Dangling and misplaced modifiers a grammar tutorial by nancy schrock 4 topics for todays discussion definition of a modifier types of modifiers examples of misplaced and dangling modifiers correcting the problem. This resource includes a pdf file for easy printing and an editable powerpoint version so that you can fit the test to meet the. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses. This worksheet on misplaced modifiers worksheet is suitable for 4th 8th grade. Find out with this interactive quiz and printable worksheet the proper usage of modifiers. We, coming home from the market, saw a terrible accident. So, an adjective or an adverb are modifiers because they change the meaning or add detail to another word or words as in the tin man and the cowardly lion. In the exercise that follows, you will need to determine whether or not sentences contain misplaced or dangling modifiers.
Recast the sentence so that the phrase properly modifies the part of the sentence it refers to. The best misplaced and dangling modifiers of all time. Some of the worksheets for this concept are dangling and misplaced modifiers, misplaced modifiers, 7 misplaced and dangling modifiers, grammar work misplaced and dangling participles, name date misplaced and dangling m e 1, misplaced modifiers, misplaced modifiers introductory project, name date misplaced modifiers. Both adults and teenagers have the privilege of earning their drivers licenses before driving for the first time, drivers education classes are important when learning to drive, one must be very cautious and alert after getting a drivers license, all drivers must remain. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. Which of the following sentences has a misplaced modifier. To spot them on the act, make sure the noun following a modifying phrase actually fits its description. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in which it appears. The issue with these is that the reader could misinterpret the sentence.
Which of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier. Misplaced and dangling modifiers demonstrate sloppy writing and grammar skills. Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In case you didnt get it from the italics, a modifier is a word or phrase that provides more information about something being. This sentence reads as if the tree stump was running recklessly through the forest, not james.
Modifiers are words and phrases that basically modify a word or sentence. Worksheets are misplaced modifiers, name date misplaced and dangling m e 1, grammar work misplaced and dangling participles, grammar work misplaced and dangling participles, 7 misplaced and dangling modifiers, misplaced modifiers, dangling and misplaced modifiers, name date misplaced modifiers. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. Choose from 374 different sets of misplaced modifiers grammar flashcards on quizlet. Displaying top 8 worksheets found for misplaced modifier. How to eliminate dangling modifiers from your writing grammarly. If you score below 100 percent, continue by reading the instructions and doing the practice exercise. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections. Each of the following sentences includes a modifying phrase that confuses because it the statement is erroneously constructed or because the phrase is incorrectly located in the sentence. Having learned spanish in just three months, the stay in mexico was a success. Without modifiers, you could never say that a pretty girl took home a happy dog or that a nice boy bought a yummy popsicle.
From who and whom to hyphens, from commas to plain language, from usage woes to grammar. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. Oct 24, 2016 to avoid dangling and misplaced modifiers, try to say what you mean. What is the difference between misplaced and dangling modifiers. Misplacement of adverbs can sometimes change the meaning of a sentence. Saying we only eat chocolate with peanut butter is very different than saying we eat chocolate only with peanut butter. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. Exercises and a confession conclusions 5 modifier what is a modifier. Choose from 223 different sets of misplaced modifiers flashcards on quizlet. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies describes. Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. Avoid rephrased sentences, focus on the misplacement of the modifiers and the dangling modifiers. Following the powerpoint, groups will use the printable worksheets to determine which sentences contain misplaced dangling modifiers.
Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word or phrase incorrectly separated from the word it modifies. Watch out for the words only, just, merely, nearly, and almost. In this modifiers worksheet, students edit the sentences that have misplaced modifiers after reading examples. This was originally created for 7th grade language arts class. Nov 15, 2012 in this video, we will discuss misplaced and dangling modifiers in english. Make sure the modifier is as close as possible to the word, phrase, or clause it modifies. Rewrite the following sentences to repair any dangling modifiers. Its a grammatical error where the modifying word or phrase is. Pedrito got into serious trouble missing the grammar quiz last monday. As modifiers, participles are often misused, and are thus called dangling or misplaced modifiers. Most style guides and experts agree that misplaced modifiers are grammatically incorrect and should be. Grammargrounds grammar education is a free, comprehensive site with instruction, videos, quizzes, and more. Written by editor and writer frances peck, these pieces take a thorough yet entertaining look at some of the most common errors, weaknesses and uncertainties that plague writers of english. Pecks english pointers is a collection of lively articles spanning english grammar, punctuation, usage and clarity.
Displaying all worksheets related to misplaced modifiers. This misplaced modifiers worksheet is suitable for 6th 9th grade. Quia practice quiz dangling and misplaced modifiers. Misplaced modifiers a misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. Phrases and clauses with dangling modifiers do not have expressed subjects.
The modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it is describing. The english teacher looking for tools, the student looking for some extra help, or the new english speaker hoping to master the language will find what he or she is looking for here. The majority of dangling modifiers are verb phrases that are not attached to the intended subject, if any. Misleading or illogical constructions like these are called dangling modifiers. Terms in this set 21 reading a book, my cat crawled into my lap. Misplaced modifiers sentence errors the nature of writing. Learn misplaced modifiers with free interactive flashcards. In other words, they seem to give a better understanding of a word or sentence.
Clipping is a handy way to collect important slides you want to go back to later. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it. Determine whether the sentences below contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. Misplaced modifiers exercise 2 home towson university. Our online dangling modifier trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top dangling modifier quizzes. Washington irvings stories often contain elements of fantasy.
Walking down the street, the buildings surrounded me like monolithic giants. Choose the option that has no misplaced or dangling modifier. Modifiers dangling and misplaced grammar quiz quizizz. This is a deceptively simple task, but rise to the challenge. Read each sentence, underlining the introductory modifier and doubleunderlining the. While returning from shopping, debra remembered her promise and she stopped. If your score is perfect, go on to the next exercise. Each of the following sentences are either correct or incorrect. Sometimes to correct a misplaced or dangling modifier and clarify the meaning, the writer must change the words in a sentence. A modifier is a word, phrase or clause that modifies or describes another word. A comprehensive database of more than 12 dangling modifier quizzes online, test your knowledge with dangling modifier quiz questions. Nguyen returned her perfect calculus test with an eartoear grin. Rewrite the following paragraph, correcting all misplaced or dangling modifiers.
Item 2 select the sentence with the dangling modifier. Refer to discovery, 320324, for additional practice. In one story, rip van winkle slept through the whole american revolution that irving wrote. View each sentence and see if you think there is a problem with either a dangling modifier or a misplaced modifer you may use your notes to help. Dangling and misplaced modifiers dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in which it appears. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. Avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers t 2000, 1999, 1998, 1998 margaret l. Paragraph correction read about steven spielberg, director of indiana jones, and on a separate sheet of paper, edit the following paragraphs to eliminate misplaced and dangling modifiers. The point is that the introductory participial phrase modifies. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Misplaced, dangling, and squinting modifiers overview. Learn misplaced modifiers grammar with free interactive flashcards. These questions can be used as a quick reference during. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence.
Students will learn what a modifier is and what common mistakes are often made with modifiers in writing. When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Once seated by a hostess, menus would be given to the guests. I am a word, phrase, andor clause that acts as an adjective or adverb. When you are finished, hit the check my work button at the bottom of the page to check your answers.
Dangling and misplaced modifiers dangling modifiers are words or phrases that do not have a clear term to modify in a sentence. In the following sentences, identify and correct the misplaced and dangling modifiers. See appendix a for solutions to practice exercises. Students are shown the humor that can be created with dangling and misplaced modifiers. Exchange papers with a classmate, and rewrite your classmates sentences to correct any misplaced modifiers.
Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is. Having learned french in just three months, paul was as happy as he could be. This is the best way to test the classs knowledge of misplaced modifiers. There are many things that people do to stay healthy before going for a run or working out, they can hydrate well covering a salad with calorierich dressing, the nutritional value plummets. A modifier a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in a sentence. Edit the following sentences to eliminate such errors. Avoiding misplaced modifiers is essential to good grammar and concise writing. The best misplaced and dangling modifiers of all time misplaced and dangling modifiers dangling modifiers.
Unlike many other students, jim didnt have any problems with his teachers. Each day, we produced enough reports to keep two copy editors busy, and many of the writers were scientists, so there were always lots of opportunities to find misplaced modifiers. In a clear, logical sentence, you will find most modifiers right next to the words they describe. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to edit confusing sentences with misplaced modifiers.
The waitress served gilbert a plate of gray meatloaf sauced with lumpy gravy. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position. With a sigh of disappointment, charlene returned the expensive dress to the rack. English grammar exercise dangling modifiers 1 identifying. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. Running recklessly through the forest, the tree stump tripped james. Authors need to be responsible for writing with proper literary style and tone.
A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. The total time allowed for this quiz is 30 minutes. You are leaving brainpop to view an article on newsela. Dangling modifiers and how to correct them purdue writing lab. Do your students start falling asleep at the mention of dangling modifiers. Writers should be wary of these and rewrite sentences to avoid them. Jan 26, 2012 misplaced and dangling modifiers screencast music. Dangling and misplaced modifiers grammar quiz quizizz.
Learn how teachers can make brainpopstyle assessments by using the quiz mixer with a my brainpop account. Similarly a modifier is said to be misplaced when it is separated from the word it modifies. Misplacedanddanglingmodifiers 1 misplaced and dangling modifiers a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word or clause it modifies or describes. Improve your language arts knowledge with free questions in select the misplaced or dangling modifier and thousands of other language arts skills. Our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere. Dangling and misplaced modifiers by mark nichol each of the following sentences includes a modifying phrase that confuses because it the statement is erroneously constructed or because the phrase is incorrectly located in the sentence. While returning from shopping, debras promise was remembered and she stopped. This assessment includes 7 sections and tests students knowledge of modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and dangling modifiers. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 9th grade lesson.
To be a careful writer, one or you should never write dangling infinitive phrases. Improve your language arts knowledge with free questions in misplaced modifiers with pictures and thousands of other language arts skills. Ixl select the misplaced or dangling modifier 11th grade. Living a healthy lifestyle, people generally find great joy. A dangling modifier is one that modifies a word or phrase not clearly stated in the sentence. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. Worksheet on misplaced modifiers worksheet for 4th 8th. May 18, 2007 i once worked with an editor who emailed everyone in the office the especially hilarious sentences created by misplaced modifiers. Dangling modifiers appear at the beginning of a sentence in an opening clause.
Although most commonly found at the beginning of the sentence, the dangling modifier may be. Worksheets relating to misplaced and dangling modifiers. Either the sentence or the dangling modifier must be changed by adding needed information or. Because of their dangling modifiers, these sentences wrongly imply that the hill rollerbladed frantically, that p. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. This is a practice quiz over problems with modifiers. Walking down the hallway, all the lockers were open. This activity challenges students to identify dangling or misplaced modifiers in incorrect sentences and fix them. Often, they can be found at the beginning of sentences, though they can also appear at a sentences end. Now, go impress your friends with what youve learned. Dangling and misplaced modifiers powerpoint presentation.
All modifiers, words that add clarify, describe, or add detail to. They are like dangling modifiers in that they attach themselves to an illogical subject technically speaking but are different in that they are not always found in opening clauses. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. Careful writers always seek to avoid the lack of clarity that a dangling modifier causes. See how creative and humorous you can get by writing ten sentences with misplaced and dangling modifiers. A participial phrase is said to be dangling when the noun it is intended to modify is missing from the sentence. Misplaced modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that are separated from the word they modify. A modifier is a word or group of words that explains another word or group of words in a sentence.
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