Misplaced Modifiers,

1
Misplaced Modifiers,

• Or words in the wrong place

• Life is a promise fulfill it.
  Mother Theresa

2
To begin with, can anyone define modifier?

• A modifier is a word or phrase that describes
  something.
• There are two types of modifiers in the English
  language.
• Adverbs-describe verbs
• Adjective-describe nouns

3
Some examples of modifiers in action.

• The tall man with the suntan sat under the palm
  tree.
• In this sentence we have two modifiers tall and
  with the suntan.
• The sentence as it is written makes perfect
  sensehowever consider the sentence on the next
  slide.

4
Example of misplaced modifier

• The tall man sat under the palm tree with the
  suntan.
• If you read this sentence quickly, it seems to
  make sense but when you read it slowly, you
  might ask yourself, can a palm tree have a
  suntan? The answer is no, of course.
• This is an example of a misplaced modifier. The
  modifier is in the wrong place and makes the
  sentence confusing. Remember the modifier should
  always come close to what it modifies.

5
Consider this example

• The lady with three legs bought a piano.
• To correct follow these steps.
• One, find the modifier.
• Two, check if it makes sense where it is
• Three, if it seems to be misplaced, find its
  true place.

6

• Could you correct it?
• Correction
• The lady bought a piano with three legs.
• (The incorrect sentence made it seem as if the
  lady had three legs.)

7
I think you now have a better idea of what is a
misplaced modifier. Lets practice. Remember the
three steps.

• I saw a mouse going to our class meeting.
• Flying around the room, I saw two mockingbirds.
• Climbing a tree the other day, I saw a monkey at
  the zoo.
• I bought a puppy for my brother with a cute
  little tail.
• A cow is wanted by a farmer weighing about 1500
  pounds.

8
Corrections

• Going to our class meeting, I saw a mouse.
• I saw a mouse going to our class meeting.
• I saw two mockingbirds flying around the room.
  Flying around the room, I saw two mockingbirds.
• The other day I saw a monkey climbing a tree at
  the zoo. Climbing a tree the other day, I saw a
  monkey at the zoo.
• I bought a puppy with a cute little tail for my
  brother. I bought a puppy for my brother with a
  cute little tail.
• A cow weighing about 1500 pounds is wanted by a
  farmer. A cow is wanted by a farmer weighing
  about 1500 pounds.

9
More practice

• I returned the kitty to my Mom which had been
  missing for a couple of days.
• I relaxed on the mat wearing my Hawaiian shirt
  and shorts.
• I replaced a tile on the floor that was loose.
• I was bathing my dog while singing a beautiful
  melody.
• Jerry stepped on the snake without any shoes on.
• I bought the used television from a friend with a
  broken antennae.

10
Corrections

• I returned the kitty which had been missing for a
  couple of days to my Mom.
• Wearing my Hawaiian shirt and shorts,I relaxed on
  the mat.
• I replaced a tile that was loose on the floor.
• While singing a beautiful melody, I was bathing
  my.
• Without any shoes on, Jerry stepped on the snake.
  
• I bought the used television with a broken
  antennae from a friend.

11
Assignment

• Carlos returned the hot dog to the Circle K that
  was rotten.
• I love the donuts from HEB with the vanilla
  frosting.
• My cousin told me how to get to her business in a
  telegram.
• Alex visited the hospital, still worn out from
  all the work.
• The woman by the pool with the bright T-shirt
  always drank water.