The powerpoint provides several examples for mastery and later for students to identify. Label whether the sentence is a misplaced modifier m, a dangling modifier d or correct. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. The resulting sentence can be unclear and may even be unintentionally humorous. Following the powerpoint, groups will use the printable worksheets to determine which sentences contain misplaced dangling modifiers. When there is nothing that the word, phrase, or clause can modify, the modifier is said to dangle. In this video, we will discuss misplaced and dangling modifiers in english. The best misplaced and dangling modifiers of all time misplaced and dangling modifiers dangling modifiers. Because modifiers often appear in introductory clauses phrases that appear before the main clause of a sentence, dangling modifiers are most commonly found in this part of the sentence. A misplaced modifier occurs when the modifier is located too far away from the word it modifies and the sentence does not make sense. 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.
For example, the word only is a modifier thats easy to misplace. Misplaced, dangling, and squinting modifiers overview. A dangling modifier is an introductory word groupparticiple, gerund, infinitive, or elliptical clausethat does not refer logically to the noun or pronoun that follows it. Ixl select the misplaced or dangling modifier 11th grade. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. Use your mouse to choose the most logical sentence with no misplaced or dangling modifier. Otherwise, the modifier is said to be dangling, and the sentence takes on an unintended meaning. Unlike many other students, jim didnt have any problems with his teachers. Science teachers and students will find useful training materials to help improve scientific writing ability. Nov 15, 2012 in this video, we will discuss misplaced and dangling modifiers in english.
Click the link below to download the free pdf worksheet. Using what they learn, students will create misplaced modifier cartoons. In fact, they surface from time to time in newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is. Avoid rephrased sentences, focus on the misplacement of the modifiers and the dangling modifiers. Determine whether the sentences below contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. Nearing the end of the run, her thoughts raced faster. The best misplaced and dangling modifiers of all time. Avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers t 2000, 1999, 1998, 1998 margaret l.
To keep track of your answers, print the accompanying handout. A dangling modifier can obscure the meaning of a sentence. It is also called a dangling participle, hanging modifier, floater, floating modifier, or misrelated. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 7th grade lesson. Students are shown the humor that can be created with dangling and misplaced modifiers. What a modifier is and how it functions in a sentence.
This lesson plan helps students understand misplaced modifiers and fix them. The following is an example of a dangling modifier from the 1918 edition of the elements of style. For example, in walking to college on a subzero morning, my left ear became frozen, the underlined phrase modifies my left ear. Drooling in anticipation of the treat, gizmo waited for sylvia to reward him with. Dangling modifiers other times we write descriptive phrases that point to or modify words that are not clearly stated in our sentences, making our sentences illogical. Dangling modifiers are considered stylistically poor by most style guides. As you can see from the following examples, the sentences should be. A misplaced modifier does not link clearly to what it is meant to modify. 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. Writers should be wary of these and rewrite sentences to avoid them. How do i recognize misplaced and dangling modifiers. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase within a sentence that does not clearly refer to a specific subject. It is also called a dangling participle, hanging modifier, floater, floating modifier, or misrelated participle.
Ixl select the misplaced or dangling modifier 11th. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. Sitting in the dentists chair, the sound ofthe drill made larry sweat. Oct 20, 2014 while dangling modifiers often result in sentences that cause a giggle, they also muddle a persons writing and make the writers meaning unclear. Being in a dilapidated condition, i was able to buy the house very cheap. Dangling and misplaced modifiers dangling modifiers are words or phrases that do not have a clear term to modify in a sentence. Exercise 3 fixing misplaced and dangling modifiers. Our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere.
The entire first page is explanation and examplesperfect for those who need extra support. In this sentence, the modifier when just six years old is positioned next to my grandmother, suggesting that my six year old grandmother taught me ballet. How to eliminate dangling modifiers from your writing. In some cases, a dangling modifier refers to a word that doesnt even appear in the sentence. Often, they can be found at the beginning of sentences, though they can also appear at a sentences end. A dangling modifier is a modifier that is left hanging without the words or phrases that it explains. Dangling modifiers a modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. The following sentences contain misplaced modifiers. Worksheets relating to misplaced and dangling modifiers.
Misplaced modifiers are modifiers that modify something you didnt intend them to modify. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. Modifiers, used correctly, clarify the meaning of a sentence. A dangling modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence. Fixing misplaced modifiers rearranging sentence parts will often fix a misplaced modifier. On july 20, 1969, american astronauts neil armstrong and edwin buzz aldrin landed on the moon, watched by nearly a fifth of the worlds population. Unlike many other students, the financial aid office did not approve his application. Advanced choose whether each of the following sentences is correct, or whether it has a dangling modifier. A dangling modifier is a type of misplaced modifier. Other terms for dangling modifier dangling modifiers are also known as hanging modifiers, floating modifiers, or dangling participles. However, they can be found at the end of sentences as well. This misplaced and dangling modifiers worksheet is suitable for 7th 9th grade. This grammar tip describes dangling modifiers and offers tips on how to find thembefore your readers do. Refer to discovery, 324327, for additional practice.
A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. Oct 28, 2012 dangling modifiers a modifier that starts a sentence must be followed right away by the word that it describes. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that does not logically modify any word in the sentence in which it appears. This article offers help with learning to recognize this grammatical problem and advice on how to correct dangling modifiers. Dangling modifiers are usually introductory word groups such as verbal phrases that. Dangling and misplaced modifiers teaching resources. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. How to fix sentences that have dangling or misplaced modifiers. Each of the following sentences are either correct or incorrect. When you are finished, click on the check my work button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. The modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it is describing. Choose the option that has no misplaced or dangling modifier.
Remember that most modifiers come as close to their targets as possible. It is a word or phrase that qualifies modifies a word, phrase or clause. Dangling modifiers make unclear the meaning of a sentence. Sighing with sadness, the expensive shoes were returned to the salesman. A dangling modifier is misplaced because it does not have anything to modify. The phrase is therefore left dangling hanging loosely.
This is actually a reallife example of an ad with a modifier glitch. This mismatch occurs because the implied subject is missing. Usually present participles ing words that describe a noun are the culprit in dangling modifiers. Fortunately, correcting them is a simple matter, and the result is writing thats more concise and easier to read. The term dangling modifier refers to a word or phrase, usually at the start of a sentence, that does not connect properly to the rest of the sentence. These phrases are often found at the beginning of a sentence and are simply left dangling with no subject to modify. Modifiers are commonly used in academic writing, but can lead to confusion when the are not used. Watched by nearly a fifth of the worlds population, american astronauts neil armstrong and edwin buzz aldrin landed on the moon on july 20, 1969.
The issue with these is that the reader could misinterpret the sentence. The word or words a dangling modifier should modify have been omitted from the sentence. Modifiers are just what they sound likewords or phrases that modify something else. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies describes. The term may sound a bit unusual, but a dangling modifier is simply a word or phrase that modifies the wrong subject in a sentence.
Next, well discuss the second category, dangling modifiers. A modifier is a word or group of words that explains another word or group of words in a sentence. Thus, the subject she that the modifier nearing the end of the run is modifying is missing. Misplaced modifiers are clauses which are improperly placed in a sentence and confuse the sentences meaning. Worksheet 1 explains the concept of dangling and misplaced modifiers, including suggestions for correcting them. Improve your language arts knowledge with free questions in select the misplaced or dangling modifier and thousands of other language arts skills. Though he may well be able to learn while multitasking, it is not nearly as efficient as focusing only on studying.
Because of their dangling modifiers, these sentences wrongly imply that the hill rollerbladed frantically, that p. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 312, students explore brainpop features and resources to learn about misplaced modifiers, including dangling and squinting modifiers. Then they will exchange cartoons with a partner, and identify the intended and unintended meanings. A modifier a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in a sentence.
This lesson shows the definition of a modifier and a clause, as well as the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase often a participle or participial phrase that doesnt actually modify the word its intended to modify. Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that add detail or description to part of a sentence. A dangling modifier has no concrete or logical referent in the sentence to which it can attach itself and therefore is said to dangle it has nothing to modify. Start by reading the information provided for both misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. Because of this separation, the meaning of the sentence is often awkward, ridiculous, illogical, or confusing. Rewrite the following sentences to repair any dangling modifiers. If you are unsure which choice to make, consult the rules.
Misplaced and dangling modifiers worksheet for 7th 9th. This learning packet covers modifiers which are also called adjective phrases. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a modifier that lacks a word or group of words to modify. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections.
Duke university scientific writing resource is a collection of lessons, examples, worksheets, and further reading material. Jun 21, 2019 a dangling modifier is a word or phrase often a participle or participial phrase that doesnt actually modify the word its intended to modify. Dangling and misplaced modifiers texas state university. While dangling modifiers often result in sentences that cause a giggle, they also muddle a persons writing and make the writers meaning unclear. The majority of dangling modifiers are verb phrases that are not attached to the intended subject, if any. Examples of incorrect sentences are given, along with corrected versions to demonstrate how cleaning up this grammatical gaffe will strengthen your writing.