MODIFIERS

Modifiers are words that describe the meaning of other words. The modifiers of
nouns and pronouns are usually adjectives, participles, adjective phrases, and
adjective clauses. The modifiers of verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are adverbs,
adverb phrases, and adverb clauses.

Dangling modifiers

A modifier that has no word in the sentence that it can sensibly modify is said to
be dangling:

Examples:

Sitting on the veranda, forty cows were visible.

Who is sitting on the veranda? To correct this sentence, we need to

add another noun or pronoun to go with the modifier.

From where we were sitting on the veranda, forty cows were visible.

After eating our lunch, the steamboat departed.

Did the steamboat eat our lunch? Without adding another noun or
pronoun, it appears that the modifying phrase refers to the
steamboat.

After eating our lunch, we departed on the steamboat.

Entering the funeral parlour, the corpse was seen.

Did the corpse enter the funeral parlour and then was seen? Again,
we need to add another noun or pronoun to prevent confusion.

Entering the funeral parlour, we saw the corpse.

Raising their heads cautiously above the fence, the cars were seen
parked along the road.

There is confusion as to whose heads are being raised, for it

certainly can not be the cars.
 Raising their heads cautiously above the fence, the boys saw the cars
parked along the road.

So, a dangling modifier is when modifying words are left "dangling" without a
sensible noun or pronoun to modify them. To correct them, one needs to add a
noun or pronoun. Sometimes, a person has to actually reword the sentence to
get a clearer meaning.

Examples:

At the age of six Johns family moved to Hollywood.

(Who turned six?)

When John was six, his family moved to Hollywood.

Sliding down the rope, the flames suddenly closed in on him, while the
crowd stood helplessly by.

(Who slid down the rope, the flames?)

As he slid down the rope, the flames suddenly closed in on him, while the
crowd stood helplessly by.

Exercise 1

Rewrite all of the following sentences that contain a dangling modifier, using one
of the two ways you have learned.

1. To be sure of a good seat, your tickets should be bought in advance.

2. At the age of ten, my father took me up for my first airplane ride.
3. While working for a jeweller, a watch disappeared, and Mike was accused
of taking it.
4. Being in a hurry to get to the basketball game, Harold completely forgot
that he was to report to Mr. Day.
5. Having spent all afternoon at the football game, my throat was sore.
6. Before reaching Crown Point, Mount Hood could be seen towering in the
distance.
7. Last June, after graduating from high school, my uncle gave me a job in
his factory.
8. Running to my first-period class, my jacket caught on a locker and ripped.
9. To play golf well, a combination of mental concentration and physical
relaxation is essential.
 10. If left alone with nothing to do, parents cant expect children to keep out of
mischief.

Misplaced modifiers

When modifiers are not placed correctly, then they confuse or even amuse the
reader. They differ from a dangling modifier because the modified noun is in the
sentence, but another noun or pronoun is incorrectly being modified which
causes the sentence to be confusing. That is why they are called misplaced
modifiers.

Examples:

A young girl sat quietly watching the gull fly back and forth over the dune
in a red bathing suit.

(Who was wearing the red bathing suit?)

While wearing a red bathing suit, a young girl sat quietly watching the gull
fly back and forth over the dune.

They were surprised to see a patch of ripe blueberries coming down the
hill.

(Who was coming down the hill?)

Coming down the hill, they were surprised to see a patch of ripe
blueberries.

Hanging from a hook in the neighbours garage, Jerry found the saw.

(Who was hanging from the hook?)

Jerry found the saw hanging from a hook in the neighbours garage.

The people missed the Disney cartoon that came late.

(Who came late?)

The people that came late missed the Disney cartoon.

Exercise 2

Read each of these sentences carefully. When you are sure you know the
intended meaning, revise each sentence, putting the misplaced modifier
where it unmistakably modifies the word intended.

1. Lenny saw a beaver building a dam on his way to school.

2. Boiled and creamed, the children will eat onions, but not raw or
fried.
3. I spilled bright red nail polish all over the formal dress I had
borrowed in my haste.
4. Before our eyes the mountain disappeared behind the threatening
cloud that had the ski tow on it.
5. The patient listened to what Dr. Hill told him without saying a word.
6. Contentedly eating grass in a neighbours field, Ken finally found
the missing cow.
7. We were so hungry after our hike that we ate all the food Mom had
prepared in five minutes.
8. Pete looked embarrassed and nervous standing there before Miss
Palmer with a black eye.
9. Yesterday Carl found a wallet in the locker room that contained
three dollars but no identification.
10. Mr. Blountz struck a match on his thumbnail and lit his big, black
cigar with a broad grin.

Exercise 3

These sentences have either a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier

error, or are correct. So, correct the mistake or identify each correct
sentence by writing a C in the margin beside its number.

1. I read in the newspaper that AIDS researchers will meet

again in August.

2. I put sunscreen that had a SPF of 15 on my little brother.

3. Janice put the sandwich that she had not eaten back in her
lunch bag.

4. The small girl hugged and petted the kitten in tears.

5. Having been over fertilised, my sister thinks the cactus will

not survive.

6. Having decomposed in storage, the farmers could not sell

the crops.
 7. As a college English teacher, dangling modifier errors upset
me.

8. Convicted of assault with a weapon, the offender received

from the judge a six-month sentence in prison.

9. Jim bought new tires for his truck, which cost $75.

10. Betty is repaying her loan to the credit agency with great
reluctance.

11. Why did you pack the fish for the man in the newspaper?

12. Kenneth went on a vacation with his wife that cost $1 000.

13. Having forgotten to pick me up twice this week, Im quitting

Jims car pool.

14. After having been isolated for so long, the world seemed to
the paroled man to be spinning at a hectic pace.

15. Attempting to smash the department stores front window,

the police arrested Norman.

16. Many people dont trust Lake Ontario water even though it is
drunk daily.

17. The lion leaped towards the trainer in a rage.

18. The police officer witnessed the burglar open the safe with
his own eyes.

19. Bag ladies used to come to the place where I worked

dressed in rags.

20. Sue put the cheese slices that she had not eaten back into
the fridge.

21. John turned the green and mushy avocados into great
guacamole.

22. While still in kindergarten, my parents moved me to Red

Deer.

23. Upon entering, the store was completely empty.

24. After changing the tire, you should release the jack.
 25. Never buy a used van from anybody with an oil leak.

26. I wrote a song while walking to class in my notebook.

27. Julia often buys things that she doesnt need with her credit
card.

28. The policeman killed the lion that sprang at him with a pistol.

29. Possessing a natural instinct for rhythm and a good musical

ear, it is easy for a classical pianist to switch over to jazz.

30. After deciding whether the wine should be blended, add the
sugar.

31. Looking over his shoulder, the car slowly backed up.

32. Fifteen minutes after setting sail for home, the storm began
in earnest.

ANSWER KEY

Exercise 1

11. If you want to get a good seat, you should buy your tickets in
advance.
12. When I was ten, my father took me up for my first airplane ride.
13. While Mike was working for a jeweller, a watch disappeared, and
he was accused of taking it.
14. Harold was in a hurry to get to the basketball game, so he
completely forgot that he was to report to Mr. Day.
15. I spent all afternoon at the football game, so I had a sore throat.
16. Before I reached Crown Point, I could see Mount Hood towering in
the distance.
17. Last June, after I graduated from high school, my uncle gave me a
job in his factory.
18. While I was running to my first-period class, my jacket caught on a
locker and ripped.
19. I find the combination of mental concentration and physical
relaxation is essential for me to play golf well.
20. Parents cant expect children to keep out of mischief, if they leave
them alone with nothing to do.

Exercise 2

21. On his way to school, Lenny saw a beaver building a dam.

 22. The children will eat onions boiled and creamed, but not raw or
fried.
23. In my haste, I spilled bright red nail polish all over the formal dress I
had borrowed.
24. Before our eyes the mountain, that had the ski tow on it,
disappeared behind the threatening cloud.
25. Without saying a word, the patient listened to what Dr. Hill told him.
26. Ken finally found the missing cow contentedly eating grass in a
neighbours field.
27. We were so hungry after our hike that in five minutes we ate all the
food Mom had prepared.
28. With a black eye, Pete looked embarrassed and nervous standing
there before Miss Palmer.
29. Yesterday Carl found a wallet that contained three dollars but no
identification in the locker room.
30. With a broad grin, Mr. Blountz struck a match on his thumbnail and
lit his big, black cigar.

Exercise 3

31. C
32. C
33. C
34. In tears the small girl hugged and petted the kitten.
35. My sister thinks the cactus will not survive because it has been over
fertilized.
36. The farmers could not sell the crops, which had decomposed in
storage.
37. As a college English teacher, I am upset by dangling modifier
errors.
38. C
39. Jim bought new tires, which cost $75, for his truck.
40. With great reluctance Betty is repaying her loan to the credit
agency.
41. Why did you pack the fish in the newspaper for the man?
42. Kenneth went on a vacation that cost $1000 with his wife.
43. Im quitting Jims car pool because he has forgotten to pick me up
twice this week.
44. The world seemed to be spinning at a hectic pace because the
paroled man had been isolated for so long.
45. As Norman was attempting to smash the department stores front
window, the police arrested him.
46. C
47. In a rage the lion leaped towards the trainer.
48. With his own eyes the police officer witnessed the burglar open the
safe.
49. Bag ladies dressed in rags used to come to the place where I
worked.
50. C
51. C
52. While I was still in kindergarten, my parents moved me to Red
Deer.
53. Upon entering, I found the store was completely empty.
54. C
55. Never buy a used van with an oil leak from anybody.
56. I wrote a song in my notebook while walking to class.
57. C
58. With a pistol the policeman killed the lion that sprang at him.
59. Possessing a natural instinct for rhythm and a good musical ear, a
classical pianist can easily switch over to jazz.
60. C
61. Looking over his shoulder, he slowly backed up the car.
62. Fifteen minutes after we set sail for home, the storm began in
earnest.