Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers (thanks Cindy!)

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Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers(thanks Cindy!)
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• Q What is a modifier?

• A a word or phrase that describes another word,
  phrase, or clause
• Types
• Adjectives--modify nouns and pronouns (for
  example the RED house)
• Adverbs--modify verbs, adverbs, adjectives (for
  example he ran QUICKLY.)
• participle phrasesverbs acting like adjectives
  (LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, he noticed that he was
  late.)

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Q So, what is a misplaced modifier?
A a modifier that is in the wrong place a word
or phrase whose placement suggests that it
modifies one word when it is actually intended
to modify another word. Example I glimpsed a
rat sorting the recyclable materials.
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Misplaced Modifier example
a modifier that is in the wrong place a word or
phrase whose placement suggests that it modifies
one word when it is actually intended to modify
another word.
The word the Misplaced Modifier really describes
The word the Misplaced Modifier seems to describe
I glimpsed a rat sorting the recyclables.
Misplaced Modifier
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Misplaced Modifiers more examples
Misplaced Modifier

• More beautiful than any human being, the explorer
  noticed the mermaid..
• Moaning in haunting voices, the house contained
  many ghosts.

The word the Misplaced Modifier really describes
The word it seems the Misplaced Modifier describes
The word it seems the Misplaced Modifier describes
Misplaced Modifier
The word the Misplaced Modifier really describes
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Q How do I fix Misplaced Modifiers?1. Identify
the Misplaced Modifier2. Identify the word that
is being modified3. Identify the word that
should be modified4. Revise the sentence, so
that you place modifying phrase as close as
possible to the word it modifies.
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Q How do I fix Misplaced Modifiers?
Incorrect The professor posted the notes for the
students covered in class. Correct The professor
posted the notes covered in class for the
students.
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How to correct Misplaced Modifiers

• Incorrect More beautiful than any human being,
  the explorer noticed the mermaid.

Correct The explorer noticed the mermaid, who
was more beautiful than any human being.
Incorrect Moaning in haunting voices, the house
contained many ghosts.
Correct The house contained many ghosts, moaning
in haunting voices.
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Another type Dangling Modifier What is a
Dangling Modifier?
A the word being described is not in the
sentence a word or phrase that cannot logically
describe any word or word group in the sentence.
Dangling Modifier
Walking through the park, the grass tickled my
feet.
The Dangling Modifier seems to describe the
grass walking through the park, but can the
grass walk through the park?
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Dangling Modifiers Examples
Dangling Modifier

• Using a variety of educational techniques, the
  students were taught grammar.
• To improve his essay, each page was proofread.

The Dangling Modifier seems to describe
students, but were the students the ones using
the educational techniques?
Dangling Modifier
The Dangling Modifier seems to describe page,
but can the pages really improve his essay?
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Q How do I fix Dangling Modifiers?

• Add a subject right after the dangling modifier
• OR
• 2. Add the subject into the dangling modifier

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How to correct Dangling Modifiers 1. Add a
subject right after the dangling modifier 2. Add
the subject into the dangling modifier

• Incorrect Using a variety of educational
  techniques, the students were taught grammar.

Correct Using a variety of educational
techniques, the teacher taught the
students grammar.
Incorrect To improve his essay, each page was
proofread.
Correct To improve his essay, he proofread each
page.
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Your turn

• What is wrong with the following sentences?
  Correct the following sentences by writing them
  correctly on your own sheet of paper.

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• Your turn choose 5 of the following sentences to
  write correctly on your own paper. Show to Ms.
  Tharel for points!
• Sam found a letter in the mailbox that doesnt
  belong to her.
• Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car
  seemed to run better.
• Bright and full of flowers, Jenny entered the
  meadow.
• With three minutes to write, the exam was nearly
  finished.
• Careful not to make a tear, the delicate paper
  was wrapped around the gift.
• Two cars were reported stolen by the Farmingdale
  police yesterday.
• Take time to look over the brochure that is
  enclosed with your family.
• Removing each others fleas, the zoo workers
  watched the monkeys.
• The patient was referred to a psychologist with
  several emotional problems.
• We could see the corn growing from our car window
  in Kansas.

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Homework

• Choose one of the following Misplaced or Dangling
  Modifiers sentences.
• On a half sheet of colored paper, write the
  incorrect sentence, and draw a picture
  illustrating the incorrect sentence.
• On the other side of paper, write a correct
  version of the sentence.

Incorrect sentences The fire alarm went off
while cooking my dinner. I gave olives to my
friend that I stabbed with my fork. Cindy saw
daisies climbing up the side of a hill. Hopping
briskly through the vegetable garden, I saw a
toad. Looking through the telescope, the moon
looked enormous.
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CiNdY iS rAdIcAl!!