DANGLING & MISPLACEDMODIFIERS

By: Madeline S.

&

Madyson B.

Learn Misplaced Modif

iers

Learn Dangling Modi

fiers

TAKE THE QUIZ

At the end of each lesson there is a link that says “Home” that will bring you back here.

Bibliography

LEARN MISPLACED MODIFIERS

A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes the wrong noun.

A misplaced modifier can change the meaning of a sentence.

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FOR EXAMPLE

Incorrect:The torn student’s book was on the desk.Rebecca found a gold man’s watch.

The sentence should say:The student’s torn book was on the desk.Rebecca found a man’s gold watch.

HERE’S WHYBy saying the torn student’s book was on the desk, the reader thinks the student is torn, where in reality it is the book that is torn. The word torn is meant to describe the book, but it is closer to the noun student. This may cause confusion to the reader.

By saying Rebecca found a gold man’s watch, the reader thinks the man is gold. Gold needs to

be closest to the noun it is describing. Therefor we move gold next to watch.

HOME

LEARN DANGLING MODIFIERS

A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not have a noun to describe.

It is a phrase meaning to describe the narrator or someone but is forgetting to put that noun along with the description.

These sentences can often not make sense to the reader.

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FOR EXAMPLE

Incorrect:Having seen the Blackpool Tower, the

Eiffel Tower is more impressive.Hoping to excuse my lateness, the note was written and given to my teacher.

The sentence should say:Having seen the Blackpool Tower, I am more impressed by the Eiffel Tower.Hoping to excuse my lateness, I wrote a note and gave it to my teacher

HERE’S WHYThe modifying phrase in the first example is having seen the Blackpool Tower. The noun it describes should be

closest to it, but the next noun is the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower did not see the Blackpool Tower, and

there is not another noun in the sentence that could. For this reason, the modifier is dangling.

The modifying phrase in the second example is hoping to excuse my lateness. The noun closest to it is the

note, but the note did not hope to excuse it’s lateness. The next noun is the teacher, but she did not want to

excuse herself either. There is not a noun that wants to excuse themselves, so the modifier is dangling.

HOME

QUIZ

Quiz yourself to see if you have mastered modifiers.

WHAT DOES A MISPLACED MODIFIER DESCRIBE?

The wrong noun

They describe the closest noun, but not the intended noun.

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A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

WHAT IS A DANGLING MODIFIER?

A word used to describe a noun

A phrase that changes a sentence

A word, phrase, or clause that describes the wrong noun

A missing description

A phrase or clause that describes a noun that is missing

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A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

WHICH CONTAINS A DANGLING MODIFIER?

All of the above

None of the above

Hoping for a present, Stephen ran down the stairs.

Spending way too much money on his old car, Fred soon found he'd used up his salary.

To become a respected politician, campaign funds must be carefully administered.

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

WHICH SENTENCE IS WRITTEN CORRECTLY?

The children loved the monkeys swinging through the trees.

None of the above

I like to listen to rock music while I do my homework.

The dog walked down the street.

All of the above

TRUE or FALSE?TRUE or FALSE?

MODIFIERS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE NOUN THEY DESCRIBE.

DOES THIS SENTENCE CONTAIN A DANGLING MODIFIER?

Yes

The narrator never said who was eight. The sentence could say “At the age of eight, I got a

dog.”

At the age of eight, my family finally bought a dog.

WHICH MODIFIER DOES THIS SENTENCE CONTAIN?

Misplaced

Louis found the shiny dog’s shoes.

WHAT IS A NOUN?

A person, place, or thing

WHICH NOUN IS INTENDED TO BE DESCRIBED?

We

Without a plan for the weekend, we decided to take in a Saturday matinee.

WHICH NOUN IS DESCRIBED BY A MODIFIER?

The closest noun

CONGRATULATIONS!

You finished the quiz!

Go to review lessons & see bibliography.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Benner, Margrgaret L. "Self Teaching Unit: Avoiding Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers." Towson. N.p., 1998. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.

"Dangling Modifier - Glossary of Terms." Grammer-Monster.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.

"Quiz on Modifier Placement." N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.