theme of mutability, or the idea that life on earth is full of constant (and mainly negative) change. With a modifier. the tail propelled Tommy through the strong surf. The word or words a dangling modifier should modify have been omitted from the sentence. When this happens, things can get very confusing! Compare your paper to billions of pages and articles with Scribbrs Turnitin-powered plagiarism checker. This modifier placement makes it clear that "Dolger" is the one using astronavigation. Google Classroom. Listening to music while walking home, Choose 1 answer: Choose 1 answer: (Choice A) I didn't notice my friend shouting "hello". We are looking for a babysitter for our precious six-year-old who doesnt drink or smoke and owns a car. They frequently include an -ing word (gerund) and to + verb (infinitive) phrase near the start of a sentence. Participles and participial phrases must be placed as close to the nouns or pronouns they modify . The materials collected here do not express the views of, or positions held by, Purdue University. REVISED: Relieved of your responsibilities at your job, you should be able to relax at home. Some animals, such as male frogs, only use their vocal organs to attract a mate. In a correct sentence, the subject (or doer) that is modified should immediately follow the comma after the modifier. Furthermore, misplaced modifiers can describe the wrong word or phrase, giving your reader the wrong impression and creating wild scenarios. B. Since the doer of the action expressed in the participle has not been clearly stated, the participial phrase is said to be a dangling modifier. Fundamentally, modifiers purpose is to make sentences more descriptive or detailed. Which sentence contains a dangling modifier? There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines. Assessing his set as clumsy and inelegant, not a single compliment was received Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. With the misplaced modifier, the word it describes is there, but in the wrong place. Which of the following sentences contains a dangling participial phrase? The sentence "John wants to really do well on this exam" contains which of the following errors? This sentence says that the written excuse arrived late. Now the subject in the sentence I matches the modifier after consulting a selection of current publications., Now the modifier according to the selection of current publications matches the subject research.. Ecstatic about his new are phrases that function as adjectives, which means they describe nouns. These, too, are generally either adverbial or adjectival and can look like: Here are a few examples of modifier phrases in action: And here are some examples of modifier clauses working in sentences: Typically, modifiers are placed right beside the noun theyre modifying. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. Every year, the conference gathers together the region's top experts on water protection and pollution, which is hosted by the local conservation authority. The Problem With Phrases This sentence says that "it" didn't know his name. Then decide whether the sentence In history essays, you have to analyze significant events that have a lot of detail in a precise paragraph. This is a deceptively simple task, but rise to the challenge. Arriving early to class, Leslie had time to finish her homework. With that out of the way, take a look at these examples of adjective phrases working as modifiers: Adjective clauses can work as modifiers too. Lets look at some dangling modifier and misplaced modifier examples to clear things up. After Tommy bemoaned his ineptitude on a surfboard, Marina A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that, because of its incorrect position within a sentence, modifies the wrong thing. A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept. Hybrid cars use an electric motor, which can draw power from the car's battery when accelerating. theyre modifying. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifiesthat is, gives information aboutanother word in the same sentence. Copyright 2022 by The On-Campus Writing Lab& The OWL at Purdueand Purdue University. They frequently include an -ing word (gerund) and to + verb (infinitive) phrase near the start of a sentence. Infused with his great sadness, What the writer means is that the patient has stomach pains. , all rights reserved. In English sentences, the doer must be the subject of the main clause that follows. In this case, purple is the misplaced modifier. A modifier provides a concept's definition, clarification, or more information. Incorrect: They bought a kitten for my brother they call Shadow. I cut the sandwich in half with a knife turning on the radio. With modifiers. Print Worksheet. The adjectival phrase tired after a long day at work is next to the word cat, not Mei like it should be. Relieved of your responsibilities at your job, not having studied the lab manual carefully, Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students, Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs), Dangling Modifiers and How To Correct Them, Overview of Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs (Idioms), Comparing Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives. Sometimes, modifiers can get lost or misplaced in a sentence. This is known as a misplaced modifier. The misplaced modifier is separated from the word its supposed to describe, so the meaning of the sentence is lost. interested (in) (participle) Your writing will be stronger for it. Write one sentence that correctly combines the two sample sentences. Walden University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com 1) People know that taking tests is hard, but you will get better grades by studying. For example, in the following sentence, the word "burger" is modified by the word "vegetarian": Example: I'm going to the Saturn Caf for a vegetarian burger. Because a car accident appears where the subject should be, the sentence now suggests that a car accident was driving to work. All rights reserved. from the judges. Chapter 13: APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting, Chapter 14: Creating Presentations: Sharing Your Ideas, Next: 2.8 Writing Basics: End-of-Chapter Exercises, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 1. Tired after a long day at work, Mei napped with her cat. Participles and participial phrases must be placed as close to the nouns or pronouns they modify as possible, and those nouns or pronouns must be clearly stated. These details, depending on how this sentence fits into a larger conversation, could serve as foreshadowing, clarification, distinction between this and another statement, or a means to, The second sentence contains both a modifier and a modifier phrase. Incorrect. The incorrect sentence reads as if it is the physician who has stomach pains! Mr. Fernandez is teaching us about great world leaders. Another type is known as a. Diving into the waves, For a quick refresher on how to fit these components together to build sentences, read our post on. Take a look at these examples to see a variety of ways modifiers operate in sentences: Modifiers are words that modify their sentences meanings by adding details and clarifying facts or by differentiating between people, events, or objects. Turn your sentences into tag questions (sentences that end with a questioning phrase at the very endlook at our examples below). Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. What is a dangling modifier? After finishing the team's presentation at the board meeting, the president complimented us. a gymnast (subject complement for Lynn, via state of being expressed in participle). In fact, theyre so common that we included them in our list of ten grammatical errors that make you look bad. Both of the example sentences above are complete sentences, but only one provides additional details about the train ride. The modifier "vegetarian" gives extra information about what . With an angry snap of her fingers, she replaced Tommys Contributors: Chris Berry, Karl Stolley Do you really want to submit? The participial phrase contains a participle and the other words in the phrase that modify the noun or . Home The following three steps will help you quickly spot a dangling modifier: Look for an -ing modifier at the beginning of your sentence or another modifying phrase: Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally finished by Maggie. 1. He improved his results by doing the experiment again. In English sentences, the doer must be the subject of the main clause that follows. Chapter 2: Writing Basics: What Makes a Good Sentence? But the purpose of an adjective is to describe a noun, and an adjective phrase ultimately describes a noun by providing a more vivid description than a single adjective can. Modifiers should appear next to the words they describe. Question: Dangling Modifiers are words or phrases that do not have a clear term to modify in a sentence. For example, heres how the word, Demonstrative Pronouns: Definition and Examples. Check all that apply. Usually, this means right before or after the noun: This is also true when theyre modifying a verb or adjective: When a modifier isnt in this position, it can make the sentence confusing for a reader or listener. Here are a few example sentences: Limiting modifiers are modifiers that add detail by describing the limits a noun, pronoun, or other subject in a sentence faces. Both of the example sentences above are complete sentences, but only one provides additional details about the train ride. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is separated from the word it describes, creating confusion and ambiguity. Chapter 4: Working with Words: Which Word Is Right? (2015). Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that describe other words and phrases. Take a look at these examples to see a variety of ways modifiers operate in sentences: Before school starts, the teachers all drink, Modifiers work by adding descriptive language to sentences, either just before or just after the words they are modifying. A dangling modifier occurs when the intendedsubject of the modifier is missing from the sentence, and instead another subject appears in its place. she dove into the ocean depths. Example Neil Armstrong made history as the first man to step on the moon in 1969. the tears hit the waves and attracted Marina, a beautiful mermaid. Correct: As Jane was riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly. Amy Luo. Change the phrase that dangles into a complete introductory clause by naming the doer of the action in that clause: Who didn't know his name? Wanting to make a delicious sandwich, the mayonnaise was thickly spread. Choose the word that is not related in meaning to the other words. A healthy lifestyle can help reduce stress by simply staying active and allowing time to relax. Sentence 1: Change "you" to "they' Sentence 2: Change "me" to "I". Misplaced modifiers describe a word or phrase that is in the sentence, but in the wrong place. Robust, real-time communication assistance, Write, rewrite, get ideas, and quickly reply with GrammarlyGO, Features to polish, grammar, tone, clarity, team consistency, and more, Writing assistance on 500,000+ apps and sites across your devices, For desktop apps and websites like Word and Gmail, For sites like Google Docs, Gmail, and LinkedIn, Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes, Format citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago, Demonstrative Pronouns: Definition and Examples, ten grammatical errors that make you look bad. dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. Here, well explain how to avoid and fix misplaced modifiers so you come across as intended whenever you communicate. To raise a good dog, patience is useful. This sentence has a misplaced or dangling modifier! Moving to Montreal has been a difficult experience because I left my father at home, who is a recent widower. Placing the cold cuts on the bread, the lettuce was placed on top. Remember, modifiers are supposed to appear next to the words they describe, so just move a misplaced modifier before or after the right word. Some of the sentences contain a misplaced or dangling modifier. Garner, B. Rhetorical Skills focuses on your comprehending of . How do you communicate where, when, or how something happened? Modifiers can also be phrases or clauses: Spending three hours working at my laptop, I took a break. We glued together the vase we broke quietly. Having thus added the nounor person who did the actionthe writer corrected the sentence and fixed the error of the dangling modifier. | Examples & How to Eliminate, Because John had injured his dominant hand, a car accident caused a traffic jam on the highway, Because we required more data for the study, questionnaires were collected from an additional 200 people, the darkness obscured the details of the room. How do you communicate where, when, or how something happened? How do you specify what somebody looks like? REVISED: They failed the experiment, not having studied the lab manual carefully. You might hear or read that adjective phrases describe adjectives, and this is true in a pedantic sensean adjective phrase. How to say passage: pronounce syllables in passage. Adjective phrases are phrases that function as adjectives, which means they describe nouns. 1.4 Introduction to Writing: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 2.8 Writing Basics: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 3.9 Punctuation: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 4.7 Working with Words: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 5.3 Count and Noncount Nouns and Articles, 5.9 Help for English Language Learners: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 6.2 Effective Means for Writing a Paragraph, 6.3 Writing Paragraphs: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 7.4 Refining Your Writing: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 8.5 The Writing Process: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 9.1 Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement, 9.4 Writing Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs, 9.5 Writing Essays: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 10.10 Rhetorical Modes: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 11.2 Steps in Developing a Research Proposal, 11.4 Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information, 11.5 Critical Thinking and Research Applications, 11.6 Writing from Research: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 12.1 Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper, 12.2 Developing a Final Draft of a Research Paper, 12.3 Writing a Research Paper: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 13.4 Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style, 13.5 APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting: End-of-Chapter Exercises, 14.2 Incorporating Effective Visuals into a Presentation, 14.4 Creating Presentations: End-of-Chapter Exercises. Not sure what a modifier is? Misplaced and dangling modifiers make sentences difficult to understand. We returned the wine to the waiter that was sour. Passage describes the act of passing or traveling from one place to the next. One day For example, heres how the word only can modify a sentence: Its GO time for generative AI writing assistance, Grammarly helps you communicate confidently. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. Dangling modifiers change the meaning of the sentence in an unintended way. Female Salvation Army officers in the nineteenth century were expected to raise funds by preaching to crowds in attractive dresses. Playing a guitar in the bedroom, the cat was seen under the bed. Garners modern English usage (4th ed.). You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. You guessed itwith modifiers. Butterfield, J. Take a look at these examples: , the kids who played at the playground bought ice cream. lost the surfing championship, which included a scholarship to college. "Having finished" states an action but does not name the doer of that action. You might want to consult the rules before you make your choice! A word or phrase that modifies a term that is not explicitly expressed in the sentence is known as a dangling modifier. Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier? Specifically, theyre words that modify their sentences meanings. PowerPoint Ranging from mild to acute, UNICEF reports that 20 per cent of Iraq's 3.5 million children suffer from malnutrition. When a modifier is ambiguously or illogically modifying a word, we consider it amisplaced modifier. Copyright 2022 by The On-Campus Writing Lab& The OWL at Purdueand Purdue University. Terms Exercises I learned several rules to stay safe from bears in the woods: get off the trail by sundown, make lots of noise so bears know you're there, and __________. Ideally, modifiers appear next to the word or phrase they describe, either directly before or after it. After being thoroughly cooked, we enjoyed a delicious lobster dinner. Cite This Source. for Marina. We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. Present participles end in -ing. Heres an example of a dangling modifier: Happy that school was over, the afternoon was quite relaxing. Misplaced modifiers are closely related to another common grammar mistake, dangling modifiers. Confusing: Tyler almost found fifty cents under the sofa cushions. Dangling his legs over the water, Tommy sat on the pier Walden University is certified to operate by SCHEV REVISED: After reading the original study, I find the article unconvincing. Now, lets look at a similar misplaced modifier example: Happy that school was over, the afternoon was quite relaxing for the students. This kind of modifier is unclear because its placed in a way that makes it just as applicable to the word before it as it is to the word following it. Dangling modifiers arent the only type of misplaced modifier. out of the ocean as sleek as a seal, Tommy gasped at the sight. Misplaced modifiers make the sentence awkward and sometimes unintentionally humorous. Clearer ways of writing these sentences are: Dangling modifiers arent the only type of misplaced modifier. Directions: Read the Hanging on a fencepost in a field, I saw a pair of boots. I did not think that the clown was funny. Incorrect: To win the spelling bee, Luis and Gerard should join our team. She decided to buy the blue vintage Cadillac. A modifier describes or qualifies another part of a sentence. walking (participle) | Examples & How to Eliminate. After identifying the error (if there is one), fix the sentence. Another method of fixing a dangling modifier is to include the subject in the introductory phrase, leaving the main clause as it is. music (direct object of action expressed in participle) Return to The Concise Canadian Writer's Handbook 3e Student Resources. How do you specify what somebody looks like? In the example below, the introductory phrase modifies Jane, the subject of the main clause. Shop These, too, are generally either adverbial or adjectival and can look like: Typically, modifiers are placed right beside the. Note for Purdue Students: Schedule a consultation at the on-campus writing lab to get more in-depth writing help from one of our tutors. The main difference between misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers is whether the word theyre supposed to describe is in the sentence. In the example above, the cat is tired after a long day at work! And like adjectival phrases, adverbial phrases are often used by writers to make descriptions more vivid: Writers also modify sentences with adverbial clauses like: Prepositional phrases can also be used as modifiers. abilities, the training and advice Marina offered went unheeded. Chapter 5: Help for English Language Learners, Chapter 6: Writing Paragraphs: Separating Ideas and Shaping Content. The local residents often saw Ken wandering through the streets. A dangling modifier is misplaced because it does not have anything to modify. she asked poor Tommy the reason for his pain. They can make a sentence's meaning clearer, make a sentence more specific, or simply make it more engaging. Luo, A. 2) I learned this lesson when my friend and me studied all afternoon, then aced our final exam for biology. We quietly glued together the vase we broke. out on a swim, Tommy drank a root beer and tossed the empty plastic bottle The . See Answer. Humming and chewing, my sandwich went down smoothly. Twitter Correct: As Jane was riding in the sports car . A dog appeared in my dreams that sang like an angel.
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