What is a modifier?

1. What is a modifier? • A descriptive word or phrase inserted in a sentence to add dimension to the thing it modifies • Ex: Because he could talk, Mr. Ed was a unique horse. • Because he could talk describes a characteristic of Mr. Ed • A modifying phrase should be right next to the thing it modifies

2. What is a Dangling Modifier? • a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence • EX: Having finished the assignment, the TV was turned on. • “Having finished” is the modifier, so it must be directly followed by the doer of the action. The TV didn’t finish the assignment, so who did? • Correction: Having finished the assignment, Jill turned on the TV.

3. Re-write each sentence to correct the dangling modifier • By pressing a button, the table comes out of the wall. • Cleaning up the beach house, spider webs, dust balls, and one rubber flip flop were discovered. • Convinced of my willingness to learn, I was hired at the end of my first job interview. • Wanting to fuse glass, the kiln temperature must be set above 1300 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Re-write each sentence to correct the dangling modifier • Unexpectedly leaving the stage at the end of the concert, the crowd gasped. • To assign the story to his class, the title was written on the blackboard. • While doing my homework last night, my dad gave his bike a complete tune-up.

5. What is a Misplaced Modifier? • the subject of the modifier is unclear because the modifier is poorly placed • EX: The jacket was just too small in the store. • As written, this sentence says that the jacket was too small while in the store but that it fit differently outside the store. • “In the store” is the modifier. If you want it to modify the subject (“the jacket”), it must directly follow that subject. • Correction: The jacketin the store was just too small.

6. Re-write each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier • Did you see the clown at the circus with the giant shoes? • Rudy slammed his books on his desk in a terrible mood. • I followed your recipe for making spicy shrimp with enthusiasm. • Lucy was stung by a bee picking caterpillars off the tomato vines.

7. Re-write each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier • The backpack was still in the coatroom of the museum that she had forgotten. • Flying through the storm, lightning struck our airplane but luckily caused no damage. • Seventeen cousins gathered to say farewell by the lakeside from all around the country. • The man proposed his new and expensive mechanism with an almost embarrassed sigh.