Avoiding Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

1
Avoiding Danglingand Misplaced Modifiers
2
Definition Modifier

• Modifier a word, phrase, or clause that
  provides information about another word in the
  sentence
• The student sitting in the front row is asleep.

3
Definition Present Participle Modifier

• Present participle the -ing form of a verb
• Walking quickly into the room,
• the teacher started her lecture.

Present participle modifier
4
Definition Past Participle Modifier

• Past Participle the past tense form of
• a verb (often ending in -d or -ed)
• Frightened by the doctor,
• the baby began screaming.

Past participle modifier
5
First Rule for Modifiers

• Be sure that the modifier points to a word in the
  sentence. Dont let your modifier dangle.
• Working hard, my test scores improved quickly.
• Working hard, I improved my test scores quickly.

NO
YES
6
Second Rule for Modifiers

• Keep your modifiers as close as possible to the
  words they are describing.
• I caught an elephant in my pajamas.
• (How he got in my pajamas Ill never know!)

• In my pajamas, I caught an elephant.

7
Try a couple!

• Written at the last minute, I got only a C- on my
  essay.
• Written at the last minute, my essay got only a
  C-.
• I gave the computer to a friend that was always
  breaking down.
• I gave the computer that was always breaking down
  to a friend.

8
To review dangling and misplaced modifiers, see
Chapter 18.