In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether that sentence contains a dangling modifier dm or a misplaced modifier mm. The most frequent mistakes that occur with modifiers are misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. In written english, every modifier should clearly modify something. Sitting in the dentists chair, larry sweated at the soundof the drill. The point is that the introductory participial phrase modifies the first noun it gets to in the base sentence, so running corresponds to i. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is. Usually, a dangling modifier is found near the beginning of the sentence and starts. For example, to clarify the word dog, a writer might use the modifier brown. Choose the most logical way to complete each sentence.
Middle schoolers identify modifiers in sentences and label them as either dangling or misplaced. File type pdf dangling modifiers exercises with answer modifiers are words. The issue with these is that the reader could misinterpret the sentence. Although dangling and misplaced modifiers can pose some serious problems in writing, they can be fun to read. Although most commonly found at the beginning of the sentence, the dangling modifier may be. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. A dangling modifier has no concrete or logical referent in the sentence to which it can attach itself and therefore is said to dangle it has nothing to modify. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in. Given the infinite combinations and permutations available in the english language, we have several ways of correcting a misplaced or dangling participle. Mark lester and larry beason point out that misplaced modifiers do not make sentences ungrammatical. The modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it is describing. Misplaced and dangling modifiers exercise 1 answers pdf. How to fix dangling and misplaced modifiers with examples.
This activity challenges students to identify dangling or misplaced modifiers in incorrect sentences and fix them. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. 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. Choose the option that has no misplaced or dangling modifier. 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. Correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers pdf documents for students 7th standards. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. Rules for finding and fixing misplaced and dangling modifiers. A modifying word or phrase dangles when it doesnt apply to the word its supposed to modify. This was originally created for 7th grade language arts class. Misplaced and dangling modifiers part 2 watch shauns.
What is the difference between misplaced and dangling modifiers. As a result, sentences with dangling or misplaced modifiers frequently sound odd or amusing. Misplaced and dangling modifiers utah valley university. Authors need to be responsible for writing with proper literary style and tone. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence. Dangling modifiers dangling modifiers almost always include action verbs. On july 20, 1969, american astronauts neil armstrong and edwin buzz aldrin landed on the moon, watched by nearly a fifth of the worlds population. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that doesnt clearly relate to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. 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.
The waiter served a dinner roll that was well buttered to the woman. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a descriptive part of the sentence that is in the wrong place. In one story, rip van winkle slept through the whole american revolution that irving wrote. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a complex and. Dangling modifiers describe this correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers pdf documents worksheet is suitable for 7th grade. Paragraph correction read about steven spielberg, director of indiana jones, and on a separate sheet of paper, edit the following paragraphs to eliminate misplaced and dangling modifiers. Drooling in anticipation of the treat, gizmo waited for sylvia to reward him with.
Adding michael to the sentence lets the reader know who is scrubbing the tile grout. Rewrite the following paragraph, correcting all misplaced or dangling modifiers. Determine whether the sentences below contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. A modifier a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in a sentence. As students answer the task cards, they are given le. I held the ticket tightly in my hand that my friend gave me. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be. Dangling and misplaced modifiers in written english, every modifier should clearly modify something. Refer to discovery, 324327, for additional practice. 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. 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. That sparkled in the afternoon sun, a relative clause, describes glass, the noun in front. First, a brief explanation about english word order.
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections. Swinging from a giant tire, the tourists were delighted by the gorilla. This bundle includes three resources to add to your misplaced and dangling modifiers unit. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. A modifier is a word or phrase that describes another word or phrase. If youve had problems with dangling modifiers in your writing, heres a handout to help you eliminate them. 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 are words or phrases that do not clearly point to the word or phrase they modify, in this way obscuring meaning. The majority of dangling modifiers are verb phrases that are not attached to the intended subject, if any. View this course and get bonus materials free here.
In some cases, a dangling modifier refers to a word that doesnt even appear in the sentence. A modifier is a word or group of words that explains another word or group of words in a sentence. Misplaced modifiers a modifier that is placed too far away from the word it describes is called a misplaced modifier. Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups such as verbal phrases that suggest but do not name an actor. Displaying top 8 worksheets found for misplaced modifier. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. In the previous examples, one modifier includes the word driving, and the other includes the verb asked. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. Both dangling modifiers and misplaced modifiers lead to sentences that do not mean what. Watched by nearly a fifth of the worlds population, american astronauts neil armstrong and edwin buzz aldrin landed on the moon on july 20, 1969.
A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. Misplaced and dangling modifiers can be difficult to detect since we have a tendency to make sense out of what is really not sensible. Not all dangling modifiers occur at the beginnings of sentences, but many of them do. So when your comp instructor marks a dangling or misplaced modifier, it means the verbal adjective phrase has nothing to modify or is too far away from the word it modifies. Washington irvings stories often contain elements of fantasy. I held the ticket that my friend gave me tightly in my hand. Sitting in the dentists chair, the sound of thedrill made larry sweat. The 4 english sentence types simple, compound, complex, compound. How do we correct a misplaced or dangling participle. The most common modifier mistakes are dangling modifiers and misplaced modifiers. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase often a participle or participial phrase that doesnt actually modify the word its intended to modify. It is also called a dangling participle, hanging modifier, floater, floating modifier, or misrelated participle. Both terms refer to modifiers that are connected to the wrong thing in a sentence. Make sure that you do not dangle or misplace a modifier.
Our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere. 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. When a sentence opens with such a modifier, readers expect the following clause to name the actor. These can be hard to notice if youre not looking carefully at the structur. It was not the alarm clock that was sleeping soundly. From real good grammar, too by mamie webb hixon created by april turner. Worksheets relating to misplaced and dangling modifiers. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers.
In prescriptive grammar, misplaced modifiers are usually regarded as errors. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. Misplaced, dangling, and squinting modifiers overview. The best misplaced and dangling modifiers of all time misplaced and dangling modifiers dangling modifiers. A dangling modifier is a modifier that lacks a word or group of words to modify.
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