A misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. Grammargrounds grammar education is a free, comprehensive site with instruction, videos, quizzes, and more. Given the infinite combinations and permutations available in the english language, we have several ways of correcting a misplaced or dangling participle. Grade 7 quarter 2 unit 2 dangling and misplaced modifiers. On his way to school, abraham found a yellow womans bag. Use your mouse to choose the most logical sentence with no misplaced or dangling modifier. In the following sentences, misplaced and dangling. How do we correct a misplaced or dangling participle. Refer to discovery, 320324, for additional practice. Our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere. Exercises below are sentences with dangling modifiers. Though he may well be able to learn while multitasking, it is not nearly as efficient as focusing only on studying.
Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position. Shaken, not stirred, james bond likes his martinis. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling. The modifier, using astronavigation, is unclear in this sentence. If a modifier is in the wrong place, the meaning of the sentence can change. A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase that is placed in a wrong place in a sentence. Misplaced modifiers are words or phrases that do not clearly point to the word or phrase they modify, in this way obscuring meaning.
On his way to school, abraham found a womans yellow bag. Misplaced modifiers exercises answers the following are suggested answers. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. Struggling with the tight jeans, the zipper would not budge. Sometimes to correct a misplaced or dangling modifier and clarify the meaning, the. Misplaced modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that are separated from the word they modify. Riding in a swiftly moving vehicle, the landscape becomes. Rewrite the sentence below to eliminate a misplaced modifier. In each case, see if you can explain both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning.
Misplaced modifiers generally take one of four forms. To become a good photographer, the camera must be used carefully. Learn how to correct misplaced and dangling modifiers. Modifier placement in sentences now that weve covered how to approach questions about modifiers at the beginning of sentences, lets talk about questions that deal with modifier placement within sentences. Misplaced modifiers exercises the vehicle was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence with a slightly flat tire. A misplaced modifier happens to modify something that you did not intend to modify, oftenor hopefullywith humorous consequences.
When you are finished, hit the check my work button at the bottom of the page to check your answers. If you would like more information about a worksheet or want to download the pdf for printing. Pecks english pointers is a collection of lively articles spanning english grammar, punctuation, usage and clarity. Label whether the sentence is a misplaced modifier m, a dangling modifier d or correct. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 312, students explore brainpop features and resources to learn about misplaced modifiers, including dangling and squinting modifiers. The vehicle had a slightly flat tire and was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence. My sister walked in as i was scrubbing the floor with her new baby.
Exercises on modifiers with explanation learn english. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. List of articles in category exercise 12 modifiers. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in which it appears. In one story, rip van winkle slept through the whole american revolution that irving wrote. Upset with the boys constant bickering, the car veered into a ditch as the. 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. The modifier must follow the modified word in order to avoid misplacing. In the following examples of misplaced modifiers, the adjective in boldface currently modifies the noun it is closest to underlined. Modifying phrases must go next to the word that they modify. Adjectives and adverbs are the most common types of modifiers, but there are others. The modifying phrase with her new baby should logically modify how the sister walked. Dangling and misplaced modifiersten practice exercises. In the exercise that follows, you will need to determine whether or not sentences contain misplaced or dangling modifiers.
Turn the misplaced or dangling participle into a dependent. They qualify the noun or verb, describe it, or change its meaning. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to edit confusing sentences with misplaced modifiers. In most cases a modifier should be near the word or phrase it modifies. In the following sentences, identify and correct the misplaced and dangling modifiers. 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. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to. Your student will correct the misplaced modifiers in this worksheet. 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. The salesperson sold the shirt with the blue print to the man. Driving up the rockstrewn mountain, the tire went flat.
Worksheets relating to misplaced and dangling modifiers. This misplaced modifiers worksheet is suitable for 6th 9th grade. The lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier. Notice that sauced with lumpy gravy, a participle phrase, follows meatloaf. Then they will exchange cartoons with a partner, and identify the intended and unintended meanings. Misplaced modifiers when a modifier is ambiguously or illogically modifying a word, we consider it a misplaced modifier. When you think your answer is correct, click on check to check your answer. Washington irvings stories often contain elements of fantasy. Free, printable modifiers worksheets to develop strong grammar, language. A dangling modifier as a misplaced modifier eries public schools. Modifiers misplaced, dangling, changing worksheets k12 reader. The children attended the public school wearing uniforms.
In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether that sentence contains a dangling modifier dm or a misplaced modifier mm. Modifiers are words or phrases that, well, modify a noun or verb. Like sneakers, modifiers arent meant to dangle image credit. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 9th grade lesson. Dolger discovered an ancient mayan civilization using astronavigation. Using what they learn, students will create misplaced modifier cartoons. A modifier a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in a sentence. Correcting misplaced modifiers word usage worksheets. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence.
Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. Misplaced and dangling participles, answers and tips 1. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses.
The waitress served gilbert a plate of gray meatloaf sauced with lumpy gravy. Rewrite the following paragraph, correcting all misplaced or dangling modifiers. James outside three rivers stadium on the night of the raid on charges of marijuana possession. Too hungry to wait for brendas return from the restroom, the bowl of egg drop soup quickly disappeared. Usually, it is placed too far away from the word that it is meant to modify. To keep track of your answers, print the accompanying handout.
In prescriptive grammar, misplaced modifiers are usually regarded as errors. When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Watch out for the words only, just, merely, nearly, and almost. Misplaced modifiers can usually be corrected by moving the modifier to a more sensible place in the sentence, generally next to the word it modifies. This lesson offers games and activities to get your students excited to learn about misplaced and dangling modifiers. Misplacement of adverbs can sometimes change the meaning of a sentence. Avoiding misplaced modifiers is essential to good grammar and concise writing.
Nguyen returned her perfect calculus test with an eartoear grin. Modifiers describe, specify, or limit the meanings of other words. A modifier that is incorrectly placed is called a misplaced modifier. On the night of the raid, two police officers arrested mr. Mark lester and larry beason point out that misplaced modifiers do not make sentences ungrammatical. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. Modifiers grammar academic guides at walden university. 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. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that doesnt clearly relate to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. 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. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. From who and whom to hyphens, from commas to plain language, from. When this happens, the sentence causes confusion or.
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