review misplaced modifiers
TRANSCRIPT
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Misplaced Modifiers
A Review with Practice
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Simple Modifiers
Go directly in front of the noun being modified.
awesome websitemodifier
noun
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Complex Modifiers
Phrases and clauses go directly after (and sometimes before) the noun being modified.
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Prepositional PhrasesThe man sat under the palm tree with a suntan.
Do palm trees tan? NO!
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Complex Example
palm tree with a suntannoun
modifier
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Misplaced Modifiers
Modifiers need to be in the correct location regarding to intended noun or noun phrase.When they are not, confusion occurs.
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PracticeIn a wheel chair, the nurse sat next to the patient.
The nurse is in the same wheelchair as the patient!
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Practice
The nurse sat next to the patient in a wheel chair.
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PracticeRoss was a teenager with a cast on his leg weighing 120 pounds.
His leg weighed 120 pounds! Yikes!
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PracticeRoss was a teenager weighing 120 pounds with a cast on his leg.
OrRoss was a 120 pound teenager with a cast on his leg.
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Present ParticiplesJennifer called her adorable kitten opening the can of tuna and filled the food bowl.
How is the cat opening the food?
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Complex Example
kitten opening the cannoun
modifier
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PracticeNeeding treatment, Dr. Lu examined the patient.
The doctor needs the treatment? Yikes!
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PracticeDr. Lu examined the patient needing treatment.
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PracticeI saw a mouse going to our class meeting.
Mice don’t usually come to class, at least not in Mrs. C’s classroom!
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PracticeGoing to our class meeting, I saw a mouse.
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Past Participle PhrasesPortia rushed to the store loaded with cash to buy the birthday gift.
How is the store loaded with cash?
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Complex Example
store loaded with cashnoun
modifier
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Practice
Called rhetorical modes, essay writing has many various forms.Essay writing isn’t called rhetorical modes; it’s called essay writing.
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Practice
Essay writing has many various forms called Rhetorical Modes.
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PracticeRetrieved from the Moon, NASA has many interesting rocks.
NASA wasn’t on the moon! Yikes!
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PracticeNASA has many interesting rocks retrieved from the Moon.
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Limiting Modifiers
almost justnearly simply even hardlymerely onlyPLACEMENT CHANGES
MEANING!
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Explain the meaning:Everyone in the class almost passed the calculus exam.
Few passed!
Almost everyone in the class passed the calculus exam.
Many passed!
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Explain the meaning:John earned
nearly $100.
He earned $98.
John nearly earned $100.
He earned nothing.
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Practice
Christie almost sneezed fifteen times last evening.
How many times did Christie sneeze?
NONE!
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Dangling ModifiersHaving finished dinner, the football game was turned on.
Who finished dinner?
Football games don’t eat! Yikes!
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Dangling ModifiersHaving finished dinner, I turned on the football game.
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PracticeWalking up Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building came into view.
Buildings don’t usually go for a walk except in the movies!
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PracticeWhile we were walking up Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building came into view.
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Correct the Modifier Problem
While working as a ranger in a
National Park, a Florida panther crossed in front ofmy SUV one night.
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A Florida panther crossed inFront of my SUV one night while I was working as a rangerin a National Park.
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Correct the Modifier Problem
I relaxed on the mat wearing
My Hawaiian shirt and shorts.
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Wearing my Hawaiian shirt and
Shorts, I relaxed on the mat.
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Correct the Modifier Problem
I replaced a tile on the floorthat was loose.
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I replaced a tile that wasloose on the floor.
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Correct the Modifier Problem
Jerry stepped on the snake without any shoes on.
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Without any shoes on, Jerry stepped on the snake.
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Correct the Modifier Problem
I bought the used television from a friend with a broken antennae.
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I bought the used television with a broken antennae from a friend.
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Correct the Modifier Problem
The robin built a nest at theback of our house of grass
andstring.
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The robin built a nest of grass
and string at the back of our house.
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Correct the Modifier Problem
Climbing a tree the other day, I saw a monkey at the zoo.
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I saw a monkey climbing a tree
at the zoo the other day.
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Correct the Modifier Problem
Sam bought a used car from a local dealer with a smoky tailpipe.
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Sam bought a used car with a
smoky tailpipe from a local dealer.
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For More InformationEmail Mrs. C
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