Tell whether the sentence is either a dangling or misplaced modifier or a correct sentence. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in. Dangling and misplaced modifiers by mark nichol each of the following sentences includes a modifying phrase that confuses because it the statement is erroneously constructed or because the phrase is incorrectly located in the sentence. Dangling and misplaced modifiers no teams 1 team 2 teams 3 teams 4 teams 5 teams 6 teams 7 teams 8 teams 9 teams 10 teams custom press f11 select menu option view. The most common type of misplaced modifier question on the act english test involves a modifying phrase. Students often struggle to identify and correct misplaced modifiers, as well as dangling modifiers. Once seated by a hostess, menus would be given to the guests. Refer to discovery, 324327, for additional practice. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. Looking out of door, the courier delivery guy appeared in.
Misplaced and dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a word or phrase that suggests but does not clearly name an actor. The most common modifier mistakes are dangling modifiers and misplaced modifiers. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position. Each exercise in this set includes ten sentences, only five of them with dangling or misplaced modifiers. Misplaced modifiers exercise 2 home towson university. Sighing with sadness, the expensive shoes were returned to the salesman. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses. Unlike misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers cannot be fixed simply by moving it to a different place in the sentence. Jan 11, 2018 modifiers are words and phrases that basically modify a word or sentence.
Misplaced modifiers exercises answers the following are suggested answers. Keep in mind everything you know about dangling and misplaced modifiers. A dangling modifier as a misplaced modifier eries public schools. We still have running around on his little hamster wheel at the beginning, but then we sort of, switched around the order of albert and his pet. Theyre words or phrases that describe another word or phrase, and when theyre dangling theyre like in the wrong place, theyre in front of the wrong. In one story, rip van winkle slept through the whole american. Although most commonly found at the beginning of the sentence, the dangling modifier may be. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifier that is incorrectly separated from the word or words that it describes. A modifier a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in a sentence. Misplaced and dangling modifiers often result in comic miscommunications.
In one story, rip van winkle slept through the whole american revolution that irving wrote. Supply the noun or pronoun that it should modify and place the modifier next to the word. Authors need to be responsible for writing with proper literary style and tone. See how creative and humorous you can get by writing ten sentences with misplaced and dangling modifiers. Written by editor and writer frances peck, these pieces take a thorough yet entertaining look at some of the most common errors, weaknesses and uncertainties that plague writers of english. Rewrite the following paragraph, correcting all misplaced or dangling modifiers. Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. Either the sentence or the dangling modifier must be changed by adding needed.
Drooling in anticipation of the treat, gizmo waited for sylvia to reward him with a dog cookie. The english teacher looking for tools, the student looking for some extra help, or the new english speaker hoping to master the language will find what he or she is looking for here. Also, many questions on standardized tests such as the act focus on troublesome modifiers. Dangling and misplaced modifiers dangling modifiers are words or phrases that do not have a clear term to modify in a sentence. The waitress served gilbert a plate of gray meatloaf sauced with lumpy gravy. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. Modifiers can take the form of a word, phrase, or clause, and should point clearly toward the words they modify.
I asked him to file all the letters on the desk that had already been answered. There are many things that people do to stay healthy before going for a run or working out, they can hydrate well covering a salad with calorierich. As a rule, modifiers and related words should be kept close together in a sentence. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. A way to avoid misplaced modifiers is to place the modifier close to the word it modifies. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence. Change the dangling construction into a complete clause. Because of their dangling modifiers, these sentences wrongly imply that the hill rollerbladed frantically, that p. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. A modifier is an adverb or an adjective that describes a verb or a. Dangling and misplaced modifiers no teams 1 team 2 teams 3 teams 4 teams 5 teams 6 teams 7 teams 8 teams 9 teams 10 teams custom press f11 select menu option view enter fullscreen for fullscreen mode. If one wishes to write effectively, practice is necessary.
Either the sentence or the dangling modifier must be changed by adding needed information or. They are like dangling modifiers in that they attach themselves to an illogical subject technically speaking but are different in that they are not always found in opening clauses. When a sentence opens with such a modifier, readers expect the following clause to name the actor. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. Correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers pdf documents. Voiceover yeah so like, that is dangling modifiers, and how you get rid of them. 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. In the following sentences, identify and correct the misplaced and dangling modifiers. Dangling and misplaced modifiers dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in which it appears.
A misplaced modifier happens to modify something that you did not intend to modify, oftenor hopefullywith humorous consequences. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections. Some of the worksheets for this concept are dangling and misplaced modifiers, misplaced modifiers, 7 misplaced and dangling modifiers, grammar work misplaced and dangling participles, name date misplaced and dangling m e 1, misplaced modifiers, misplaced modifiers introductory project, name date misplaced modifiers. Our online dangling modifier trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top dangling modifier quizzes. From real good grammar, too by mamie webb hixon created by april turner. 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. This resource includes a pdf file for easy printing and an editable powerpoint version so that you can fit the test to meet the. Our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere. A misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to.
Grammar can be confusing at times, test yours below. Wishing on a star, we felt that the night was magical. Misplaced, squinting and dangling the issue the function of modifiers, adjectives and adverbs, is to enable you to express your ideas clearly and precisely by making some aspect of a statement more specific, to define it more precisely. The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to become so familiar with the concepts of misplaced and dangling modifiers that they can. The vehicle had a slightly flat tire and was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence.
How to fix dangling and misplaced modifiers with examples. The point is that the introductory participial phrase modifies the first noun it gets to in the base sentence, so running corresponds to i. When you are finished, hit the check my work button at the bottom of the page to check your answers. Sometimes to correct a misplaced or dangling modifier and clarify the meaning, the writer must change the words in a sentence. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a modifier that lacks a word or group of words to modify. This assessment includes 7 sections and tests students knowledge of modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and dangling modifiers. Misplaced and dangling modifiers 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. So now we have the critter following the modifier that its supposed to be modified by.
A modifying word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence should be followed immediately by the subject it modifies. A comprehensive database of more than 12 dangling modifier quizzes online, test your knowledge with dangling modifier quiz questions. Modifiers multiple choice questions or quiz or test. Deciding to join the navy, the recruiter enthusiastically shook joes hand. On the night of the raid, two police officers arrested mr. The best misplaced and dangling modifiers of all time. Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a complex and confusing task which can often end in frustration. 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. Refer to discovery, 320324, for additional practice. View each sentence and see if you think there is a problem with either a dangling modifier or a misplaced modifer you may use your notes to help. Misplaced modifiers are words that, because of awkward.
Dangling and misplaced modifiers flashcards quizlet. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. Misplaced and dangling modifiers demonstrate sloppy writing and grammar skills. Sentences with dangling or misplaced modifiers are often unintentionally funny.
Modifiers multiple choice questions or quiz or test choose the most suitable answer that identifies either dangling or misplaced modifier in the sentence. Confusing clear mary got into the police car wearing a. Quia practice quiz dangling and misplaced modifiers. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing.
In a clear, logical sentence, you will find most modifiers right next to the words they describe. Both adults and teenagers have the privilege of earning their drivers licenses before driving for the first time, drivers education classes are important when learning to drive, one must be very cautious and alert after getting a drivers license, all drivers must remain. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. I held the ticket tightly in my hand that my friend gave me. The author forgot to tell us who was wishing on a star. How to avoid dangling modifiers grammar lessons youtube. This is a deceptively simple task, but rise to the challenge. Choose the option that has no misplaced or dangling modifier. Misplacement of adverbs can sometimes change the meaning of a sentence. When you are finished, click on the check my work button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. Misplaced and dangling modifiers worksheet teachers pay. Under handouts, we have posted pdfs of the powerpoint.
Terms in this set 20 grinning happily, the prize for first place was accepted. This is a practice quiz over problems with modifiers. A dangling modifier is an introductory word groupparticiple, gerund, infinitive, or elliptical. Most style guides and experts agree that misplaced modifiers are grammatically incorrect and should be. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it. This activity challenges students to identify dangling or misplaced modifiers in incorrect sentences and fix them. Students select the incorrect sentences and then rewrite them so that the meaning is clear. When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Always put a modifier as close as you can to the word the modifier describes.
Displaying top 8 worksheets found for misplaced modifier. Misplaced modifiers seem to describe words that the author did not intend them to describe. Modifiers are words and phrases that basically modify a word or sentence. In other words, they seem to give a better understanding of a word or sentence. Exchange papers with a classmate, and rewrite your classmates sentences to correct any misplaced modifiers. Here is a classic example from grockit of a sentence on the act english test with a misplaced modifier. Click the link below to download the free pdf worksheet. Aug 02, 20 dangling and misplaced modifiers englishi plc. Even worse, these people think they can cover up their ambiguity with a sentence structure that sounds nice. Both terms refer to modifiers that are connected to the wrong thing in a sentence. For example, to clarify the word dog, a writer might use the modifier brown. From who and whom to hyphens, from commas to plain language, from usage woes to grammar. Often, they can be found at the beginning of sentences, though they can also appear at a sentences.
I created this presentation and accompanying activities to help with misplaced modifiers and dangling modif. Worksheet 1 explains the concept of dangling and misplaced modifiers, including. The best misplaced and dangling modifiers of all time misplaced and dangling modifiers dangling modifiers. Which of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier. Clipping is a handy way to collect important slides you want to go back to later. Dangling modifiers are modifiers in sentences where there is information missing. This resource includes a pdf file for easy printing and an editable powerpoint version so that you. Students multitask everyday, indeed many times a day, students believe they are very adept at juggling two or three different activities while studying for a midterm. Misplaced and dangling modifiers misplaced and dangling modifiers according to laurie kirszner and stephen mandell in the sixth edition of writing first, a modifier is a word or word group that identifies or describes another word or word group in a sentence. Watch out for the words only, just, merely, nearly, and almost. Misplaced modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that are separated from the word they modify. This was originally created for 7th grade language arts class. Rewrite the following sentences to repair any dangling modifiers. In the exercise that follows, you will need to determine whether or not sentences contain misplaced or dangling modifiers.
The transcript, as well as a short quiz to check for understanding, are. Washington irvings stories often contain elements of fantasy. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups such as verbal phrases that suggest but do not name an actor. A misplaced modifier is too far away from the thing its supposed to modify, while a dangling modifier s intended subject is missing from the sentence altogether. Im going to teach you how to avoid the dreaded dangling modifier, but first its important to know what a modifier is. Misplaced and dangling modifiers university of lynchburg. Pecks english pointers is a collection of lively articles spanning english grammar, punctuation, usage and clarity. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. When modifiers are misplaced, the reader may misunderstand the sentence. I held the ticket that my friend gave me tightly in my hand. Swimming out into the lake, i felt the water grow cold.
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