Copy of Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

*Identify the modifier's subject.

*Compare the subject of the modifier and the subject of the sentence.

*Revise as needed.

Dangling: When in high school, my parents divorced.

Revision: When I was in high school, my parents divorced.

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Dangling Modifiers

Misplaced Modifiers

A dangling modifier does not sensibly modify anything in its sentence.

*Usually introduce sentences, contain a verb form, and imply but do not name a subject.

Dangling: Passing the building, the vandalism became visible.

Revised: As we passed the building, the vandalism became visible.

A modifier is misplaced if the reader cannot distinguish which word it modifies.

Keep parts of infinitives or verb phrases together.

Ways to revise misplaced modifiers

Example

Identifying and Revising dangling modifiers

~Confusing-The waitress brought the ice cream to the kids in cones.

An infinitive consists of the marker to plus the plain form of a verb: to produce, to enjoy.

~Revised-The waitress brought the kids ice cream in cones.

1. Place modifiers clearly.

2. Place limiting modifiers carefully.

3. Make each modifier refer to only one grammatical unit.

4. Keep grammatical units together.

5. Place adverbs and adjectives conventionally.

Place modifiers clearly

EXAMPLE

EX: Eating food can cause weight gain in large portions.

Correction: Eating food in large portions can cause weight gain.

Confusing: The teacher expected the students to not cheat.

Revised: The teacher expected the students not to cheat.

Place limiting modifiers clearly

EX: The boy only made the goal on his last run.

Correction: The boy made the goal only on his last run.

Make each modifier refer to only one grammatical unit.

Position adverbs with care.

....Position adverbs with care.

EX: Students who complete their homework often pass the tests.

Correction: Students who often complete their homework pass the tests.

Keep subjects, objects, and verbs together

Keep grammatical units together.

EX: The manager ordered the employee to not steal.

Correction: The manager ordered the employee not to steal.

A subject and verb may be separated by an adjective that modifies the subject.

Examples:

Adverbs of frequency: include always, never, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, and usually.

*They appear at the beginning of a sentence, before a one word verb, or after the helping verb in a verb phrase.

Adverbs of degree: include absolutely, almost, certainly, completely, especially, extremely.

*They fall just before the word modified (an adjective, another adverb, or sometimes a verb.)

Place adverbs and adjectives conventionally.

Examples:

Adverbs with manner: include badly, sweetly, tightly, and others that describe how something is done.

*They usually fall after the verb.

The adverb "not": When the adverb "not" modifies a verb, place it after the helping verb.

Ex: The city after the tornado, began massive construction.

Correction: After the tornado, the city began massive construction.

EX: Once endangered, cheetahs were spotted rarely in Africa.

Correction: Once endangered, cheetahs were rarely spotted in Africa.

Even a one word adverb will be awkward between a verb and its object.

Ex: The tornado had destroyed badly many buildings in the city.

Correction: The tornado had badly destroyed many buildings in the city.