For example, a writer may have meant to modify the subject, but word order used means that the modifier. This assessment includes 7 sections and tests students knowledge of modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and dangling modifiers. Otherwise, the modifier is said to be dangling, and the sentence takes on an unintended meaning. Rearrange the sentence so that it begins with the word being modified or change the modifier to a subordinate clause with a subject and a verb. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in which it appears. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university.
Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a. My sister walked in as i was scrubbing the floor with her new baby. Illustrated misplaced modifier examples to make you smile everyone knows that misplaced modifier examples can be hilarious, thanks to a certain invasive elephant. Fixing dangling modifiers what is a dangling modifier.
The first is due to the modifying word or phrase being placed too far from the word or group of words its meant to modify. In english, modifiers are placed immediately before or after the words they describe. The modifier should be placed as close as possible to the noun it is modifying. Sitting in the dentists chair, the sound ofthe drill made larry sweat. Because rewritten sentences will vary, have a writing counselor check your new sentences for you. How to eliminate dangling modifiers from your writing.
The dangling modifier prefers shorter submissions 500 words, but were flexible. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. The powerpoint provides several examples for mastery and later for students to identify. Confusing clear the girl who was riding the pony playfully laughed at the puppies. A dangling modifier is a type of misplaced modifier. Dangling modifiers other times we write descriptive phrases that point to or modify words that are not clearly stated in our sentences, making our sentences illogical.
This sentence now clearly states that students need a doctors note in order to be excused from class. This could mean that the modifier is in the wrong place in the sentence or that the word the modifier should describe is omitted from the sentence. This is an example of a modifier that disrupts a sentence. Modifying phrases must go next to the word that they modify. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. Before we jump into the subject of this lesson, we have to define a few key terms. H aving studied for ten straight days, the test w as.
Swimming out into the lake, i felt the water grow cold. For example, to clarify the word dog, a writer might use the modifier brown. As you can see from the following examples, the sentences should be. A dangling modifier is a word or word group that refers to or modifies a word or phrase that has not been clearly stated in the sentence harris 118. Rewrite the following sentences to repair any dangling modifiers. Dangling modifiers a modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. Here follow several examples of dangling modifiers and how to fix them. A dangling modifier is misplaced because it does not have anything to modify. Jun 21, 2019 a dangling modifier is a word or phrase often a participle or participial phrase that doesnt actually modify the word its intended to modify. Correcting dangling modifier errors replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written english. They keep sentences from expressing clear, straightforward ideas. Upload your file s so we can calculate your word count, or enter your word count manually.
Although most commonly found at the beginning of the sentence, the dangling modifier may be located at the end of the sentence, too. Dangling modifiers are often found at the beginnings of sentences as is the case of the first three examples above, and they are most often phrases that begin with verbals true of all these examples. The following are examples of dangling modifiers and how they can be corrected. Correcting dangling modifier errors replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise. A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. More examples of dangling modifiers and their revisions. Dangling modifiers make unclear the meaning of a sentence. Other terms for dangling modifier dangling modifiers are also known as hanging modifiers, floating modifiers, or dangling participles.
A misplaced modifier is a type of ambiguous grammatical construct whereby a grammatical modifier could be misinterpreted as being associated with a word other than the one intended. Service on the subway having been halted, we had to walk. When a sentence opens with such a modifier, readers expect the following clause to name the actor. A modifier dangles when what it is supposed to modify is missing from the sentence. Rules for finding and fixing misplaced and dangling modifiers. We also appreciate articles and stories that display the writers understanding of the writing center field and how their ideas connect with others in short, try to cite some relevant literature. The modifying phrase with her new baby should logically modify how the sister walked. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is. X tempted by the three witches prophecy, macbeths moral scruples give way to his ambition. Here are some examples illustrating modifiers working properly.
Examples of dangling modifiers i was late for the school bus. Refer to discovery, 324327, for additional practice. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. When a modifier is misplaced, it becomes difficult to tell which words it describes.
Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or a clause that is not clearly attached to any word in the sentence. Change the dangling construction into a complete clause. In other words, a modifier becomes a dangling modifier when it is associated with a word other than the one it is intended for or when it is not attached to any particular word at all. It is also called a dangling participle, hanging modifier, floater, floating modifier, or misrelated participle. When you discover a misplaced or dangling modifier in a sentence, you will need to rearrange andor revise the sentence parts to untangle the idea the sentence wants to express. May 25, 2016 dangling and misplaced modifiers may 25, 2016 yanira.
Examples of dangling modifiers i was late for the school bus again. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence, or that does not connect grammatically with what it is intended to modify. Misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes. For example, in walking to college on a subzero morning, my left ear became frozen, the underlined phrase modifies my left ear. In the case of adverbs, adverbs should modify the nearest adverb in the same sentence. The dangling modifier an international newsletter by and. This lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier. This sentence does not clearly state who needs a doctors note in order to be excused. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement.
Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their. This resource includes a pdf file for easy printing and an editable powerpoint version so that you can fit the test to meet the. Its clear that theyre funny, but its high time we address the elephant in the room or in the pajamas. Since verbals have their roots in verbs, they lull language users into. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence. Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups.
The only noun in the main clause is water the water was not swimming. Remember that most modifiers come as close to their targets as possible. The best way to learn how to undangle a dangling modifier is to work through some examples. Misplacedanddanglingmodifiers 1 misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes. Some of the things youll need to know include the definitions of. Having finished the assignment, jill turned on the tv. Oct 28, 2012 dangling modifiers a modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. In the case of adverbs, adverbs should modify the nearest verb or the subsequent adverb or adjective in the same sentence. In both situations, dangling modifiers make the meaning of a sentence unclear confusing the reader. It is also called a dangling participle, hanging modifier, floater, floating modifier, or misrelated. That i like best is modifying the color by providing additional information. The term dangling modifier refers to a word or phrase, usually at the start of a sentence, that does not connect properly to the rest of the sentence.
This combination of quiz and worksheet will help gauge what you know about dangling modifiers and how to use context to fix them. A typical example of a dangling modifier is illustrated in the sentence. In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether that sentence contains a dangling modifier dm or a misplaced modifier mm. When a modifier is too far from the word it is describing, the sentence becomes confusing. Using sarkosyl to induce nuclear runon, the transcriptionally inactive bglobin gene in mature erythrocytes was demonstrated to harbor high levels of pol ii at 5. The second happens when the sentence doesnt include a logical subject to modify. In english, these types of misplaced modifiers are known as dangling modifiers. Illustrated misplaced modifier examples to make you smile. The submit answers for grading feature requires scripting to. The word or words a dangling modifier should modify have been omitted from the sentence. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. In some cases, a dangling modifier refers to a word that doesnt even appear in the sentence. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase often a participle or participial phrase that doesnt actually modify the word its intended to modify.
A dangling modifier is an introductory word groupparticiple, gerund, infinitive, or elliptical clausethat does not refer logically to the noun or pronoun that follows it. After reading the original study, the article remains unconvincing. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections. Oct 20, 2014 the first is due to the modifying word or phrase being placed too far from the word or group of words its meant to modify.
A dangling modifier is one that has no subject at all. Misplaced and dangling modifiers make sentences awkward and inelegant. Dangling and misplaced modifiers teaching resources. Supply the noun or pronoun that it should modify and place the modifier next to the word. The following are examples of dangling modifiers and how they can be. Dangling modifiers and how to correct them purdue writing lab. A dangling modifier is also called a dangling participle if it contains a present participle e. A dangling modifier is a modifying phrase whose implicit subject does not match the explicit subject of the clause it modifies.
These are called absolute constructions and are not dangling modifiers. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase within a sentence that does not clearly. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups such as verbal phrases that suggest but do not name an actor. When you are finished, click on the check my work button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers. Fixing misplaced modifiers rearranging sentence parts will often fix a misplaced modifier. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. An example of dangling participle having present participle. Examples of dangling modifiers and how to fix them, from the experts at scribendi. If a modifier is in the wrong place, the meaning of the sentence can change. When a sentence begins with a phrase that is not directly connected to the subject that it refers to, that phrase is dangling. In fact, they surface from time to time in newspapers, magazines, and academic journals.
The following is an example of the most severe and obvious problem with a dangling modifier. First things first, a modifier is any word or phrase that changes or modifies the. For example, in the following sentences we can easily connect the underlined modifiers with their implied subjects, which are underlined twice. A misplaced modifier does not link clearly to what it is meant to modify. The problem with this sentence is that macbeths scruples are not tempted by the prophecy.
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