Consider the following:

1. She served a sandwich to the children on paper

plates.
2. Walking through the park, the flowers were
beautiful.
3. We almost ate all of the cake.
1.She served a sandwich to the children on paper
plates.

Who is on the paper plates? The children or the

sandwich?

How does the placement of “on paper plates” make the

meaning confusing? How could we change this to
make it clearer?
2. Walking through the park, the flowers were
beautiful.

Who was walking through the park, the flowers?

What’s missing in this sentence? Who is actually

walking? How can we rewrite it to make sense?
3. We almost ate all of the cake.

What did we almost do? Did we almost eat the cake,

or did we almost eat all of it?

How does “almost” change the meaning here? Where

should we place “almost” to make the sentence
clearer?
Discussion Questions

1. What happens when a word or phrase is far away

from the word it’s describing? Can it lead to funny or
confusing sentences?

2. Why do you think some sentences sound odd or

unclear when you read them? How does word
placement change meaning?

3. How can we make sure that sentences express

exactly what we want them to? What strategies do you
use to check if a sentence is clear?
 MODIFIERS
1. Identify modifiers.
2. Learn how to correct misplaced and dangling
modifiers.
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies
or describes another word, phrase, or clause.
Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to
strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. The
two common types of modifier errors are called
misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. If either
of these errors occurs, readers can no longer read
smoothly. Instead, they become stumped trying to
figure out what the writer meant to say
 Correcting Dangling Modifiers

What is a dangling modifier?

How to fix dangling modifiers
Review A
Review B
 What is a dangling modifier?

A modifier should clearly and sensibly describe

another word or word group.

Look at this sentence:

?
Rowing on the lake, strange bugs were seen.
Modifier

Who or what is rowing on the lake?

Bugs?
 What is a dangling modifier?

A dangling modifier is a modifier that doesn’t

clearly and sensibly modify another word or word
group.
? ?
Dressed inthe
Hurrying, warm
ski lift
clothing,
stopped,the
andcold
thewas
boys
nogot
problem.
on.

ski lift
Was the cold hurrying?
dressed in warm
clothing?
 What is a dangling modifier?

Dangling modifiers often occur at the

beginning of a sentence. When a sentence
begins with a participial phrase, use these
steps to see if the phrase is dangling.

Step 1: Look at the word or word group right

after the comma.

Participial phrase
Making the bed, my cat
cat crawled
crawled
under the covers.
 What is a dangling modifier?

Step 2: Ask, “Does it make sense

for the phrase to modify the word
after the comma?”

Dangling
Participial modifier
phrase ?
Making the bed, my cat crawled under the covers.
Was the cat making the bed?
No, it doesn’t make sense for the participial phrase to modify cat.

If the modifying phrase doesn’t sensibly modify

the word or word group after the comma, you
probably have a dangling modifier.
 What is a dangling modifier?

Try it out with this sentence:

Dangling modifier ?
Listening to music, the doorbell could not be heard.

Which word or word group follows

the comma? doorbell

Does it make sense that the

doorbell is listening to music?
No. The phrase is a dangling modifier.
 What is a dangling modifier?

Dangling modifiers can occur in other places in a

sentence as well.

Dangling modifier
My head immediately hit the pillow, exhausted.
Was the pillow exhausted? No.

Dangling modifier
The smells, approaching the bakery, were inviting.

Did the smells approach the bakery? No.

 What is a dangling modifier?

On Your Own
Circle the word or word group that appears to be modified
by the underlined phrase. Then, determine whether the
underlined phrase is a dangling modifier. Write D for a
dangling modifier or C if the modifier is not dangling.
___ 1. Riding our bikes in the mountains, the scenery was
great.
___ 2. Maya’s phone rang returning home.
___ 3. Checking the shelves, Judy found all the books she
needed.
___ 4. Filled with daisies, the two girls strolled through the
field.
[End of Section]
 How to fix dangling modifiers
Participial phrases

When you find a participial phrase that is a

dangling modifier, fix the sentence by making the
meaning logical and clear.

Strategy 1: Revise the word group that follows

the dangling participial phrase.

Dangling modifier ?
Cleaning the attic, we found
an old anwas
trunk oldfound.
trunk.

Now the trunk

Was the modifier cleaning
cleaning thethe attic logically and clearly modifies the
attic?
subject we.
No. A logical subject—such as we—needs to follow the comma.
 How to fix dangling modifiers
Participial phrases

Strategy 2: Change the dangling participial

phrase into a clause.

Dangling modifier
While we were
Cleaning cleaning
the attic, thetrunk
an old attic,was
an old trunk was found.
found.

Changing the dangling modifier into a

clause makes the meaning clear. The
clause modifies was found. It tells when
the trunk was found.
 How to fix dangling modifiers

On Your Own
Revise each sentence to correct the dangling modifier.
1. My father gave me a puppy at the age of ten.
2. Seated near the fifty-yard line, the game was easy
to see.
3. Running hard, the shoelace came untied.
4. Walking into the pet shop, the squawking of parrots
could be heard.

[End of Section]
 Review A

Identify the dangling modifier in each sentence.

1. Reaching the top of the mountain, the view of the city

was amazing.
2. The stillness, entering the museum, made us
uncomfortable.
3. Discovered under a bush in the backyard, we took in the
kitten and cared for it.
4. Caring for a puppy, patience is needed.
5. Discouraged, no more races were run by him for a while.

[End of Section]
 Review B

Revise each sentence to correct the dangling modifier.

1. Using the vacuum cleaner frequently, the carpets stayed
clean.
2. His helmet, wanting to be safe, was worn at all times.
3. Awakened by the garbage truck, it was hard to get back
to sleep.
4. Stored in the basement, I put the old books to good use.

5. The perfect quilt was found searching on the Internet.

[End of Section]
Tip
• Simple modifiers like only, almost, just, nearly,
and barely often get used incorrectly because writers
often stick them in the wrong place.
• Confusing: Tyler almost found fifty cents under the sofa
cushions.
• Repaired: Tyler found almost fifty cents under the sofa
cushions.
• How do you almost find something? Either you find it or
you do not. The repaired sentence is much clearer.
Tip
• The following three steps will help you quickly spot a dangling
modifier:
• Look for an -ing modifier at the beginning of your sentence or
another modifying phrase:
• Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally finished
by Maggie. (Paintingis the -ing modifier.)
• Underline the first noun that follows it:
• Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally finished
by Maggie.
• Make sure the modifier and noun go together logically. If they do
not, it is very likely you have a dangling modifier.
• After identifying the dangling modifier, rewrite the sentence.
• Painting for three hours at night, Maggie finally finished the
kitchen.
• The following three steps will help you quickly spot a
dangling modifier:
1. Look for an -ing modifier at the beginning of your
sentence or another modifying phrase:
2. Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally
finished by Maggie. (Painting is the -ing modifier.)
3. Underline the first noun that follows it:
4. Painting for three hours at night, the kitchen was finally
finished by Maggie.
5. Make sure the modifier and noun go together logically.
If they do not, it is very likely you have a dangling
modifier.
6. After identifying the dangling modifier, rewrite the
sentence.
7. Painting for three hours at night, Maggie finally finished
the kitchen
Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences to correct the
misplaced modifiers.
1. The young lady was walking the dog on the telephone.
2. I heard that there was a robbery on the evening news.
3. Uncle Louie bought a running stroller for the baby that
he called “Speed Racer.”
4. Rolling down the mountain, the explorer stopped the
boulder with his powerful foot.
5. We are looking for a babysitter for our precious six-year-
old who doesn’t drink or smoke and owns a car.
6. The teacher served cookies to the children wrapped in
aluminum foil.
7. The mysterious woman walked toward the car holding an
umbrella.
8. We returned the wine to the waiter that was sour.
9. Charlie spotted a stray puppy driving home from work.
• I ate nothing but a cold bowl of noodles for dinner.
Exercise: Choose the correct answer
Misplaced and Dangling Construction in
Paragraphs
Exercise 1: Rewrite the following paragraph correcting all
the misplaced and dangling modifiers.

I bought a fresh loaf of bread for my sandwich

shopping in the grocery store. Wanting to make a delicious
sandwich, the mayonnaise was thickly spread. Placing the
cold cuts on the bread, the lettuce was placed on top. I cut
the sandwich in half with a knife turning on the radio.
Biting into the sandwich, my favorite song blared loudly
in my ears. Humming and chewing, my sandwich went
down smoothly. Smiling, my sandwich will be made
again, but next time I will add cheese.
Original: I bought a fresh loaf of bread for my sandwich shopping in
the grocery store.
Dangling modifier: for my sandwich shopping
Corrected: I bought a fresh loaf of bread in the grocery store
to make a sandwich.
Original: Wanting to make a delicious sandwich, the mayonnaise was
thickly spread.
Dangling modifier: Wanting to make a delicious sandwich
Corrected: Wanting to make a delicious sandwich, I thickly
spread mayonnaise on the bread.
Original: Placing the cold cuts on the bread, the lettuce was placed
on top.
Dangling modifier: Placing the cold cuts on the bread
Corrected: After placing the cold cuts on the bread, I placed
the lettuce on top.
Original: I cut the sandwich in half with a knife turning on the radio.
Dangling modifier: turning on the radio
Corrected: After cutting the sandwich in half, I turned on the
radio.
Original: Humming and chewing, my sandwich went down smoothly.
Dangling modifier: Humming and chewing
Corrected: Humming and chewing, I enjoyed my sandwich.
Original: Smiling, my sandwich will be made again, but next time I
will add cheese.
Dangling modifier: Smiling
Corrected: Smiling, I decided I would make it again, but with
cheese next time.
• Revised paragraph:
I bought a fresh loaf of bread in the grocery store
to make a delicious sandwich. Wanting to add some
flavor, I thickly spread mayonnaise on the bread. Then,
I placed cold cuts and lettuce on top. Before cutting the
sandwich in half, I turned on the radio. As I bit into the
sandwich, my favorite song blared loudly in my ears.
Humming along while chewing, I enjoyed my
sandwich. Smiling, I decided I would make it again, but
with cheese next time.
Exercise 2: Identify and then rewrite the following
paragraph correcting all the misplaced and
dangling modifiers.
Traditional food, reflecting cultural heritage, is an excellent
choice for many reasons. Prepared with time-honored techniques,
people can taste history in every bite. Using local ingredients,
traditional dishes connect us to our environment. To experience
authentic flavors, grandmothers' recipes are often sought after.
Packed with nutrients, traditional food nourishes both body and
soul. Visiting a local market, the aroma of spices is captivating.
Craving a taste of home, comfort foods are irreplaceable. With
recipes passed down through generations, families can preserve
their culinary traditions. Offering a variety of cooking methods,
even health-conscious individuals appreciate traditional cuisine.
Served during festivals and celebrations, traditional food brings
people together.
1. Prepared with time-honored techniques, people can taste history in
every bite.
=>People can taste history in every bite of food prepared with time-
honored techniques.
2. Using local ingredients, traditional dishes connect us to our
environment.
Þ Traditional dishes, using local ingredients, connect us to our
environment.
3. To experience authentic flavors, grandmothers' recipes are often
sought after.
Þ To experience authentic flavors, people often seek out
grandmothers' recipes.
4. Visiting a local market, the aroma of spices is captivating.
Þ When visiting a local market, one finds the aroma of spices
captivating
5) Craving a taste of home, comfort foods are irreplaceable.
ÞFor those craving a taste of home, comfort foods are
irreplaceable.
6) With recipes passed down through generations, families
can preserve their culinary traditions.
=> This sentence is actually correct, but it could be
rephrased for clarity: Families can preserve their culinary
traditions through recipes passed down through generations.
7) Offering a variety of cooking methods, even health-
conscious individuals appreciate traditional cuisine.
=> Even health-conscious individuals appreciate traditional
cuisine, which offers a variety of cooking methods.
Two types of non-finite clausal complements

1) Verbs that take just a single clausal complement with overt subject
(Analysis I)
• Type I verbs include: assume, believe, consider, desire, dread,
expect, know, like, observe, prefer, regret, witness, see, feel, hear.

2) Verbs taking two complements, a direct object NP and a clausal

complement with a (controlled) covert subject (Analysis II).

• Type II verbs include: advise, ask, coax, compel, dare, encourage,

force, promise, persuade.
• Decide which type each of the following verbs belongs to: teach,
claim, love, forbid, find, hate, want, invite, beg, warn, tell, prove,
recommend, imagine, prevent, urge, mean.
The End