Are the modifiers used correctly?
Key Notes:
A modifier is a word or phrase that modifies, or describes, another word or phrase.
A misplaced modifier is a modifier that appears to modify the wrong word or phrase because it is too far from the word or phrase that it should modify.
Winston saw hippos and giraffes on holiday in Kenya.
This sentence has a misplaced modifier. It wrongly suggests that the hippos and giraffes were on holiday.
On holiday in Kenya, Winston saw hippos and giraffes.
This sentence correctly suggests that Winston was on holiday.
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.
This sentence has a dangling modifier. It wrongly suggests that the sheets were trying to fall asleep.
Trying to fall asleep, I felt uncomfortably hot in the sheets.
This sentence correctly suggests that I was trying to fall asleep.
Learn with an example
1. ) Which sentence is correct?
- Though exhausted by the effort, the iron gate refused to budge, no matter how hard I pushed.
- Though exhausted by the effort, I couldn’t get the iron gate to budge, no matter how hard I pushed.
The first sentence has a dangling modifier. Because the modifier exhausted by the effort is adjacent to the iron gate, this sentence wrongly suggests that the iron gate was exhausted.
Though exhausted by the effort, the iron gate refused to budge, no matter how hard I pushed.
The second sentence is correct because exhausted by the effort is adjacent to I, which is what it should modify.
Though exhausted by the effort, I couldn’t get the iron gate to budge, no matter how hard I pushed.
2. ) Which sentence is correct?
- After talking to the vet for a long time, Mr Hill had a much better understanding of how to care for Fluffy.
- After talking to the vet for a long time, she gave Mr Hill a much better understanding of how to care for Fluffy.
The second sentence has a misplaced modifier. Because the modifier talking to the vet for a long time is adjacent to she, this sentence wrongly suggests that she (the vet) talked to herself.
After talking to the vet for a long time, she gave Mr Hill a much better understanding of how to care for Fluffy.
The first sentence is correct because talking to the vet for a long time is adjacent to Mr Hill, which is what it should modify.
After talking to the vet for a long time, Mr Hill had a much better understanding of how to care for Fluffy.
3. ) Which sentence is correct?
- When grown in the shade of trees, coffee plants can coexist with birds, and coffee farmers can feel good about maintaining a vital natural habitat.
- When grown in the shade of trees, birds can coexist with coffee plants, and coffee farmers can feel good about maintaining a vital natural habitat.
The second sentence has a misplaced modifier. Because the modifier when grown in the shade of trees is adjacent to birds, this sentence wrongly suggests that birds can be grown in the shade of trees.
When grown in the shade of trees, birds can coexist with coffee plants, and coffee farmers can feel good about maintaining a vital natural habitat.
The first sentence is correct because when grown in the shade of trees is adjacent to coffee plants, which is what it should modify.
When grown in the shade of trees, coffee plants can coexist with birds, and coffee farmers can feel good about maintaining a vital natural habitat.
let’s practice!
