Focus on Writing: Chapter 24

Focus on Writing: Chapter 24 Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

Modifiers • Modifiers – a word or phrase that qualifies (modifies) a word, phrase, or clause. • Types: • Adjectives – modify nouns and pronouns (the RED house) • Adverbs – modify verbs (He ran QUICKLY) • Modifier phrases – modify an action or an actor ( LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, he noticed that he was late.

Misplaced Modifiers • More beautiful than any human being, the explorer noticed the mermaid. Wild and untamed, Jack entered the jungle. Moaning in haunting voices, the house contained many ghosts. Misplaced Modifiers – a word or word group whose placement suggests that it modifies one word or phrase when it is intended to modify another.

Misplaced Modifiers The explorer noticed the mermaid, which was more beautiful than any human being. Incorrect Moaning in haunting voices, the house contained many ghosts. Incorrect Wild and untamed, Jack entered the jungle. Incorrect Correct Correct Correct More beautiful than any human being, the explorer noticed the mermaid. The house contained many ghosts that moaned in haunting voices. Jack entered the wild and untamed jungle. To fix a misplaced modifier, revise the sentence, taking care to put modifying words, phrases, and clauses in a position that clearly identifies the word it modifies.

Dangling Modifiers Using a variety of pedagogical techniques, the students were taught grammar. To improve his essay, each page was proofread. While reading the novel, the pages that contain important information should be marked. Dangling Modifiers – a word or phrase that cannot logically describe, limit, or restrict any word or word group in the sentence.

Dangling Modifiers Incorrect Incorrect Using a variety of pedagogical techniques, the teacher taught the students grammar. To improve his essay, each page was proofread. While reading the novel, the pages that contain important information should be marked. Correct Correct Correct Incorrect Using a variety of pedagogical techniques, the students were taught grammar. To improve his essay, David proofread each page. While reading the novel, you should mark the pages that contain important information. • To fix a dangling modifier, add a word or word group that the modifier can logically modify. • Usually you must change the subject of the main clause.

1. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) The convict saw a large green cricket, limping from the prison. B) The convict saw a large green cricket limping from the prison. C) Limping from the prison, the convict saw a large green cricket. D) none of the above

ANSWER: A) The convict saw a large green cricket, limping from the prison. B) The convict saw a large green cricket limping from the prison. C) Limping from the prison, the convict saw a large green cricket. D) none of the above 1. Choose the sentence that has no error.

2. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) The only recipe calls for one cup of sugar. B) Only the recipe calls for one cup of sugar. C) The recipe calls for only one cup of sugar. D) none of the above

2. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) The only recipe calls for one cup of sugar. B) Only the recipe calls for one cup of sugar. C) The recipe calls for only one cup of sugar. D) none of the above

3. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) Walking into the classroom, laughter burst from the students. B) As the man in the ape suit walked into the classroom, laughter burst from the students. C) Laughter burst from the students, walking into the classroom. D) none of the above

3. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) Walking into the classroom, laughter burst from the students. B) As the man in the ape suit walked into the classroom, laughter burst from the students. C) Laughter burst from the students, walking into the classroom. D) none of the above

4. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) In my kitchen, I saw your ex-husband on the TV watching the news. B) While watching TV in my kitchen, I saw on the news your ex-husband. C) While watching TV in my kitchen, I saw your ex-husband on the news. D) none of the above

4. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) In my kitchen, I saw your ex-husband on the TV watching the news. B) While watching TV in my kitchen, I saw on the news your ex-husband. C) While watching TV in my kitchen, I saw your ex-husband on the news. D) none of the above

5. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) Swimming at the beach, the water became too rough and cold. B) While we were swimming at the beach, the water became too rough and cold. C) At the beach swimming, the water became too rough and cold. D) none of the above

5. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) Swimming at the beach, the water became too rough and cold. B) While we were swimming at the beach, the water became too rough and cold. C) At the beach swimming, the water became too rough and cold. D) none of the above

6. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) Searching under the seat cushions, Cal found his car keys. B) Cal found his car keys searching under the seat cushions. C) Under the seat cushions, Cal found his car keys searching. D) none of the above

6. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) Searching under the seat cushions, Cal found his car keys. B) Cal found his car keys searching under the seat cushions. C) Under the seat cushions, Cal found his car keys searching. D) none of the above

7. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) Looking to earn extra money, second jobs are being taken by some people. B) Earning extra money, second jobs are being taken by some people looking. C) Second jobs are being taken by some people earning extra money. D) none of the above

7. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) Looking to earn extra money, second jobs are being taken by some people. B) Earning extra money, second jobs are being taken by some people looking. C) Second jobs are being taken by some people earning extra money. D) none of the above; the answer should be Looking to earn extra money, some people take second jobs.

8. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) I think I saw a comet in the sky jogging last night. B) Jogging last night, I think I saw a comet in the sky. C) In the sky, I think I saw a comet jogging last night. D) none of the above

8. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) I think I saw a comet in the sky jogging last night. B) Jogging last night, I think I saw a comet in the sky. C) In the sky, I think I saw a comet jogging last night. D) none of the above

9. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) Concerned about the dangerous weather, we had to cancel the game. B) Concerned about the dangerous weather, the game had to be canceled. C) The game had to be canceled, concerned about the dangerous weather. D) none of the above

9. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) Concerned about the dangerous weather, we had to cancel the game. B) Concerned about the dangerous weather, the game had to be canceled. C) The game had to be canceled, concerned about the dangerous weather. D) none of the above

10. Choose the sentence that has no error. A) Making the best of a bad situation, the power outage was a lot of fun. B) The power outage was a lot of fun, making the best of a bad situation. C) Making the best of a bad situation, we had a lot of fun during the power outage. D) none of the above

10. Choose the sentence that has no error. ANSWER: A) Making the best of a bad situation, the power outage was a lot of fun. B) The power outage was a lot of fun, making the best of a bad situation. C) Making the best of a bad situation, we had a lot of fun during the power outage. D) none of the above

Focus on Writing: Chapter 24