English 1301 -- Modifiers -- Mr. Castillo

ENGLISH 1301 - MODIFIERS - Mr. Castillo

MODIFIERS add detail, so the modifier must be as close as possible tothe word(s) described.

Examples: the red wagon

the broken glass

the running water

the confessed killer

the tools in the drawer

the boxes which had been scattered

If the modifier is misused, two modifier errors can occur:

ERROR 1:
MISPLACED MODIFIER:

when the modifier is misplaced in the sentence and thus modifies the wrong word

MISPLACED: The police found the gun in the dumpster which was used in the crime.

*To correct the error, move the modifier as close as possible to the word(s) modified.

CORRECTED: In the dumpster, the police found the gun which had been used in the crime.

*Be sure that your modifier is placed where you intend to place it.

He almost earned $50. (He did not earn anything.)

He earned almost $50.(He did earn an amount close to $50.)

ERROR 2:
DANGLING MODIFIER:

when the modifier has no word(s) to modify in the sentence

DANGLING: Walkinq across the bridge, the sunset was beautiful.

(Who was walking across the bridge? What does walking across the bridge modify?)

*To correct the error add to the sentence so that the modifier has aword or words to modify.

CORRECTED: As the tourists were walking across the bridge, the sunset was beautiful.

CORRECTED: Walking across the bridge, the hikers thought the sunset was beautiful.

CORRECTED: The sunset was beautiful to the lovers walking across the bridge.

*When you revise your paper, check your modifiers. Move modifiers that are misplaced and rewrite modifiers that are dangling