Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers

Misplaced Modifiers

• A modifier gives more detail about the subject.

Example:The girl with pigtails rode the pony.

“with pigtails” gives us more detail about the girl

Misplaced Modifiers

• WATCH OUT! If we put the modifier in the wrong place, then we add detail about the wrong thing.

Example:The girl rode the pony with pigtails.

Oops! Placing the modifier here adds detail to the “pony” instead of the girl.

Misplaced Modifiers…. Fix them!

I showed my dog to the veterinarian with fleas.

He kept a black book of all the girls he had dated in his desk.

The man was stopped for speeding in a blue sweater.

I hardly ate any breakfast.

I watched my dad fix the car with admiration.

Frequently Misplaced Modifiers

• Almost, only, just, even, hardly, not, nearly

For example:She only has two children.I hardly ate breakfast this morning.

Dangling Modifiers

You get a dangling modifier when you use an introductory clause that doesn’t logically refer to the rest of the sentence.

Example:After eating dinner, we put the leftovers away.

“after eating dinner” gives us more detail about when we put the leftovers away.

“we” is the subject

***The subject is always first after the introductory clause***

Dangling Modifiers

WATCH OUT! Make sure the subject of the sentence is what you mean to modify.

Example:After eating dinner, the leftovers were put

away.

OOPS!! The leftovers didn’t eat dinner!

Dangling Modifiers… Fix Them!

Driving West, the scenery was beautiful.After watching the game, the snacks were put

away.To lose weight, fats should not be eaten every

day.Walking outside, the coat was grabbed by Jake.Slipping on the ice, his watch broke.