Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

1
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

• More Anguished English

2
Modifier

• A word or group of words that describes or limits
  another word or group of words

3
Misplaced modifiers

• Positioned incorrectly in a sentence--describes
  the wrong word and changes the writers meaning
• Always place a modifier as close as possible to
  what it describes

4
Examples of misplaced mod.

• We saw many bears driving through Yellowstone
  park
• Yesterday evening, Sean Leary, 24, of Belmont
  Road, was driving his motorcycle west on the
  street where he lives at a high speed.
• He ran outside and chased after the cat with a
  broomstick in his underwear.

5
Squinting modifier

• Modifies both the word that comes before it and
  the word that follows it.
• Ex. At Ipalook Elementary Schools enormous
  indoor playground, students who are playing
  happily go outside whenever the weather is above
  20 degrees F.

6
Limiting words

• Only, not only, just, not just, almost, hardly,
  nearly, even, exactly, merely, scarcely, and
  simply
• ex. The couple only saw each other during the
  meal.

7
Split infinitives

• Infinitive to verb
• splitting occurs when a word or words are placed
  between the to and the verb
• exception--sometimes a single adverb may be
  placed between the to and the verb
• ex. NO, NO--The weather service expected
  temperatures to not rise.
• Ex. YES, YES--Welles wanted to realistically
  portray a Martian invasion for the radio audience.

8
Dangling modifiers

• A d. m. describes or limits a word or words that
  do not actually appear in the sentence.
• Ex. In June 1989, barely capable of uttering an
  English phrase, Martinezs hand was severed at
  the wrist in a construction accident.
• Ex. Grilled in foil or alongside a ham, those who
  shied away from onions before will delight in
  this newfound vegetable.

9
Revise these real-life bloopers

• For sale antique desk suitable for lady with
  thick legs and large drawers.
• We will sell gasoline to anyone in a galss
  container.
• The bride was wearing an old lace dress that fell
  to the floor as she came down the aisle.

10

• Calf born to farmer with two heads.
• No one was injured in the blast, which was
  attributed to a buildup of gas by one town
  official.
• A 30-year old St. Petersburg man was found
  murdered by his parents in his home late
  Saturday.