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Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers PowerPoint

The document discusses misplaced and dangling modifiers, which can cause confusion or misunderstanding for readers. A misplaced modifier is separated from the word or words it intends to describe, while a dangling modifier does not logically modify any word or phrase in the sentence. Examples are provided of misplaced and dangling modifiers, along with corrected versions that place the modifiers properly next to the words they describe. Strategies for identifying and fixing such modifiers are presented.

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Sarah Bassioni
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91 views

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers PowerPoint

The document discusses misplaced and dangling modifiers, which can cause confusion or misunderstanding for readers. A misplaced modifier is separated from the word or words it intends to describe, while a dangling modifier does not logically modify any word or phrase in the sentence. Examples are provided of misplaced and dangling modifiers, along with corrected versions that place the modifiers properly next to the words they describe. Strategies for identifying and fixing such modifiers are presented.

Uploaded by

Sarah Bassioni
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Putting Misplaced and

Dangling Modifiers

In
Their
Place
Essential Questions
• What is a dangling or misplaced modifier?
• How do I correct dangling and misplaced
modifiers?
Misplaced Modifiers
• A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is
incorrectly separated from the word or words
that it describes.
• Misplaced modifiers seem to describe words
that the author did not intend them to
describe.
• When modifiers are misplaced, the reader may
misunderstand the sentence.
• Generally, the solution is to place the modifier
as close as possible to the word or words it
describes.
Misplaced Modifiers
• Misplaced modifier:
Sam bought a used car from a local dealer with
a smoky tailpipe.

• Corrected version:
Sam bought a used car with a smoky tailpipe from
a local dealer.
Misplaced Modifiers
• Misplaced modifier:
The robin built a nest at the back of our house of
grass and string.

• Corrected version:
The robin built a nest of grass and string at the back
of our house.
Misplaced Modifiers
• Misplaced modifier:
Christie almost sneezed fifteen times last evening.

• Corrected version:
Christie sneezed almost fifteen times last evening.
Dangling Modifiers
• A modifier that does not logically modify a
word or group of words in the sentence.
Dangling Modifiers
• Dangling modifier:
Searching the internet for information about American
Indian Customs, an article about the Shawnee leader
Tenskwatawa captured my interest.

• Corrected version:
Searching the internet for information about American Indian
Customs, I found an interesting article about the Shawnee
leader Tenskwatawa.
.
Dangling Modifiers
• A modifier that starts a sentence must be
followed right away by the word that it
describes. Otherwise, the modifier is said to
be dangling, and the sentence takes on an
unintended meaning.
Dangling Modifiers
• Dangling modifier:
Sitting in the dentist’s chair, the sound of
the drill made Larry sweat.

• Corrected version:
As Larry was sitting in the dentist’s chair,
the sound of the drill made him sweat.
Dangling Modifiers
• Dangling modifier:
Sitting in the dentist’s chair, the sound of the
drill made Larry sweat.

• Corrected version:
Sitting in the dentist’s chair, Larry sweated at the sound
of the drill.
Dangling Modifiers
• Dangling modifier:
Soaring through the sky, Brenda watched the high-
powered jet.

• Corrected version:
Brenda watched the high-powered jet soaring through
the sky.

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