, add a subject to the independent clause in the sentence or change the dangling modifier to a dependent clause.
Examples of Dangling Modifiers
- Incorrect: Riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly. (Who is riding in the sports car?)
- Correct: As Michael was riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly.
- Incorrect: Walking home at night, the trees looked like spooky aliens. (Who is walking home at night?)
- Correct: As Jenny was walking home at night, the trees looked like spooky aliens.
Misplaced Modifiers
- A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is placed too far from the word or words it modifies.
- Misplaced modifiers make the sentence awkward and sometimes unintentionally humorous.
- Examples: Incorrect: She wore a bicycle helmet on her head that was too large. (It sounds like her head was too large.)
- Correct: She wore a bicycle helmet that was too large on her head.
- Incorrect: They bought a kitten for my brother they call Shadow. (It sounds like they call the brother Shadow.)
- Correct: They bought a kitten they call Shadow for my brother.
Common Misplacement of Modifiers
- Simple modifiers like only, almost, just, nearly, and barely are often used incorrectly because writers often put them in the wrong place.
- Incorrect: Rona almost found fifty cents under the sofa cushions. (It's unclear what "almost" refers to.)
- Correct: Rona found almost fifty cents under the sofa cushions. (It's clear that "almost" refers to the amount of money.)
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your understanding of modifiers, how to identify misplaced and dangling modifiers, and learn to correct sentences with modifier errors. Improve your writing skills and avoid confusion with this quiz!