Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

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Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

• or whats that elephant doing in my pajamas!?!

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You know so much already!

• Q What is a Modifier?
• A A word or phrase that defines or gives more
  information about another word.

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What kinds of modifiers do you know?

• Adjectives
• Describe nouns and pronouns.
• Answer the questions which one, what kind how
  many or how much.
• Adverbs answer the questions how, when, where,
  to what extent.

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Pass me the purple purse.

• Pass me the purple purse.
• Purple tells which purse.
• What is the modifier in this sentence?
• Pass me the purse that matches my shoes.

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But.

• Phrases can be modifiers too!
• What is the modifier in this sentence?
• Pass me the purse that matches my shoes.

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Pass me the purse that matches my shoes.

• This whole phrase tells you which one.
• There are different kinds of phrases that do
  this, but for today, we will call them all
  modifying phrases.

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When used correctly

• Modifying phrases clearly tell you what they are
  modifying. When used incorrectly
• Play marx brothers clip.
• What makes this clip funny?

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Why does it matter?

• Correctly placed modifiers ensure clarity in your
  writing.
• Using modifiers can make your writing more
  complex, more sophisticated, and more
  interesting.
• Correcting misplaced modifiers is a frequently
  tested skill on the ACT!

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Try correcting the following sentence.

• Jeff bought an old jeep from a crooked dealer
  with a faulty transmission.
• Q Whats the modifier?
• A with a faulty transmission.

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• Jeff bought an old jeep from a crooked dealer
  with a faulty transmission.
• Q What does it modify?
• A The jeep.
• The way the sentence is written, it seems like
  the dealer has the faulty transmission.
• Rewrite it to make the sentence clear.
• Jeff bought an old jeep with a faulty
  transmission from a crooked dealer.

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Try another

• Sam screamed at the barking dog in his underwear.
• Q. What is the modifying phrase?
• A. In his underwear.
• Q. What does it modify?
• Sam.
• Dogs dont wear underwear!

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• Overhead practice