academic english workshop 0910s7 misplaced modifiers

8/14/2019 Academic English Workshop 0910S7 Misplaced Modifiers

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Wience [email protected]

3746-0170

HHB 1630

CC0040CC0040academic English workshopsacademic English workshops

2009-20102009-2010

Session 7Session 7Misplaced ModifiersMisplaced Modifiers


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meanings that you can

think of?The manager announced

that two employees hadresigned

before the meeting.


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What are the possible

meanings that you canthink of?

She likes the music boxon the book cover which

is nicely decorated.


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meanings that you can

think of?

I just teach in thedaytime.


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What is a MisplacedModifier?

A misplaced modifierisinappropriately positioned in asentence.

It makes the sentence unclearwhich word, phrase, or clause is

modified.


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Part A: Diagnostic Test

Identify and underline the misplacedmodifiers in the following paragraphs.

Then, revise these sentences to eliminateerrors of misplaced modifiers in the space

between the lines by putting ^ in thecorrect position.


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Part B:Grammatical principles -

Review

ModifiersModifiers of Nouns

Modifiers of Verbs

Misplaced ModifiersHow to correct misplaced modifiers


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Modifiers

A modifier is a word or groups ofwords which describes or identifiesanother word or group of words in

the same sentence.

It can be a single word, a phrase, ora clause.


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Modifiers of Nouns A modifier may provide more information about a

noun.

More technically, they could be called

adjectivals.

Hong Kong is an international city [single word].

Firms from all over the world establish offices in

Hong Kong [phrase].Only those applicants who have passed the English

proficiency test will be shortlisted for a secondinterview [clause].


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Modifiers of Verbs A modifier may provide more information about a

verb.

More technically, they could be called adverbials.

Having near-native English proficiency can greatlyenhance your job prospects in todays competitivejob market [single word].

In this essay, we will analyse the status of English

from multiple perspectives [phrase].Since the lecturer could establish a friendly

atmosphere in the lesson, students participatedactively in the class learning activities [clause].


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Misplaced Modifiers

A modifier which is placed in a wrongposition can distort the meaning and thusconfuse readers.

You may avoid misplaced modifierproblems by putting modifiers as close aspossible to the words being modified.


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How to correctMisplaced ModifiersPlace modifiers such as even, only, merely,

almost, nearly, justimmediately before thewords they modify.

Example:

Misplaced Modifier: The presenter speaks too soft;the audiences sitting in the front can only hear him.[Onlyintends to modify the audiences.Nevertheless, because of its position, it appears to

modify hearin this sentence.]Revision: The presenter speaks too soft; only the

audiences sitting in the front can hear him.


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Place clause modifiers beginning with who, whichor thatimmediately after the words they modify.

Example:

Misplaced Modifier: The student received full marks in

the test who is always punctual to the class.[who is always punctual to the class intends to modifythe student. Nevertheless, because of its position, itappears to modify the testin this sentence.]

Revision: The student who is always punctual to theclass received full marks in the test.

How to correctMisplaced Modifiers


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Avoid inserting a modifier between to andthe verb that follows [split infinitives].

Example:

Misplaced Modifier:As tropical cyclone signal#8 has just been hoisted, the lecturer asks thestudents to quickly but calmly leave.

Revision:As tropical cyclone signal #8 has just

been hoisted, the lecturer asks the students toleave quickly but calmly.



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Avoid positioning a modifier in a place whereits meaning is ambiguous, i.e. describing bothwhat precedes and what follows them.

Example:

Misplaced Modifier: Tommy said after theexamination he wanted to ask the lecturer for themodel answers.[Did Tommy say this after the examination? Ordid

he have the desire to ask the lecturer for the modelanswers after the examination?]



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Depending on the meaning you want, we may revisethis misplaced modifier problem in either way:

Revision i):After the examination, Tommy said hewanted to ask the lecturer forthe model answers.

[after the examination describing said].

Revision ii): Tommy said he wanted to ask thelecturer for the model answers after theexamination.

[after the examination describing wanted].



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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises

Exercise C1: Identify and underline the modifiers inthe following sentences. Then, circle the word(s)being modified.

1. I do not think anyone can succeed without love.

2. If you lack passion for your work, you will not succeed.

3. Falling in love with your work can make a person performbetter.

4. Michael Jordan, a famous American basketball player whoplayed 1072 games and ended his career with 32,292

points, said in his retirement, What is love? Love is playingevery game as my last.


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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises

Exercise C2: Make sentences using themodifiers given. Then, circle the word(s)being modified.

1.

silently2. for several years

3. without hesitating

4. although you would not believe it


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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises Exercise C3: Identify and underline

the misplaced modifiers in thefollowing paragraphs. Then, revisethese sentences to eliminate errors of

misplaced modifiers in the spacebetween the lines by putting ^ inthe correct position.


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Reflective Writing Practice III(Comments on a Journal

Article)In this task, you are required to

i) read and choose ajournal article relevant to

your study discipline* (Health Care) andii) write a reflection paragraph of100-150 words

on the article.

Due Date: In the Workshop of Week 9

*You may use the electronic resources (e.g. AcademicSearch Premier, Business Source Premier, ProQuest 500)available at the website of the CPCE Libraries to search for a journal article in your studydiscipline.


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academic english workshop 0910s7 misplaced modifiers

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