https://monoenglishschool.com/misplaced-dangling-modifiers/ Learn about misplaced and dangling modifiers. Misplaced modifiers modify an incorrect element within a sentence, and dangling modifiers have nothing that they can logically modify. This presentation describes how to avoid the problems when using modifiers. A video and check questions about this presentation are available through the link above.

1. A guide to

4. 1. I saw a duck and a goose on the way to school.

5. 1. I saw a duck and a goose on the way to school.

6. 1. On the way to school, I saw a duck and a goose.

7. 2. In the coop, I watched the chickens.

8. 2. In the coop, I watched the chickens.

9. 2. I watched the chickens in the coop.

10. 2. I watched the chickens in the coop.
Move misplaced modifiers as close as possible to the word it is
supposed to modify.
1. On the way to school, I saw a duck and a goose.

11. Check point
1. Correct the misplaced modifier in the following sentence:
“When he was a boy, the farmer taught his son, Marcus, about the
animals.”

12. 3. Clucking and crowing, the farmer fed the hungry chickens.

13. 3. Clucking and crowing, the farmer fed the hungry chickens.

14. 3. The farmer fed the hungry chickens that were clucking and crowing.

15. 3. The farmer fed the hungry chickens that were clucking and crowing.
Move misplaced modifiers as close as possible to the word it is
supposed to modify. Add an adjective clause if required.

16. Check point
2. Choose the sentence with correctly located modifiers.
a) In the mornings, unable to wake, the farmer had to drag
Marcus from his bed.
b) In the mornings, the farmer had to drag Marcus, who was
unable to wake, from his bed.
c) In the mornings, the farmer had to drag Marcus from his bed
who was unable to wake.

17. 4. I only visit the farm on Saturdays.

18. 4. I only visit the farm on Saturdays.

19. 4. I visit the farm only on Saturdays.

20. 4. I visit the farm only on Saturdays.
Place only in front of the word or phrase it modifies.

21. Check point
3. Choose the sentence with correctly located modifiers.
a) Marcus could only sleep in on Sundays.
b) On Sundays, Marcus could only sleep in.
c) Marcus could sleep in only on Sundays.

22. Move misplaced modifiers as close as possible to the word it is
supposed to modify.
Add an adjective clause if required.
Place only in front of the word of phrase it modifies.

24. 5. By caring for animals, empathy and responsibility is learned.

25. 5. By caring for animals, empathy and responsibility is learned.
?

26. 5. By caring for animals, I learn empathy and responsibility.

27. 6. Using a sheep dog, the cows are moved from one field to another.

28. 6. Using a sheep dog, the cows are moved from one field to another.
?

29. 6. a. Using a sheep dog, the farmer moves the cows from one filed to
another.

30. 6.
6.
b. A sheep dog moves the cows from one field to another.
a. Using a sheep dog, the farmer moves the cows from one filed to
another.

31. 5. By caring for animals, I learn empathy and responsibility.
6. A sheep dog moves the cows from one field to another.
Add a word or phrase for the dangling modifier to modify, or
rearrange the sentence to remove the modifier.

32. Check point
4. Correct the dangling modifier in the following sentence:
“After spending all week waking up early and taking care of animals,
some fun was needed.”

33. Check point
5. Choose the sentence with correctly located modifiers.
a) On Sundays, Marcus visited friends borrowing his dad’s car.
b) Borrowing his dad’s car, Marcus visited friends on Sundays.
c) Borrowing his dad’s car, friends were visited on Sundays.

34. Move misplaced modifiers as close as possible to the word it is
supposed to modify. Add an adjective clause if required, and
place only in front of the word of phrase it modifies.
Add a word or phrase for the dangling modifier to modify, or
rearrange the sentence to remove the modifier.