Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers | PDF | Cognitive Science | Language Mechanics
Scribd
Upload
117 views

Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

This document provides examples and explanations of misplaced modifiers in sentences. It discusses how a misplaced modifier is one that does not logically refer to the subject of the sentence. Several sentence structures that commonly involve misplaced modifiers are described, such as participial phrases, appositives, adjective clauses, and phrases using like or unlike. An example question is given that tests identifying the subject a modifier correctly refers to. The document concludes with an exercise involving choosing the correctly completed sentence without misplaced modifiers from answer choices.

Uploaded by

Kamran Asat Irsyady
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
117 views

Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

This document provides examples and explanations of misplaced modifiers in sentences. It discusses how a misplaced modifier is one that does not logically refer to the subject of the sentence. Several sentence structures that commonly involve misplaced modifiers are described, such as participial phrases, appositives, adjective clauses, and phrases using like or unlike. An example question is given that tests identifying the subject a modifier correctly refers to. The document concludes with an exercise involving choosing the correctly completed sentence without misplaced modifiers from answer choices.

Uploaded by

Kamran Asat Irsyady
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

162 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression

LESSON 28
ITEMS INVOLVING MISPLACED MODIFIERS

A misplaced modifier is a participial phrase or other modifier that comes before the subject, but
does not refer to the subject.
Look at this sentence:
*Driving down the road, a herd of sheep suddenly crossed the road in front of Liza's car.
(INCORRECn
This sentence is incorrect because it seems to say that a herd of sheep-rather than Liza-was
driving down the road. The participial phrase is misplaced. The sentence could be corrected as
shown:
As Liza was driving down the road, a herd of sheep suddenly crossed the in front of
her. (CORRECn
This sentence now correctly has Liza in the driver's seat instead of the sheep.
The following sentence structures are often misplaced:

present participle Walking along the beach, the Walking along the beach, the
ship was spotted by the men. men spotted the ship.
past participle Based on this study, the Based on this study, several
scientist could make several conclusions could be made by
conclusions. the scientist.
appositive A resort city in Arkansas, the A resort city in Arkansas, Hot
population of Hot Springs is Springs has a population of
about 35,000. about 35,000.
reduced adjective clause While peeling onions, his eyes While he was peeling onions,
began to water. his eyes began to water.
adjective phrases Warm and mild, everyone Everyone enjoys the warm,
enjoys the climate of the mild climate of the Virgin
Virgin Islands. Islands.
expressions with like Like most cities, parking is a Like most cities, San Francisco
or unlike problem in San Francisco. has a parking problem.

Structure items with misplaced modifiers are usually easy to spot. They generally consist of a
modifying element at the beginning of the sentence followed by a comma, with the rest or most of
the rest of the sentence missing. The answer choices tend to be long. To find the answer, you must
decide what subject the modifier correctly refers to.

T Sample Item
Using a device called a cloud chamber, _ _ _ _ __
(A) experimental proof for the atomic theory was found by Robert Millikin
(B) Robert Millikin's experimental proof for the atomic theory was found
(C) Robert Millikin found experimental proof for the atomic theory
(D) there was experimental proof found for the atomic theory by Robert
Millikin
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 163

Choice (A) and (B) are incorrect because the modifier (Using a device called a cloud
chamber . .. ) could not logically refer to the subjects (experimental proof and
Robert Millikin's experimental proof). (D) is incorrect because a modifier can never
properly refer to the introductory word there or it. ...

Exercise 28

Focus: Completing structure problems involving misplaced modifiers. (Note: all the items in this
exercise focus on misplaced modifiers.)
Directions: Choose the one option-(A), (B), (C), or (D)-that correctly completes the sentences,
and then mark the appropriate blank. The first one is done as an example.
1. Fearing economic hardship,
(A) many New Englanders emigrated to the Midwest in the 1820's
___ (B) emigration from New England to the Midwest took place in the 1820's
_ _ _ (C) it was in the 1820's that many New Englanders emigrated to the Midwest
___ (D) an emigration took place in the 1820's from New England to the Midwest
2. Rich and distinctive in flavor, _ _ _ _ __
___ (A) there is in the United States a very important nut crop, the pecan
___ (B) the most important nut crop in the United States, the pecan
___ (C) farmers in the United States raise pecans, a very important nut crop
(D) pecans are the most important nut crop in the United States
3. Orbiting from 2.7 to 3.6 billion miles from the sun,
___ (A) the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930
___ (B) Pluto was discovered by the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930
___ (C) it was in 1930 that the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto
___ (D) the discovery of Pluto was made by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930
4. A popular instrument,
___ (A) only a limited role has been available to the accordion in classical music
___ (B) there is only a limited role for the accordion in classical music
___ (C) classical music provides only a limited role for the accordion
___ (D) the accordion has played only a limited role in classical music
5. Unlike most birds, _ _ _ _ __
___ (A) the heads and necks of vultures lack feathers
___ (B) feathers are not found on the heads and necks of vultures
___ (C) vultures do not have feathers on their heads and necks
___ (D) there are no feathers on vultures' heads and necks
6. Widely reproduced in magazines and books, _ _ __
___ (A) AnselAdams depicted the Western wilderness in his photographs
___ (B) the Western wilderness was depicted in the photographs of Ansel Adams
___ (C) Ansel Adams's photographs depicted the Western wilderness
___ (D) it was through his photographs that Ansel Adams depicted the Western wilderness
7. Smaller and flatter than an orange,
___ (A) a tangerine is easy to peel and its sections separate readily
___ (B) the peel of a tangerine is easily removed and its sections are readily separated
___ (C) it's easy to peel a tangerine and to separate its sections
___ (D) to peel a tangerine is easy, and its sections can be readily separated
164 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression

8. Like the federal government,


___ (A) taxation provides most of the funds for state and local governments as well
_ _ _ (B) state and local governments obtain most of their funds through taxation
___ (C) through taxation is how state and local governments obtain most of their funds
___ (D) funds are provided from taxation for state and local governments
9. Originally settled by Polynesians around 700 A.D., _ _ _ _ __
___ (A) Hawaii received its first European visitor in 1778, when Captain James Cook landed
there
_ _ _ (B) Hawaii's first European visitor, Captain James Cook, landed there in 1778
___ (C) in 1778 the first European, Captain James Cook, visited Hawaii
_ _ _ CD) the first European to visit Hawaii was Captain James Cook, landing there in 1778
10. Unlike most modernist poets, based on ordinary speech.
___ (A) Robert Frost's poems were
___ (B) the works of Robert Frost were
___ (C) Robert Frost wrote poems that were
___ (D) the poetry written by Robert Frost was
11. Named for its founder, in Ithaca, New York.
___ (A) in 1865 Ezra Cornell established Cornell University
_ _ _ (B) Cornell University was established in 1865 by Ezra Cornell
___ (C) it was in 1865 that Cornell University was established by Ezra Cornell
___ (D) Ezra Cornell established Cornell University in 1865
12. While living in New Orleans, the Creole people of Louisiana.
___ (A) a book of folklore, Bayou Folk, was written by Kate Chopin about
_ _ _ (B) Bayou Folk, a book of folklore, was written by Kate Chopin about
_ _ _ (C) the subject of Kate Chopin's book Bayou Folk was the folklore of
___ (D) Kate Chopin wrote Bayou Folk, a book about the folklore of

You might also like