A misplaced modifier is a type of ambiguous grammatical construct whereby a grammatical modifier could be misinterpreted as being associated with a word other than the one intended. This combination of quiz and worksheet will help gauge what you know about dangling modifiers and how to use context to fix them. After reading the original study, the article remains unconvincing. Its clear that theyre funny, but its high time we address the elephant in the room or in the pajamas. X tempted by the three witches prophecy, macbeths moral scruples give way to his ambition. Swimming out into the lake, i felt the water grow cold. A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept. How to eliminate dangling modifiers from your writing. It is also called a dangling participle, hanging modifier, floater, floating modifier, or misrelated. Illustrated misplaced modifier examples to make you smile everyone knows that misplaced modifier examples can be hilarious, thanks to a certain invasive elephant.
A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. For example, in walking to college on a subzero morning, my left ear became frozen, the underlined phrase modifies my left ear. Correcting dangling modifier errors 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. Because rewritten sentences will vary, have a writing counselor check your new sentences for you. The modifying phrase with her new baby should logically modify how the sister walked. The following are examples of dangling modifiers and how they can be corrected. It is also called a dangling participle, hanging modifier, floater, floating modifier, or misrelated participle. Although most commonly found at the beginning of the sentence, the dangling modifier may be located at the end of the sentence, too. The following is an example of the most severe and obvious problem with a dangling modifier. The modifier should be placed as close as possible to the noun it is modifying. The word or words a dangling modifier should modify have been omitted from the sentence. Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word.
Sitting in the dentists chair, the sound ofthe drill made larry sweat. My sister walked in as i was scrubbing the floor with her new baby. A typical example of a dangling modifier is illustrated in the sentence. May 25, 2016 dangling and misplaced modifiers may 25, 2016 yanira. Other terms for dangling modifier dangling modifiers are also known as hanging modifiers, floating modifiers, or dangling participles. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. This assessment includes 7 sections and tests students knowledge of modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and dangling modifiers. Dangling modifiers other times we write descriptive phrases that point to or modify words that are not clearly stated in our sentences, making our sentences illogical. A misplaced modifier does not link clearly to what it is meant to modify. The powerpoint provides several examples for mastery and later for students to identify. First things first, a modifier is any word or phrase that changes or modifies the. For example, a writer may have meant to modify the subject, but word order used means that the modifier. When a sentence begins with a phrase that is not directly connected to the subject that it refers to, that phrase is dangling.
Confusing clear the girl who was riding the pony playfully laughed at the puppies. Having finished the assignment, jill turned on the tv. Remember that most modifiers come as close to their targets as possible. A dangling modifier is a type of misplaced modifier. Jun 21, 2019 a dangling modifier is a word or phrase often a participle or participial phrase that doesnt actually modify the word its intended to modify. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is. Rules for finding and fixing misplaced and dangling modifiers. They keep sentences from expressing clear, straightforward ideas. Upload your file s so we can calculate your word count, or enter your word count manually. As you can see from the following examples, the sentences should be. The term dangling modifier refers to a word or phrase, usually at the start of a sentence, that does not connect properly to the rest of the sentence. The dangling modifier prefers shorter submissions 500 words, but were flexible. In fact, they surface from time to time in newspapers, magazines, and academic journals.
Examples of dangling modifiers i was late for the school bus. That i like best is modifying the color by providing additional information. When you are finished, click on the check my work button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their. More examples of dangling modifiers and their revisions. This sentence now clearly states that students need a doctors note in order to be excused from class. In english, modifiers are placed immediately before or after the words they describe. Dangling modifiers a modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. Misplaced and dangling modifiers make sentences awkward and inelegant. Dangling modifiers make unclear the meaning of a sentence.
When a modifier is misplaced, it becomes difficult to tell which words it describes. Dangling and misplaced modifiers teaching resources. We also appreciate articles and stories that display the writers understanding of the writing center field and how their ideas connect with others in short, try to cite some relevant literature. The first is due to the modifying word or phrase being placed too far from the word or group of words its meant to modify. Rearrange the sentence so that it begins with the word being modified or change the modifier to a subordinate clause with a subject and a verb. An example of dangling participle having present participle. Using sarkosyl to induce nuclear runon, the transcriptionally inactive bglobin gene in mature erythrocytes was demonstrated to harbor high levels of pol ii at 5. Change the dangling construction into a complete clause. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase often a participle or participial phrase that doesnt actually modify the word its intended to modify. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. In the case of adverbs, adverbs should modify the nearest adverb in the same sentence. Here follow several examples of dangling modifiers and how to fix them.
Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups. In the case of adverbs, adverbs should modify the nearest verb or the subsequent adverb or adjective in the same sentence. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or a clause that is not clearly attached to any word in the sentence. Before we jump into the subject of this lesson, we have to define a few key terms.
Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections. Illustrated misplaced modifier examples to make you smile. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in which it appears. When a sentence opens with such a modifier, readers expect the following clause to name the actor. Modifying phrases must go next to the word that they modify. Examples of dangling modifiers and how to fix them, from the experts at scribendi.
When you discover a misplaced or dangling modifier in a sentence, you will need to rearrange andor revise the sentence parts to untangle the idea the sentence wants to express. This sentence does not clearly state who needs a doctors note in order to be excused. A modifier dangles when what it is supposed to modify is missing from the sentence. Fixing dangling modifiers what is a dangling modifier. A dangling modifier is a word or word group that refers to or modifies a word or phrase that has not been clearly stated in the sentence harris 118. A dangling modifier is misplaced because it does not have anything to modify. The following are examples of dangling modifiers and how they can be. Oct 20, 2014 the first is due to the modifying word or phrase being placed too far from the word or group of words its meant to modify. H aving studied for ten straight days, the test w as. Refer to discovery, 324327, for additional practice. Here are some examples illustrating modifiers working properly. Misplacedanddanglingmodifiers 1 misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes.
The second happens when the sentence doesnt include a logical subject to modify. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. The dangling modifier an international newsletter by and. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. The best way to learn how to undangle a dangling modifier is to work through some examples. This is an example of a modifier that disrupts a sentence. Fixing misplaced modifiers rearranging sentence parts will often fix a misplaced modifier. This resource includes a pdf file for easy printing and an editable powerpoint version so that you can fit the test to meet the.
Dangling modifiers are often found at the beginnings of sentences as is the case of the first three examples above, and they are most often phrases that begin with verbals true of all these examples. The submit answers for grading feature requires scripting to. Rewrite the following sentences to repair any dangling modifiers. Examples of dangling modifiers i was late for the school bus again. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. In english, these types of misplaced modifiers are known as dangling modifiers.
Service on the subway having been halted, we had to walk. Misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes. This could mean that the modifier is in the wrong place in the sentence or that the word the modifier should describe is omitted from the sentence. Correcting dangling modifier errors replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise. In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether that sentence contains a dangling modifier dm or a misplaced modifier mm. In both situations, dangling modifiers make the meaning of a sentence unclear confusing the reader. In some cases, a dangling modifier refers to a word that doesnt even appear in the sentence. For example, in the following sentences we can easily connect the underlined modifiers with their implied subjects, which are underlined twice. Oct 28, 2012 dangling modifiers a modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. Dangling modifiers and how to correct them purdue writing lab.
When a modifier is too far from the word it is describing, the sentence becomes confusing. In other words, a modifier becomes a dangling modifier when it is associated with a word other than the one it is intended for or when it is not attached to any particular word at all. A dangling modifier is an introductory word groupparticiple, gerund, infinitive, or elliptical clausethat does not refer logically to the noun or pronoun that follows it. Since verbals have their roots in verbs, they lull language users into. For example, to clarify the word dog, a writer might use the modifier brown. Otherwise, the modifier is said to be dangling, and the sentence takes on an unintended meaning. These are called absolute constructions and are not dangling modifiers. The problem with this sentence is that macbeths scruples are not tempted by the prophecy. A dangling modifier is also called a dangling participle if it contains a present participle e. Supply the noun or pronoun that it should modify and place the modifier next to the word. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase within a sentence that does not clearly. Some of the things youll need to know include the definitions of. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence, or that does not connect grammatically with what it is intended to modify. This lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier.
A dangling modifier is a modifying phrase whose implicit subject does not match the explicit subject of the clause it modifies. The only noun in the main clause is water the water was not swimming. A dangling modifier is one that has no subject at all. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence.
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