Refer to discovery, 324327, for additional practice. Sometimes writers use modifiers incorrectly, leading to strange and unintentionally humorous sentences. Misplaced modifier displaying top 8 worksheets found for misplaced modifier. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i. When you are finished, hit the check my work button at the bottom of the page to check your answers. A modifier is a word or phrase which limits the meaning of another word. Misplaced modifiers can alter the meaning of a sentence, and take away from a writers intended message. Exercise c most of the following sentences contain a misplaced or a dangling modifier. Jun 18, 2017 a misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that doesnt clearly relate to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. A squinting modifier is a special type of misplacement referring both to what precedes and what follows it.
The modifier is in the wrong position relative to what it should be affecting 2. Misplaced modifiers are words or phrases that do not clearly point to the word or phrase they. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 9th grade lesson planet. The woman was stopped for speeding in the green sweater.
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause. They provide additional information and can make a sentence much more interesting. Correcting mistakes exercise 1 dear stephanie how are you. Use the reference sheet and activity to show middle schoolers how to edit confusing sentences with misplaced modifiers. I almost saw the whole movie, but i fell asleep towards the end of it.
Middle schoolers identify modifiers in sentences and label them as either dangling or misplaced. Modifiers are words, phrases, and clauses that affect and often enhance the meaning of a sentence. No one can shoot anything on this property except the owner. Correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers pdf documents. In addition, it explains how misplaced modifiers can change the meaning of a sentence. In the blank beside each sentence, indicate whether that sentence contains a dangling modifier dm or a. Misplaced and dangling modifiers university of lynchburg. Misplaced modifiers exercises the vehicle was parked on the front lawn of the starr residence with a slightly flat tire. Improve your language arts knowledge with free questions in misplaced modifiers with pictures and thousands of other language arts skills.
This correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers pdf documents worksheet is suitable for 7th grade. Confusing clear mary got into the police car wearing a wrinkled skirt. Recognize and correct the following kinds of misplacement. Phrases generally modify the subject that they appear closest to. When modifiers are used correctly, the meaning of the sentence is clear. Adjectives and adverbs are the most common types of modifiers, but there are others. A modifier is a word or phrase that explains or describes other words in a sentence. In prescriptive grammar, misplaced modifiers are usually regarded as errors.
Misplaced modifiers worksheet write c if the modifier is correctly placed. Illustrated misplaced modifier examples to make you smile. Then, in the mm sentences, circle the modifier and draw an arrow to show where it should go. Misplaced modifiers introductory project because of misplaced words, each of the sentences below has more than one possible meaning. The singer is the person who forgot the microphone was on.
Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, moms pristine birthday cake caught desmonds attention. Modifiers can include the present participle of a verb ing or the past. If it doesnt the modifier dangles from hacker, diana. While nouns and verbs give the sentence their main structure by telling what the sentence is about and what is happening, modifiers add interest by describing the nouns. Misplaced modifiers worksheet for 6th 9th grade lesson. Most commonly, misplaced modifiers are funny because the modifiers describe the wrong element in the.
But again, modifiers can come in the form of phrases and clauses that act like adjectives and. In this show, well explore the world of misplaced prepositional phrases, a kind of misplaced modifier. Get a good laugh with misplaced modifiers bka content. Using what they learn, students will create misplaced modifier cartoons. English grammar exercise dangling modifiers 1 identifying. 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. Having learned spanish in just three months, the stay in mexico was a success. Sep 04, 2009 it refers to a phrase or clause that acts on something other than what the writer intended. Dangling modifiers clarifying prepositional phrases what to do with a misplaced modifier how to avoid modifier.
Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, desmond saw moms pristine birthday cake. This is a practice quiz over problems with modifiers. It occurs when the modifier has no clear referent, often causing confusion and twisting the meaning of words in an unintended fashion. Check your answers with the interactive version of the exercise. September 4, 2009 general grammar grammar girl here.
The man was stopped for speeding in the blue sweater. I almost saw the whole movie, but i fell asleep around midnight. A misplaced modifier is a phrase, clause, or word that is incorrectly separated from the word it modifies. The curious case of the misplaced modifier this podcast was written by bonnie trenga, author of the curious case of the misplaced modifier, who blogs at sentencesleuth. 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. 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. Always put a modifier as close as you can to the word the modifier describes. Smoking my cigar, a fire engine came roaring around the corner.
I came in london two weeks ago for to study at a language school. Mark lester and larry beason point out that misplaced modifiers do not make sentences ungrammatical. Using modifiers correctly will improve the clarity of your work. When a modifier is misplaced, it becomes difficult to tell which words it describes. Modifiers can include the present participle of a verb ing or the past participle of a verb ed. I will say, remember successful writers know how to recognize dangling and misplaced modifiers by editing their sentences and using examples of incorrect and revised sentences to assist them. Editing our writing for dangling modifiers betterlesson. The light bulb turned on for more students after i showed them a physical example of a dangling modifier. In the second sentence, its clear who was wearing the wrinkled skirt. Ixl misplaced modifiers with pictures 7th grade language arts. A modifier is a phrase or clause that describes something. However, when a modifying clause is placed awkwardly in a sentence, it may refer to an unintended word. This worksheet explains what a modifier is, and then it gives examples and practice identifying them. Then, on the line provided, revise each sentence so that it is clear and correct.
The simplest form of a modifier would be an adjective or adverb. According to laurie kirszner and stephen mandell in the sixth edition of writing first, a modifier is a word or word group that identifies or describes another word or word group in a sentence. Rewrite each sentence, moving the misplaced modifier to its correct position. Desmond, sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, saw moms pristine birthday cake c. Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, desmond saw moms pristine birthday. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence. In english, modifiers are placed immediately before or after the words they describe. We can limit the applicability of this phrase by introducing various modifiers into it. Students then have to pick the correct sentences that do not have misplaced modifiers. The sugar bowl was full of quarters that had been saved for a rainy day.
If you would like the answers to all the worksheets total of 20 different topics, along with tips on teaching or learning every topic, get the answers with teaching tips to every worksheet, a total of 208 pages of grammar, usage, and writing style exercises, with answers and. Shaken, not stirred, james bond likes his martinis. First, identify the misplaced or dangling modifier. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 312, students explore brainpop features and resources to learn about misplaced modifiers, including dangling and squinting modifiers. Modifiers offer detail that can make a sentence more engaging, clearer, or specific. Rewrite each sentence to eliminate any misplaced or dangling participles. Illustrated misplaced modifier examples to make you smile everyone knows that misplaced modifier examples can be hilarious, thanks to a certain invasive elephant.
Determine whether the sentences below contain misplaced or dangling modifiers. This presentation is brought to you by grammar bytes. 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. Choose the sentence in which the modifiers are correctly placed. He sat very quietly, rolling his eyes in his chair. Most modifiers are either adjectival these modify nouns or adverbial these modify verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
Quia practice quiz dangling and misplaced modifiers. Modifiers describe, specify, or limit the meanings of other words. Draw a line under the dangling modifier in each of the following sentences. Unlike many other students, jim didnt have any problems with his teachers. The powerpoint provides several examples for mastery and later for students to identify. Misplaced modifiers english practice learn and practice. Avoiding misplaced modifiers is essential to good grammar and concise writing. Misplacedanddanglingmodifiers 5 dangling modifier worksheet directions. Unlike many other students, the financial aid office did not approve his application. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that doesnt clearly relate to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. Modifiers worksheet 7 common problems and confusing. Misplaced modifiers are important to be aware of in order to avoid them, and this quizworksheet will help you test your understanding of their problems and.
Wearing a wrinkled skirt, mary got into the police car. Having learned french in just three months, paul was as happy as he could be. The children attended the public school wearing uniforms. In each case, see if you can explain both the intended meaning and the unintended meaning.
In the mm sentences, rewrite the sentences correctly. 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 are usually introductory word groups such as verbal phrases that suggest but do not name an actor. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence. 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. When a sentence opens with such a modifier, readers expect the following clause to name the actor. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. Its clear that theyre funny, but its high time we address the elephant in the room or in the pajamas. A modifier is a phrase or word meant to describe or explain part of a sentence. 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. When modifiers are used incorrectly the meaning of the sentence can change drastically.
The bus station was located by a river which was made of red brick. This misplaced modifiers worksheet is suitable for 6th 9th grade. This could mean that the modifier is in the wrong place in the sentence or that the word the modifier should describe is omitted from the sentence. Then they will exchange cartoons with a partner, and identify the intended and unintended meanings. Practice 1 revising sentences with misplaced modifiers a m ong th esc ip l ad f r p rep o sitio n a l p h ra ses, p a rticip ia l p h ra ses, a n d a d jective cla u ses. James outside three rivers stadium on the night of the raid on charges of marijuana possession. Nguyen returned her perfect calculus test with an eartoear grin. The two common types of modifier errors are called misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers. Today guestwriter bonnie trenga is going to help us take a break from serious grammar and instead delve into the world of comedysome intentional, some not. Saved for a rainy day, the sugar bowl was full of quarters. 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.
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