A dangling modifier is
a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies
(i.e. is placed next to). Two notes about dangling modifiers: Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence.
What is a dangling or misplaced modifier example?
| Dangling Corrected | Fumbling in her purse, the keys could not be found. Fumbling in her purse, she could not find the keys. As she fumbled in her purse, the keys could not be found. |
|---|
What is an example of a dangling modifier?
Adjective Phrases as Dangling Modifiers
For example,
“The big”
doesn’t make sense without telling what is big, which leaves “big” as a dangling modifier. However, “the big dog” is a complete phrase. Adjectives and adjective phrases can become dangling modifiers when they don’t have anything to modify.
How do you identify a dangling modifier?
- Look at each sentence individually. Check each sentence for an introductory phrase that comes before the subject of the main clause.
- Determine what the introductory phrase modifies. …
- Ensure that the modified noun is correct.
What is a dangling modifier 7th grade?
A dangling modifier is a modifier that
appears to modify the wrong word or phrase
because the word or phrase that it should modify is missing from the sentence. Trying to fall asleep, the sheets felt uncomfortably hot.
What is a dangling modifier in a sentence?
A dangling modifier is
a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies
(i.e. is placed next to). Two notes about dangling modifiers: Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence.
What is an example of a modifier in a sentence?
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies—that is, gives information about—another word in the same sentence. For example, in the following sentence,
the word “burger” is modified by the word “vegetarian”
: Example: I’m going to the Saturn Café for a vegetarian burger.
How do you identify a misplaced modifier?
Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
To correct the misplaced modifier problem, one should
place single word adjectives before the word they modify and adjective phrases or clauses right after the word they modify
. In the following examples, adjective phrases were placed right after the word they modify to avoid ambiguity.
What is a dangler modifier?
A dangler is
any modifying word or phrase that isn’t close enough to the thing it’s modifying
. Take, for example: “Skipping merrily down the way, my hat fell off.” The part before the comma is a modifying phrase. Specifically, it’s a participial phrase, built on the participle “skipping.”
What are some examples of misplaced modifiers?
| Misplaced Corrected | She arrived home and fell onto the sofa covered in sweat. Covered in sweat, she arrived home and fell onto the sofa. She arrived home covered in sweat and fell onto the sofa. |
|---|
What are the two ways to get rid of a dangling modifier?
Dangling modifiers have no referent in the sentence. Because of their placement in a sentence, misplaced modifiers ambiguously or illogically modify a word. You can eliminate misplaced modifiers by
placing an adjective or an adverb as close as possible to the word it modifies
.
Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
A modifier is considered dangling when
the sentence isn’t clear about what is being modified
. For example, “The big” doesn’t make sense without telling what is big which leaves “big” as a dangling modifier; but, “the big dog” is a complete phrase.
Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
The sentence that contains a ‘misplaced modifier’ is: Option
B – It was the frog that caught my eye on the lily pad in the pond
. Explanation: A ‘modifier’ is a word or phrase that modifies the meaning of a subject.
What are the types of modifiers?
There are two types of modifiers:
adjectives and adverbs
.
How do you use modifiers correctly?
- Always place modifiers as close as possible to the words they modify. …
- A modifier at the beginning of the sentence must modify the subject of the sentence. …
- Your modifier must modify a word or phrase that is included in your sentence.
How is a dangling modifier fixed?
Most cases of dangling modifiers can be fixed by
identifying the subject you want to modify
, making sure it’s present, and placing the modifier immediately before or after it in the sentence: “Walking into the room, they encountered an overpowering smell.”
