Chapter 19_ Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced …

Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar
Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that describe (modify) another word in a sentence.Modifier examples:theblueboat (word)the boatin the garage(phrase)the boatthat she brought(clause)Modifier examples that limit another word or words:forty-fiveacres (tells exactly how many acres)the poemthat I liked best(tells which poem)Henevercalls his brother. (tells how often)
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar
Modifiers can make your writing more specific and more concrete. Used effectively and correctly, modifiers give the reader a clear, exact picture of what you want to say.Modifiers need to be next to the word, phrase, or clause it that modifies. Incorrect use of modifiers causes confusion in the sentence.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar
Misplaced ModifiersA modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies.Wrong: Hopping through the forest, the hikers saw two rabbits.1. Find the modifier: hopping through the forest2. What does it modify: the hikers3. It sounds like the hikers are hopping through the forest.4.Correct: Hopping through the forest,two rabbitswere seen by hikers.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar
Single-Word ModifiersSingle-word modifiers likealmost, even, exactly, hardly, just, merely, nearly, only, scarcely,andsimplyshould be as close as possible to what they modify.Wrong: Felishaonlywants to grow pumpkins. (The modifieronlyis placed bywants, so it sounds as if Felisha wants only one goal in life: to grow pumpkins.)Correct: Felisha wants to growonlypumpkins.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar
Dangling ModifiersA dangling modifier is a modifier that does not modify anything in the subject.Wrong: Strolling through the pet store, many fluffy hamsters could be seen.Find the modifiers:Strolling through the pet storeandmany fluffyDo the modifiers have something to modify? The answer is yes and no. The wordsmanyandfluffymodifyhamsters.But who or what is strolling through the pet store? There is no person mentioned in this sentence, and the hamsters aren’t doing the strolling.Correct: Strolling through the pet store,wesaw many fluffy hamsters.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar Exercises
Correct the problems with the modifiers.Q. Eating bananas and scratching their hairy backs, the politicians looked at the monkeys.A.Eating bananas and scratching their hairy backs, the monkeys were watched by the politicians.Q. Having matured,Bugs Bunnyis still fun to watch.A.Having matured, I thinkBugs Bunnyis still fun to watch.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar Exercises
Correct the problems with the modifiers.Q. Bent and twisted from the heat, I found my candles in the attic.A.Bent and twisted from the heat, my candles were in the attic.Q. Mr. Norman only wants to eat Twinkies for breakfast.A. Mr. Norman wants to eatonlyTwinkies for breakfast.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar Exercises
Correct the problems with the modifiers.Q. Completing the Scottish race in less than 2 hours, Craig’s latest marathon was a success.A.Completing the Scottish race in less than 2 hours, Craig thought his latest marathon was a success.Q. Made from silk, you cannot distinguish between the real tulips and the artificial ones.A.Made from silk, the artificial tulips are hard to distinguish from the real ones.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar Exercises
Correct the problems with the modifiers.Q. For lunch, always Becky eats an apple.A. For lunch, Beckyalwayseats an apple.Q. Fred almost lost control of the car and crashed into a tree.A. Fred lost control of the car andalmostcrashed into a tree.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar Exercises
Correct the problems with the modifiers.Q. Strewn around the floor, I saw that my clothes covered almost all of the carpet.A.Strewn around the floor, my clothes covered almost all of the carpet.A.I saw that my clothes, strewn around the floor, covered almost all of the carpet.A.My clothes, strewn around the floor, covered almost all of the carpet.
Chapter 19: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Advanced Grammar Exercises
Correct the problems with the modifiers.Q. In bright shades of red just over the horizon, Jason witnessed the brilliant sun as he jogged down Bessemer Lane.A.In bright shades of red just over the horizon, the brilliant sun was witnessed by Jason as he jogged down Bessemer Lane.A.Jason witnessed the brilliant sun in bright shades of red just over the horizon as he jogged down Bessemer Lane.