Modifiers

Misplaced and Dangling

Modifiers

A modifying word or group of words is very important to add information and make your sentences interesting. However, confusion results when we misplace a modifier, and even more when we leave it dangling.

Modifiers

Think of a misplaced modifier as a man hanging from the ledge of a very tall building. Standing along the ledge are the words in a sentence. He must inch along the ledge by his fingertips looking for the place where he fits, that is the place where he can get a step up to the ledge.

Modifiers

Modifiers

Similarly, think of a dangling modifier in the same way. However this poor guy has no place to fit because the word he needs to modify is still inside the building—inside the writer’s head.

Modifiers

If the writer does not add words to the ledge, the dangling modifiers will drop!

Modifiers

Example

While walking toward the stage, his face turned red.

While walking toward the stage, his face turned red.

Picture and words by Sharon L. Pugh, Jean Wolph Hicks, Marcia Davis, and Tonya Venstra. Bridging: A Teacher’s Guide to Metaphorical Thinking. Bloomington: NCTE, 1992.

Example

Blocked from kicking, the ball made its way into the end zone anyway.

Blocked from kicking, the ball made its way into the end zone anyway.

Picture and words by Sharon L. Pugh, Jean Wolph Hicks, Marcia Davis, and Tonya Venstra. Bridging: A Teacher’s Guide to Metaphorical Thinking. Bloomington: NCTE, 1992.

Example

Butterflies may become extinct by using pesticides.

Butterflies may become extinct by using pesticides.

Picture and words by Sharon L. Pugh, Jean Wolph Hicks, Marcia Davis, and Tonya Venstra. Bridging: A Teacher’s Guide to Metaphorical Thinking. Bloomington: NCTE, 1992.

Modifiers

So remember, when using modifiers, give them a

place to stand!

Works Cited

Pugh, Sharon L., Jean Wolph Hicks, Marcia Davis, and Tonya Venstra. Bridging: A Teacher’s Guide to Metaphorical Thinking. Bloomington: NCTE, 1992. Print