Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

1. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/modifiers.html Grammar and Composition: Prentice Hall

2. Turning green, I watched the stoplight. • I watched the stoplight turn green. The modifier “turning green” seems to be modifying “I” since it is right beside the word “I” when in fact the thing being described is the stoplight. ?

3. Misplaced Modifiers • A word, phrase, or clause that has been in the wrong place in the sentence. • We call these “Misplaced Modifiers”. • To correct such, simply move the modifier that is misplaced closer to the word it should logically modify. Some additional rewording may be necessary.

4. ? • When purchasing a phone, plans and features are overwhelming. • In this one…it looks like the plan is purchasing the phone. Wow! That’s crazy! • Correct: When purchasing a phone, people are overwhelmed by plans and features.

5. While shopping in the store, shoes must be worn. While shopping in the store, customers must wear shoes. In the first one….while shopping in the store is next to the word shoes….that means that the shoes are shopping. See why the second one is correct.

6. More examples of Misplaced/Dangling Modifiers: • Wrapped in my blanket, the cold was no problem. • Barking loudly at the squirrel, I frowned at the dog.

7. Answers • Wrapped in my blanket, I thought the cold was not a problem. • I frowned at the dog barking loudly at the squirrel.

8. ? • The man glanced at his watch while waiting for the bus. Can a watch wait for a bus? While waiting for the bus, the man glanced at his watch.

9. ? • Playing football all afternoon, my homework remained unfinished. “You” are! Who is missing in this sentence? Playing football all afternoon, I left my homework unfinished.