m copyright © 2001 by the mcgraw-hill companies, inc. all rights reserved. mcgraw-hill 1 misplaced...

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M Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.McGraw-Hill

Misplaced Parts, Dangling ModifiersMisplaced Parts, Dangling Modifiers

Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins

and Paul Harris,and Paul Harris,

Camden County CollegeCamden County College

Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins

and Paul Harris,and Paul Harris,

Camden County CollegeCamden County College

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- Copyright © 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.McGraw-Hill

Misplaced Parts Misplaced Parts

When building a sentence, avoid needless When building a sentence, avoid needless separation of related parts of the separation of related parts of the sentence.sentence.

• A A misplaced modifiermisplaced modifier is positioned in a is positioned in a sentence so that it is unclear which sentence so that it is unclear which word, phrase, or clause is modified.word, phrase, or clause is modified.


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Modifiers such as Modifiers such as almostalmost, , onlyonly,, justjust, , eveneven,,hardlyhardly, , nearlynearly,, and and merelymerely, should be , should be placed immediately before the words they placed immediately before the words they modify.modify.

• Example: Example:

My mother only works on Saturdays and My mother only works on Saturdays and Sundays.Sundays.

This sentence indicates that the mother only This sentence indicates that the mother only works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk.works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk.

Modifiers such as Modifiers such as almostalmost, , onlyonly,, justjust, , eveneven,,hardlyhardly, , nearlynearly,, and and merelymerely, should be , should be placed immediately before the words they placed immediately before the words they modify.modify.

• Example: Example:


This sentence indicates that the mother only This sentence indicates that the mother only works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk.works -- she does not eat, sleep, or talk.

Misplaced Parts, Misplaced Parts, and Modifiersand Modifiers

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We must place the modifier before a different We must place the modifier before a different word so the sentence is clearly understood.word so the sentence is clearly understood.

Examples………Examples………


Revised…………Revised…………

My mother works only on Saturdays and My mother works only on Saturdays and Sundays.Sundays.

Misplaced Parts, Misplaced Parts, and Modifiersand Modifiers

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Misplaced Parts, Misplaced Parts, Modifying Phrases Modifying Phrases

A modifyingA modifyingphrase shouldphrase should

clearly indicateclearly indicatewhat the phrasewhat the phrase

modifies.modifies.

Example…..Example…..Her job is to file newspaperHer job is to file newspaperarticles about handgun use articles about handgun use in the library. in the library.

Example…..Example…..Her job is to file newspaperHer job is to file newspaperarticles about handgun use articles about handgun use in the library. in the library.

Revised…..Revised…..Her job in the library is to Her job in the library is to file newspaper articles file newspaper articles about handgun use.about handgun use.

Revised…..Revised…..Her job in the library is to Her job in the library is to file newspaper articles file newspaper articles about handgun use.about handgun use.

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Modifying ClausesModifying Clauses

Modifying clauses should beModifying clauses should beplaced near the words they modify.placed near the words they modify.

Modifying clauses should beModifying clauses should beplaced near the words they modify.placed near the words they modify.

Example…..Example…..The librarian explainsThe librarian explains

how they use the how they use the computer to do researchcomputer to do research

before the classbefore the classbegins.begins.

Example…..Example…..The librarian explainsThe librarian explains

how they use the how they use the computer to do researchcomputer to do research

before the classbefore the classbegins.begins.

Revised…..Revised…..Before the classBefore the class

begins, the librarianbegins, the librarian explainsexplains

how they use the how they use the computer to computer to do research.do research.

Revised…..Revised…..Before the classBefore the class

begins, the librarianbegins, the librarian explainsexplains

how they use the how they use the computer to computer to do research.do research.

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Avoid Avoid squinting modifierssquinting modifiers……

• These modifiers appear to modify both These modifiers appear to modify both preceding and following words, preceding and following words, creating ambiguous meanings. creating ambiguous meanings.

• Example….Example….

• Students who review researching Students who review researching skills often will benefit.skills often will benefit.

Squinting ModifiersSquinting Modifiers

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• Students who review researching skills Students who review researching skills often will benefit.often will benefit.

• What does this sentence mean?What does this sentence mean?• Students who often review researching Students who often review researching

skills are the ones who will benefit.skills are the ones who will benefit.OrOr

• Students who review researching skills are Students who review researching skills are the ones who often benefit.the ones who often benefit.

Squinting ModifiersSquinting Modifiers

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Example:Example:I decided to quickly research I decided to quickly research

the median incomes of the median incomes of police officers.police officers.

I hoped to, without much I hoped to, without much

preparation, write thepreparation, write the research paper.research paper.

Example:Example:I decided to quickly research I decided to quickly research


I hoped to, without much I hoped to, without much

preparation, write thepreparation, write the research paper.research paper.

Revised:Revised:I decided to research quickly I decided to research quickly


Without much preparation, I Without much preparation, I hoped to write the hoped to write the research paper.research paper.

Revised:Revised:I decided to research quickly I decided to research quickly


Without much preparation, I Without much preparation, I hoped to write the hoped to write the research paper.research paper.

Avoid Split Avoid Split InfinitivesInfinitives

AnAn infinitiveinfinitive is the is the “to”“to” form of a verb: to dance, to listen, to sew. form of a verb: to dance, to listen, to sew. AnAn infinitiveinfinitive is the is the “to”“to” form of a verb: to dance, to listen, to sew. form of a verb: to dance, to listen, to sew.

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Dangling Modifiers

Example:Example:

Researching on Researching on the internet, many the internet, many facts are easily facts are easily obtained for the obtained for the report.report.

A A dangling modifierdangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause is a word, phrase, or clausethat does not modify any element in a sentence. that does not modify any element in a sentence. A A dangling modifierdangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause is a word, phrase, or clausethat does not modify any element in a sentence. that does not modify any element in a sentence.

Who was researching?Who was researching? What is the subject of the What is the subject of the

sentence?sentence?• ““Many facts” is theMany facts” is the subject.subject.

If If “many facts”“many facts” is the subject, is the subject, who is researching on the who is researching on the internet?internet?

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““We”We” is the subject is the subject so we are researching so we are researching on the internet.on the internet.

Revised:• Researching on the Researching on the

internet, we easily internet, we easily found many facts for found many facts for the report.the report.

Dangling Modifiers

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Dangling Modifiers

Example:Example:

Because of going to many parties, my term paper Because of going to many parties, my term paper was late.was late.

How would you revise this sentence?How would you revise this sentence?

A A dangling modifierdangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause is a word, phrase, or clausethat does not modify any element in a sentence. that does not modify any element in a sentence. A A dangling modifierdangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause is a word, phrase, or clausethat does not modify any element in a sentence. that does not modify any element in a sentence.

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Modifiers - Practice ReviewModifiers - Practice Review

Christina enrolled in Christina enrolled in an animal training an animal training program after program after graduation which graduation which was organized by a was organized by a circus.circus.

Identify each sentence as being Identify each sentence as being CORRECTCORRECT or or INCORRECT:INCORRECT:

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect

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Bob trained a pig to Bob trained a pig to use a litter box with use a litter box with love and patience.love and patience.



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The veterinarian The veterinarian explained why a pet explained why a pet owner should not hit owner should not hit her kitten on her kitten on Monday night.Monday night.



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The animal trainer The animal trainer rode on the elephant rode on the elephant with a broken foot.with a broken foot.



Who had the broken Who had the broken foot , the trainer or foot , the trainer or the elephant?the elephant?

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The lioness watched The lioness watched the trainer caring for the trainer caring for her cub in the cage.her cub in the cage.


What does this sentence What does this sentence mean?mean?

The lioness in the cage caring The lioness in the cage caring for her cub watched the for her cub watched the trainer.trainer.

oror The lioness watched the The lioness watched the

trainer who was caring for trainer who was caring for her cub.her cub.


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The horses at the riding The horses at the riding stable only galloped for stable only galloped for experienced ridersexperienced riders


Incorrect:Incorrect:galloped ONLY galloped ONLY for experienced for experienced riders.riders.

Incorrect:Incorrect:galloped ONLY galloped ONLY for experienced for experienced riders.riders.

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Having a coat that Having a coat that was well cared for, was well cared for, the dog was happy the dog was happy and healthy. and healthy.


CorrectCorrectCorrectCorrect

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Brushing your dog Brushing your dog daily, his tangles are daily, his tangles are eliminated.eliminated.



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Using human Using human products on pets can products on pets can be very harmful to be very harmful to the animal’s skin and the animal’s skin and eyes. eyes.


CorrectCorrectCorrectCorrect

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Working with animals of Working with animals of all types, the pay is not as all types, the pay is not as important as the personal important as the personal satisfaction.satisfaction.


Incorrect:Incorrect:a person must a person must be working with be working with the animals. the animals.

Incorrect:Incorrect:a person must a person must be working with be working with the animals. the animals.

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Because of caring for so Because of caring for so many animals, the many animals, the grooming schedule was not grooming schedule was not completed at the zoo.completed at the zoo.


Incorrect:Incorrect:a person must a person must be caring for be caring for the animals. the animals.

Incorrect:Incorrect:a person must a person must be caring for be caring for the animals. the animals.

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AnyAnyQuestions?Questions?

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