A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. In each case, see if you can explain both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning. Dangling modifiers 2 identifying dangling modifiers. Exercises on modifiers with explanation learn english. James outside three rivers stadium on the night of the raid on charges of marijuana possession. In the exercise that follows, you will need to determine whether or not sentences contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. Oct 24, 2016 modifiers are words or phrases that, well, modify a noun or verb. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. The most common modifier mistakes are dangling modifiers and misplaced modifiers. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise.
Correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers pdf documents. Determine whether the sentences below contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. Paragraph correction read about steven spielberg, director of indiana jones, and on a separate sheet of paper, edit the following paragraphs to eliminate misplaced and dangling modifiers. Both terms refer to modifiers that are connected to the wrong thing in a sentence. Misplaced and dangling participles, answers and tips 1. It also includes a component of teaching someone else the material in order to. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. In most cases, the dangling modifier appears at the beginning of the sentence, although it can also come at the end. This is a practice quiz over problems with modifiers. To keep track of your answers, print the accompanying handout. Notice that sauced with lumpy gravy, a participle phrase, follows meatloaf.
Click the link below to download the free pdf worksheet. Usually, it is placed too far away from the word that it is meant to modify. A modifier a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in a sentence. Given the infinite combinations and permutations available in the english language, we have several ways of correcting a misplaced or dangling participle. Correct any dangling modifiers in the sentences below by keeping the phrase and rewriting the other part of the sentence so that the modifier is positioned next to the word it modifies. Middle schoolers identify modifiers in sentences and label them as either. Rewrite the following paragraph, correcting all misplaced or dangling modifiers. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to become so familiar with the concepts of misplaced and.
A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase that is placed in a wrong place in a sentence. Misplaced modifiers are common errors in english often made by writers who have no idea what they want to say. Hungry for dinner, a phrase, is describing surface when its target should be gert to fix the problem, you should organize the sentence like this. The english teacher looking for tools, the student looking for some extra help, or the new english speaker hoping to master the language will find what he or she is looking for here. Exercise 3 fixing misplaced and dangling modifiers. In one story, rip van winkle slept through the whole american revolution that irving wrote. This study guide asks students to identify correct modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and dangling modifiers. Pecks english pointers is a collection of lively articles spanning english grammar, punctuation, usage and clarity. In a clear, logical sentence, you will find most modifiers right next to the words they describe. View each sentence and see if you think there is a problem with either a dangling modifier or a misplaced modifer you may use your notes to help. Turn the misplaced or dangling participle into a dependent clause. Modifiers should be placed as close as possible to the. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses. Worksheet 1 explains the concept of dangling and misplaced modifiers, including suggestions for correcting them.
Possible corrections follow each misplaced or dangling modifier. Written by editor and writer frances peck, these pieces take a thorough yet entertaining look at some of the most common errors, weaknesses and uncertainties that plague writers of english. Slipping on the wet sidewalk, the keys fell from amaurys pocket. Revise the following sentences to correct misplaced or dangling modifiers.
After clicking ok within the javascript alert, you may try another answer or proceed to the next question if your first choice was correct. Shaken, not stirred, james bond likes his martinis. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to edit confusing sentences with misplaced modifiers. If either of these errors occurs, readers can no longer read smoothly. What is the difference between misplaced and dangling modifiers. Label whether the sentence is a misplaced modifier m, a dangling modifier d or correct. Quia practice quiz dangling and misplaced modifiers. Because of their dangling modifiers, these sentences wrongly imply that the hill rollerbladed frantically, that p. Often, they can be found at the beginning of sentences, though they can also appear at a sentences end. Watch out for the words only, just, merely, nearly, and almost.
Although misplaced or dangling modifiers are common in writing, they are incorrect and should be avoided because they cause confusion and alter the meaning of the sentence drastically. Click within the small circle to the left of your choice for each answer. Hoping it would rain is modifying ann, since ann is the person who was hoping it would rain. Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a complex and confusing task which can often end in frustration. Nguyen returned her perfect calculus test with an eartoear grin. Driving up the rockstrewn mountain, the tire went flat.
Includes detailed terms, interactive exercises, handouts, and more. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it. They qualify the noun or verb, describe it, or change its meaning. Misplacement of adverbs can sometimes change the meaning of a sentence. When this happens, the sentence causes confusion or. Learn how to correct misplaced and dangling modifiers. Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. A number of singleword modifiers are often misplaced. Marys birthday eagerly awaiting her birthday, marys presents were all picked up and admired by mary many times throughout the day.
Use your mouse to choose the most logical sentence with no misplaced or dangling modifier. Walking back from the bar, my wallet fell out of my pocket. Free practice questions for sat writing correcting dangling modifier errors. When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Worksheets relating to misplaced and dangling modifiers.
Recognizing misplaced and dangling modifiers directions. Washington irvings stories often contain elements of fantasy. It requires students to correct common mistakes with modifiers. 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. Misplaced modifiers exercises the vehicle was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence with a slightly flat tire. Advanced choose whether each of the following sentences is correct, or whether it has a dangling modifier. Too hungry to wait for brendas return from the restroom, the bowl of egg drop soup quickly disappeared. A misplaced modifier is in a modifier that is in the wrong place. Because he was so protective, olivers car had an overly elaborate security. Misplaced modifiers learn and practice english online. The waitress served gilbert a plate of gray meatloaf sauced with lumpy gravy. The children attended the public school wearing uniforms. A javascript box will appear to tell you that your choice is correct or incorrect. Pdf exercise on misplaced and dangling modifiers rakibul.
Though he may well be able to learn while multitasking, it is not nearly as efficient as focusing only on studying. Exercises below are sentences with dangling modifiers. Hoping it would rain, the umbrella was brought by ann. Rollerblading frantically to keep up with the others, the hill proved too steep for manuel, and he fell to the ground. Examples of misplaced modifiers show us how important it is to place our modifying words and phrases in the proper place. 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. Misplaced, squinting and dangling the issue the function of modifiers, adjectives and adverbs, is to enable you to express your ideas clearly and precisely by making some aspect of a statement more specific, to define it more precisely. Students multitask everyday, indeed many times a day, students believe they are very adept at juggling two or three different activities while studying for a midterm. While trying to type an important email, my cat kept begging me for food. Misplaced modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that are separated from the word they modify. You can lose your car keys, your temper, and even your headbut please, dont misplace your modifiers.
A misplaced modifier is too far away from the thing its supposed to modify, while a dangling modifiers intended subject is missing from the sentence altogether. English grammar exercise dangling modifiers 2 identifying. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Sometimes to correct a misplaced or dangling modifier and clarify the meaning, the. When you are finished, hit the check my work button at the bottom of the page to check your answers.
Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. Even worse, these people think they can cover up their ambiguity with a sentence structure that sounds nice. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position. The salesperson sold the shirt with the blue print to the man. Lets dive right in to some examples of misplaced modifiers and talk about why these examples dont work. How do we correct a misplaced or dangling participle. In the following sentences, misplaced and dangling modifiers are blue. Grammargrounds grammar education is a free, comprehensive site with instruction, videos, quizzes, and more. Hungry for dinner, gert the goldfish waited at the surface in anticipation of food flakes. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. The lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier. To become a good photographer, the camera must be used carefully.
Misplaced modifiers a modifier that is placed too far away from the word it describes is called a misplaced modifier. Instead, they become stumped trying to figure out what the writer meant to. From who and whom to hyphens, from commas to plain language, from. On his way to school, abraham found a womans yellow bag. A misplaced modifier happens to modify something that you did not intend to modify, oftenor hopefullywith humorous consequences. You recognized that too many words separate the modifier from its target. It also includes a component of teaching someone else the material in order to more adequately study and hone the topic. As written, this sentence makes it sound as though the umbrella was hoping it would rain. The modifier must follow the modified word in order to avoid misplacing. Struggling with the tight jeans, the zipper would not budge. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling. Our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere.
Upset with the boys constant bickering, the car veered into a ditch as the. Riding in a swiftly moving vehicle, the landscape becomes. If you are unsure which choice to make, consult the rules. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Dangling and misplaced modifiers by mark nichol each of the following sentences includes a modifying phrase that confuses because it the statement is erroneously constructed or because the phrase is incorrectly located in the sentence. Dangling and misplaced modifiers dangling modifiers are words or phrases that do not have a clear term to modify in a sentence. Exercises to improve your english writing skills whether youre a native speaker of english or an advanced esl student, these exercises will help you identify and eliminate common grammar mistakes. Refer to discovery, 320324, for additional practice.
778 122 772 1127 390 1469 1113 1505 258 25 975 1322 1067 859 1345 469 1194 822 1332 1487 87 220 1227 1072 271 1339 983 143 560 1114