Turn the misplaced or dangling participle into a dependent. The lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier. Modifier placement in sentences now that weve covered how to approach questions about modifiers at the beginning of sentences, lets talk about questions that deal with modifier placement within sentences. The vehicle had a slightly flat tire and was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence.
Our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to edit confusing sentences with misplaced modifiers. Label whether the sentence is a misplaced modifier m, a dangling modifier d or correct. Use your mouse to choose the most logical sentence with no misplaced or dangling modifier. Learn how to correct misplaced and dangling modifiers. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Struggling with the tight jeans, the zipper would not budge. Mark lester and larry beason point out that misplaced modifiers do not make sentences ungrammatical. Misplaced modifiers exercises answers the following are.
On his way to school, abraham found a womans yellow bag. Like sneakers, modifiers arent meant to dangle image credit. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling. If a modifier is in the wrong place, the meaning of the sentence can change. Shaken, not stirred, james bond likes his martinis. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses. Misplaced modifiers generally take one of four forms. 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. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. Washington irvings stories often contain elements of fantasy. Modifiers describe, specify, or limit the meanings of other words.
The salesperson sold the shirt with the blue print to the man. Watch out for the words only, just, merely, nearly, and almost. In the following examples of misplaced modifiers, the adjective in boldface currently modifies the noun it is closest to underlined. A misplaced modifier happens to modify something that you did not intend to modify, oftenor hopefullywith humorous consequences. Given the infinite combinations and permutations available in the english language, we have several ways of correcting a misplaced or dangling participle. Adjectives and adverbs are the most common types of modifiers, but there are others. When you are finished, hit the check my work button at the bottom of the page to check your answers. Grade 7 quarter 2 unit 2 dangling and misplaced modifiers. From who and whom to hyphens, from commas to plain language, from. In the exercise that follows, you will need to determine whether or not sentences contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. Your student will correct the misplaced modifiers in this worksheet. A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase that is placed in a wrong place in a sentence. This lesson offers games and activities to get your students excited to learn about misplaced and dangling modifiers. Riding in a swiftly moving vehicle, the landscape becomes.
Modifying phrases must go next to the word that they modify. Misplaced and dangling participles, answers and tips 1. Refer to discovery, 320324, for additional practice. James outside three rivers stadium on the night of the raid on charges of marijuana possession. Pecks english pointers is a collection of lively articles spanning english grammar, punctuation, usage and clarity. Driving up the rockstrewn mountain, the tire went flat. Exercises on modifiers with explanation learn english. In each case, see if you can explain both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning.
Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. Upset with the boys constant bickering, the car veered into a ditch as the. In most cases a modifier should be near the word or phrase it modifies. 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. List of articles in category exercise 12 modifiers. Notice that sauced with lumpy gravy, a participle phrase, follows meatloaf.
In prescriptive grammar, misplaced modifiers are usually regarded as errors. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. Free, printable modifiers worksheets to develop strong grammar, language. Misplacement of adverbs can sometimes change the meaning of a sentence. The waitress served gilbert a plate of gray meatloaf sauced with lumpy gravy. Modifiers misplaced, dangling, changing worksheets k12 reader. Misplaced and dangling modifiers exercise 1 grammar bytes.
A modifier a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in a sentence. Misplaced modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that are separated from the word they modify. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 9th grade lesson. Using what they learn, students will create misplaced modifier cartoons.
Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to. On the night of the raid, two police officers arrested mr. Students multitask everyday, indeed many times a day, students believe they are very adept at juggling two or three different activities while studying for a midterm. To keep track of your answers, print the accompanying handout. Worksheets relating to misplaced and dangling modifiers. Dangling and misplaced modifiersten practice exercises. My sister walked in as i was scrubbing the floor with her new baby. Too hungry to wait for brendas return from the restroom, the bowl of egg drop soup quickly disappeared. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 312, students explore brainpop features and resources to learn about misplaced modifiers, including dangling and squinting modifiers. The modifier must follow the modified word in order to avoid misplacing. Rewrite the following paragraph, correcting all misplaced or dangling modifiers. However, when an entire phrase is used, misplaced modifiers become more common. Misplaced modifiers exercises the vehicle was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence with a slightly flat tire. The children attended the public school wearing uniforms.
When you think your answer is correct, click on check to check your answer. In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether that sentence contains a dangling modifier dm or a misplaced modifier mm. 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. When you have a single adjective or adverb, misplaced modifiers rarely occur since they would immediately sound incorrect. A dangling modifier as a misplaced modifier eries public schools. Misplaced modifiers can usually be corrected by moving the modifier to a more sensible place in the sentence, generally next to the word it modifies. 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. Modifiers grammar academic guides at walden university. The modifier, using astronavigation, is unclear in this sentence.
Avoiding misplaced modifiers is essential to good grammar and concise writing. A misplaced modifier is a modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not point clearly and directly to what it is supposed to modify. When modifiers adjectives and adverbs are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Dolger discovered an ancient mayan civilization using astronavigation. 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. In a clear, logical sentence, you will find most modifiers right next to the words they describe. Determine whether the sentences below contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. On his way to school, abraham found a yellow womans bag. Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. This misplaced modifiers worksheet is suitable for 6th 9th grade.
The modifying phrase with her new baby should logically modify how the sister walked. Misplaced modifiers when a modifier is ambiguously or illogically modifying a word, we consider it a misplaced modifier. Exercises below are sentences with dangling modifiers. Then they will exchange cartoons with a partner, and identify the intended and unintended meanings. A modifier that is incorrectly placed is called a misplaced modifier.
Nguyen returned her perfect calculus test with an eartoear grin. In the following sentences, misplaced and dangling. If you would like more information about a worksheet or want to download the pdf for printing. In one story, rip van winkle slept through the whole american revolution that irving wrote. Though he may well be able to learn while multitasking, it is not nearly as efficient as focusing only on studying. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that doesnt clearly relate to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. Misplaced modifiers are words or phrases that do not clearly point to the word or phrase they modify, in this way obscuring meaning. Misplaced modifiers exercises answers the following are suggested answers.
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