What Are Misplaced Modifiers?

Although a modifier helps add color and vibrancy to a sentence, it can cause serious
problems in communication when not correctly used – rather not appropriately placed. It’s
important that a modifier stays close to the word or words it describes or adds details to. A
misplaced modifier is a modifier put in the wrong place. Most of the time, it happens when
a modifier is placed too far from the word or words it seeks to describe or modify.
Example 1
Maya nearly spent all day trying to solve the puzzle. (Incorrect).
The misplaced modifier in this sentence is nearly. It appears to modify the verb spent,
which is not what the writer wants to do. The problem is we can’t nearly spend
something; we either spend it or don’t spend it at all. Now take a look at the below
version of the sentence:
Maya spent nearly all day trying to solve the puzzle. (Correct)
The meaning is clear as it says Maya spent nearly every hour of the day trying to figure
out the answer to the problem.
Example 2
Bradley only speaks French; nobody else in the class does. (Incorrect)
The word "only" is the misplaced modifier here. The impression that the sentence
leaves is Bradley only speaks and doesn’t write or read French, which reading the rest
of the sentence it’s clear is not the case.
Only Bradley speaks French; nobody else in the class does. (Correct)
This time, the sentence has the modifier "only" correctly placed next to the word it
modifies – Bradley. So it clearly expresses the meaning that it was originally expected
to.
Example 3
Only Bradley speaks French; he can’t read or write it. (Incorrect)
Once again, we have a sentence that has its modifier placed very far from the word it
intends to describe. The modifier "only" is not where it should be.
Bradley only speaks French; he can’t read or write it. (Correct)
With the modifier in the right place, the sentence is now easy to understand. Bradley
can only speak French, and he cannot read or write it. In other words, Bradley’s ability
in the language is limited to speaking and doesn’t include reading or writing.
Example 4
The Bells returned the mobile to the store that didn’t work. (Incorrect)
In yet another instance of clear misplacement of a modifier, we have the adjective
clause "that didn’t work" placed too far from the word it is expected to modify. We
know that it’s not the store that is not working here, but it’s the mobile that the writer
says the Bells returned as it was not working.
The Bells returned the mobile that didn’t work to the store. (Correct)
The modifier "that didn’t work" is now placed close to the word it modifies –mobile.
So, we have no problem understanding the meaning
 Exercise 1
On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the following sentences to correct the misplaced modifiers.

1.The young lady was walking the dog on the telephone.

2.I heard that there was a robbery on the evening news.
3.Uncle Louie bought a running stroller for the baby that he called “Speed Racer.”
4.Rolling down the mountain, the explorer stopped the boulder with his powerful foot.
5.We are looking for a babysitter for our precious six-year-old who doesn’t drink or smoke and owns a
car.
6.The teacher served cookies to the children wrapped in aluminum foil.
7.The mysterious woman walked toward the car holding an umbrella.
8.We returned the wine to the waiter that was sour.
9.Charlie spotted a stray puppy driving home from work.
10. I ate nothing but a cold bowl of noodles for dinner.
What Are Dangling Modifiers?
The verb "dangle" means to hang or swing loosely. A dangling modifier is a modifier
that adds details to a word not clearly stated in a sentence. It just dangles – swings
loosely – there. The problem is many English language users speak or write sentences
with dangling modifiers unintentionally. To closely check who does the action is the
key here, which we will now discuss in detail.

Examples of Dangling Modifiers

Example 1
Having finished dinner, a game of tag was started. (Incorrect)
Who eats dinner: the game of tag or the people? The game never eats food, does it? It's
the people who do. The sentence is constructed in such a way that the reader – the
reader who knows a dangling modifier – can't help laughing at its unintended humor.
Having finished dinner, we started a game of tag. (Correct)
Now that the subject – we – is clearly stated, there is no confusion. In other words, the
sentence means we had dinner and then played a game of tag.
Example 2
Back from a day of tiring work, sitting on the couch was very comfortable. (Incorrect)
The sentence makes no sense as it's not clear who is back from work. It looks as
though the couch had gone working and is now back home.
Back from a day of tiring work, Dad found sitting on the couch very comfortable.
(Correct)
The modifier “back from work” is no longer dangling as it’s clearly stated who is back
from work – Dad.
Dad had a tiring day at work. When he came back home, he sat on the couch, which he
found very comfortable.

How to Fix a Dangling Modifier

Although a dangling modifier is something that affects the clarity of a sentence, students
need not trip up. There are a few ways to correct it.

Name the Doer as the Subject of the Main Clause

A dangling modifier occurs when the sentence contains no word that the idea in the
modifier can be attributed to. So an instant solution is to write the word or words that
denote the real doer of the action in the modifier phrase as the subject of the main clause.
Example:
Sitting in the fast-moving train, the things outside were moving rapidly in the opposite
direction.
The action in the modifier phrase "sitting in the fast-moving train" is "sitting". Who is
sitting? According to this sentence, it’s the things outside that are sitting, which we
know is not the case. Now, read the sentence through and figure out who might be
actually sitting. There must be someone who is sitting although it is not stated in the
sentence. Try correcting the sentence as follows:
Sitting in the fast-moving train, we found the things outside moving rapidly in the
opposite direction.
The main clause now clearly states the real doer – we – who did the action in the
modifier phrase, which is “sitting in the fast-moving train”.

Change the Phrase into a Subordinate Clause

Often the source of confusion is the introductory phrase that contains the dangling
modifier. So by converting this phrase into a subordinate/dependent clause, the issue can
be addressed. Now the sentence will become a complex sentence where the first clause –
the subordinate clause – will name the doer of the action as a part of it.
Example:
While taking a shower, the soap fell on the floor. (Incorrect)
 Who was taking a shower? According to this sentence, it is the soap that is taking the
shower, which we know is not true. Now try correcting the sentence by applying the
second technique in it. Convert the introductory phrase "while taking a shower" into a
subordinate clause. Remember although a subordinate clause is not a complete
sentence, it still has a subject and verb. Take a look at the below sentence:
While Benjamin was taking a shower, the soap fell on the floor. (Correct)
The newly introduced dependent clause "while Benjamin was taking a shower", which
originally was "while taking a shower", a phrase, helps solve the problem. The
sentence now doesn’t contain a dangling modifier.

Exercise 2
Rewrite the following the sentences onto your own sheet of paper to correct the dangling modifiers.

1.Bent over backward, the posture was very challenging.

2.Making discoveries about new creatures, this is an interesting time to be a biologist.
3.Walking in the dark, the picture fell off the wall.
4.Playing a guitar in the bedroom, the cat was seen under the bed.
5.Packing for a trip, a cockroach scurried down the hallway.
6.While looking in the mirror, the towel swayed in the breeze.
7.While driving to the veterinarian’s office, the dog nervously whined.
8.The priceless painting drew large crowds when walking into the museum.
9.Piled up next to the bookshelf, I chose a romance novel.
10. Chewing furiously, the gum fell out of my mouth.

Exercise 3
Rewrite the following paragraph correcting all the misplaced and dangling modifiers.
I bought a fresh loaf of bread for my sandwich shopping in the grocery store. Wanting to make a delicious sandwich,
the mayonnaise was thickly spread. Placing the cold cuts on the bread, the lettuce was placed on top. I cut the sandwich
in half with a knife turning on the radio. Biting into the sandwich, my favorite song blared loudly in my ears. Humming
and chewing, my sandwich went down smoothly. Smiling, my sandwich will be made again, but next time I will add
cheese.