A dangling participial clause usually comes at the beginning of a sentence, and it appears to modify the subject that comes next to it which is not correct. Unlike many other students, the financial aid office did not approve his application. Avoid rephrased sentences, focus on the misplacement of the modifiers and the dangling modifiers. Shaken, not stirred, james bond likes his martinis. Turn the misplaced or dangling participle into a dependent clause. Nguyen returned her perfect calculus test with an eartoear grin. Often, they can be found at the beginning of sentences, though they can also appear at a sentences end.
A comprehensive database of more than 12 dangling modifier quizzes online, test your knowledge with dangling modifier quiz questions. Each of the following sentences are either correct or incorrect. From real good grammar, too by mamie webb hixon created by april turner. Following the powerpoint, groups will use the printable worksheets to determine which sentences contain misplaced dangling modifiers. A dangling modifier is an introductory word groupparticiple, gerund, infinitive, or elliptical clausethat does not refer logically to the noun or pronoun that follows it. This misplaced and dangling modifiers worksheet is suitable for 7th 9th grade. The modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it is describing. View each sentence and see if you think there is a problem with either a dangling modifier or a misplaced modifer you may use your notes to help. Label whether the sentence is a misplaced modifier m, a dangling modifier d or correct. Upset with the boys constant bickering, the car veered into a ditch as the. To become a good photographer, the camera must be used carefully. Dangling and misplaced modifiers linkedin slideshare. Most modifiers are either adjectival these modify nouns or adverbial these modify verbs, adjectives and adverbs. Using modifiers correctly will improve the clarity of your work.
Modifiers are words or phrases that, well, modify a noun or verb. Click the link below to download the free pdf worksheet. In this sentence, the modifier when just six years old is positioned next to my grandmother, suggesting that my six year old grandmother taught me ballet. Exchange papers with a classmate, and rewrite your classmates. Modifiers are commonly used in academic writing, but can lead to confusion when the are not used. Misplaced, dangling, and squinting modifiers gramlee blog. The vehicle had a slightly flat tire and was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence. Dangling modifiers a modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. Misplaced modifiers are clauses which are improperly placed in a sentence and confuse the sentences meaning.
Worksheet 1 explains the concept of dangling and misplaced modifiers, including suggestions for correcting them. Modifiers, used correctly, clarify the meaning of a sentence. Put in the wrong place, however, they become misplaced modifiers. Misplaced, dangling, and squinting modifiers overview. Sighing with sadness, the expensive shoes were returned to the salesman. How to fix sentences that have dangling or misplaced modifiers. Following the powerpoint, groups will use the printable worksheets to determine which sentences contain misplaceddangling modifiers. So now we have the critter following the modifier that its supposed to be modified by. For example, the word only is a modifier thats easy to misplace. This is a deceptively simple task, but rise to the challenge. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. Dangling modifiers 1 identifying dangling modifiers level. Misplaced modifiers are modifiers that modify something you didnt intend them to modify. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise.
A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. Start by reading the information provided for both misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. Dangling modifiers describe something that is not in the sentence, and squinting modifiers describe two potential items in a sentence, however making unclear which one. In this video, we will discuss misplaced and dangling modifiers in english. Refer to discovery, 324327, for additional practice. We can limit the applicability of this phrase by introducing various modifiers into it. Grammargrounds grammar education is a free, comprehensive site with instruction, videos, quizzes, and more. On the night of the raid, two police officers arrested mr.
Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position. A dangling modifier a word, phrase, or clause that describes or modifies something that has been left out of the sentence. Dangling modifiers most often come at the beginning of a sentence, as in the examples above, but they can also come at the end of a sentence. Here are a few wellknown and humorous examples of newspaper headlines with modifier.
In a clear, logical sentence, you will find most modifiers right next to the words they describe. Sometimes to correct a misplaced or dangling modifier and clarify the meaning, the. In each case, see if you can explain both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning. When you are finished, hit the check my work button at the bottom of the page to check your answers. Driving up the rockstrewn mountain, the tire went flat. A modifier is a word or group of words that explains another word or group of words in a sentence. A misplaced modifier happens to modify something that you did not intend to modify, oftenor hopefullywith humorous consequences. Then they will exchange cartoons with a partner, and identify the intended and unintended meanings.
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. In the exercise that follows, you will need to determine whether or not sentences contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. Using what they learn, students will create misplaced modifier cartoons. Sitting in the dentists chair, the sound ofthe drill made larry sweat. Quia practice quiz dangling and misplaced modifiers. Modifiers are just what they sound likewords or phrases that modify something else. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. Advanced choose whether each of the following sentences is correct, or whether it has a dangling modifier. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. Some modifiers that are commonly used incorrectly are called dangling modifiers, squinting modifiers, and misplaced modifiers. Theyre words or phrases that describe another word or phrase, and when theyre dangling theyre like in the wrong place, theyre in front of the wrong.
The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling. Unlike many other students, jim didnt have any problems with his teachers. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to edit confusing sentences with misplaced modifiers. Voiceover yeah so like, that is dangling modifiers, and how you get rid of them. When there is nothing that the word, phrase, or clause can modify, the modifier is said to dangle. This means that you take the ing word the participle, give it a subject, turn it into a verb, and attach it. Recognizing misplaced and dangling modifiers directions. Dangling and misplaced modifiers by mark nichol each of the following sentences includes a modifying phrase that confuses because it the statement is erroneously constructed or because the phrase is incorrectly located in the sentence.
Misplaced and dangling participles, answers and tips 1. Oct 28, 2012 dangling modifiers a modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. The children attended the public school wearing uniforms. Otherwise, the modifier is said to be dangling, and the sentence takes on an unintended meaning. Misplaced modifiers learn and practice english online. A dangling modifier has no concrete or logical referent in the sentence to which it can attach itself and therefore is. After reading the original study, the article remains unconvincing.
Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. This lesson plan helps students understand misplaced modifiers and fix them. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 312, students explore brainpop features and resources to learn about misplaced modifiers, including dangling and squinting modifiers. Learn how to correct misplaced and dangling modifiers. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a word or word group that refers to or modifies a word or phrase that has not been clearly stated in the sentence harris 118. Misplaced modifiers, squinting modifiers, and dangling modifiers. They qualify the noun or verb, describe it, or change its meaning. Rewrite each sentence to eliminate any misplaced or dangling participles.
Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. This is a practice quiz over problems with modifiers. English grammar exercise dangling modifiers 1 identifying. Modifiers can be a word, phrase or clause that describes another word or group of words in your sentence. The english teacher looking for tools, the student looking for some extra help, or the new english speaker hoping to master the language will find what he or she is looking for here. A modifier is a word or phrase which limits the meaning of another word. Misplaced and dangling modifiers worksheet for 7th 9th. Misplaced modifiers are one of the most common grammatical errors and cause of humor. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is. Because he was so protective, olivers car had an overly elaborate security. See how creative and humorous you can get by writing ten sentences with misplaced and dangling modifiers. Worksheets relating to misplaced and dangling modifiers. Nov 15, 2012 in this video, we will discuss misplaced and dangling modifiers in english. Dangling and misplaced modifiers dangling modifiers are words or phrases that do not have a clear term to modify in a sentence.
Your writing will become clearer when you learn how to spot and correct misplaced, dangling and squinting modifiers. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in which it. May 18, 2007 modifiers are just what they sound likewords or phrases that modify something else. Dangling and misplaced modifiers tutorial sophia learning. Rollerblading frantically to keep up with the others, the hill proved too steep for manuel, and he fell to the ground. Supply the noun or pronoun that it should modify and place the modifier next to the word. What a modifier is and how it functions in a sentence. Determine whether the sentences below contain misplaced or dangling modifiers.
This learning packet covers modifiers which are also called adjective phrases. Our online dangling modifier trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top dangling modifier quizzes. Misplacedanddanglingmodifiers 1 misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes. Exercises below are sentences with dangling modifiers. Students will learn what a modifier is and what common mistakes are often made with modifiers in writing. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a modifier that lacks a word or group of words to modify. Grammatically speaking, the dangling modifiers in the examples above. Riding in a swiftly moving vehicle, the landscape becomes. Misplaced modifiers exercises answers the following are. The entire first page is explanation and examplesperfect for those who need extra support. This lesson offers games and activities to get your students excited to learn about misplaced and dangling modifiers.
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