2. What is a Modifier?
It is a word or phrase that qualifies
(modifies) a word, phrase or
clause.
Types:
• adjectives (modify nouns and
pronouns)
• adverbs (modify verbs)
• modifier phrases (modify an
action or an actor)
3. What is a Misplaced Modifier?
• It is a word or word group whose
placement suggests that it
modifies one word or phrase when
it is intended to modify another. It
is improperly separated from the
word it modifies / describes.
4. Example:
• On her way home, Carmie found a
gold man’s watch.
Misplaced
Modifier
18. Misplaced Clauses
• may cause a sentence to
sound awkward and may
create a meaning that does not
make sense.
19. To fix the errors and clarify the meaning, put the
clauses next to the noun they are supposed to modify.
Example:
Incorrect:
Corrected:
20. Placing Modifiers Correctly
• Once you have identified a
modifier, you need to identify the
person, place or thing that it is
modifying. Modifiers usually have
to accompany the thing they are
modifying or go as close to it as
possible, or should be placed next
to the word it describes.
22. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced
modifier in bold to its correct position.
1.) She served sandwiches to the children
on paper plates.
2.) The young girl was walking with the
dog in a short skirt.
23. 5.) Swinging wildly through the trees, the
children were delighted by the monkeys.
3.) At the carnival, clowns were handing
out toys to children in colorful paper
bags.
4.) Tommy with the red stripes is wearing
a shirt.
24. 1.) She served sandwiches on paper plates
to the children.
2.) The young girl in a short skirt was
walking with the dog.
ANSWERS:
25. 3.) At the carnival, clowns were handing out
toys in colorful paper bags to children.
5.) The children were delighted by the
monkeys, swinging wildly through the trees.
4.) Tommy is wearing a shirt with the
red stripes.