clear reference weak reference misplaced and dangling modifiers “never let your modifiers...
TRANSCRIPT
Clear ReferenceClear ReferenceWeak ReferenceWeak Reference
Misplaced and Dangling Misplaced and Dangling ModifiersModifiers
““Never let your modifiers dangle.” Never let your modifiers dangle.” – Mr. McGowan– Mr. McGowan
English 3English 3
What is unclear about these What is unclear about these sentences?sentences?
Mike talked to Steve while he was Mike talked to Steve while he was away.away.
The storm began at midnight. That The storm began at midnight. That made driving difficult.made driving difficult.
We went to the movies. It was great!We went to the movies. It was great!
Clearer sentencesClearer sentences
While Steve was away, he talked to While Steve was away, he talked to Mike.Mike.
The storm that began at midnight The storm that began at midnight made driving difficult.made driving difficult.
We went to the movies. It was a We went to the movies. It was a great time. I ditched my date and great time. I ditched my date and went off with my friends.went off with my friends.
Weak ReferenceWeak Reference
In New York they have the best In New York they have the best Sicilian pizza.Sicilian pizza.
On our trip to Washington, we visited On our trip to Washington, we visited the White House, which made our the White House, which made our trip memorable.trip memorable.
I like lacrosse, but I’ve never been to I like lacrosse, but I’ve never been to one.one.
Stronger referencesStronger references
New York restaurants have the best New York restaurants have the best Sicilian pizza.Sicilian pizza.
Visiting the White House on our trip Visiting the White House on our trip to Washington made our trip to Washington made our trip memorable.memorable.
I like lacrosse, but I’ve never been to I like lacrosse, but I’ve never been to a game.a game.
Dangling and Misplaced ModifiersDangling and Misplaced Modifiers
A short story… (perhaps true)A short story… (perhaps true)
A woman hired a hitman to get rid of her A woman hired a hitman to get rid of her husband. husband.
On the day before he was supposed to do On the day before he was supposed to do the deed, he met with her in the park. the deed, he met with her in the park.
She slipped him an envelope with the money She slipped him an envelope with the money in it and says "Kill the man in the in it and says "Kill the man in the Mercedes with an American flag."Mercedes with an American flag."
It puzzled the hitman why she wants him to It puzzled the hitman why she wants him to
use an American Flag to kill her husband use an American Flag to kill her husband but, he was hired to do a job and he but, he was hired to do a job and he decided he would do it no matter how decided he would do it no matter how absurd it seemed. absurd it seemed.
The next morning, he receives a call from The next morning, he receives a call from the angry wife. She accuses him of not the angry wife. She accuses him of not doing the job.doing the job.
He replies, "I don't know what you are He replies, "I don't know what you are talking about! I dropped him and the flag I talking about! I dropped him and the flag I killed him with in the river! It's not killed him with in the river! It's not possible for him to be alive."possible for him to be alive."
She pauses and then asks, "Why would She pauses and then asks, "Why would you kill him with an American Flag?”you kill him with an American Flag?”
"I thought it was weird, too, but, you "I thought it was weird, too, but, you said 'Kill the man in the black said 'Kill the man in the black Mercedes with an American Flag' so, Mercedes with an American Flag' so, I snuck up on the black Mercedes I snuck up on the black Mercedes and choked the man inside with an and choked the man inside with an American Flag." American Flag."
The woman sighs then replies, "No, I The woman sighs then replies, "No, I
didn't want you to kill him didn't want you to kill him withwith an an American Flag! The car my husband American Flag! The car my husband drives has an American Flag across drives has an American Flag across the back windshield!" the back windshield!"
Apparently there was a different black Apparently there was a different black Mercedes without an American flag Mercedes without an American flag in the window. in the window.
That poor guy was a victim of a That poor guy was a victim of a misplaced modifier.misplaced modifier.
What makes these sentences What makes these sentences unclear?unclear?
After trying the combination several After trying the combination several times, the lock finally opened. times, the lock finally opened.
Disappointed that vacation would Disappointed that vacation would soon end, September came all too soon end, September came all too quickly. quickly.
He went to the library wearing a He went to the library wearing a leather jacket. leather jacket.
I found my missing baseball glove I found my missing baseball glove cleaning my room. cleaning my room.
Many people watched the Fourth of Many people watched the Fourth of
July fireworks in their cars. July fireworks in their cars. I sent a poster to Mom rolled in a I sent a poster to Mom rolled in a
tube. tube. At the back of the refrigerator, I At the back of the refrigerator, I
noticed a yellow apple. noticed a yellow apple. Having been thrown in the air, the Having been thrown in the air, the
dog caught the stick .dog caught the stick .
Misplaced…Misplaced…
The officer left to fight with his The officer left to fight with his troops. troops.
She could not explain why she She could not explain why she wanted to get married to her mother. wanted to get married to her mother.
After letting out a bang, I had to fix After letting out a bang, I had to fix the ignition on my car. the ignition on my car.
Fix misplaced modifiersFix misplaced modifiers
The officer left with his troops to The officer left with his troops to fight.fight.
She could not explain to her mother She could not explain to her mother why she wanted to get married.why she wanted to get married.
After my car let out a bang, I had to After my car let out a bang, I had to fix the ignition. fix the ignition.
AssignmentAssignment
Classwork: Problems in Pronoun Classwork: Problems in Pronoun Reference A and BReference A and B
HW: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers- HW: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers- rewrite sentences so they are clearrewrite sentences so they are clear