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    Lecture 6 Misplaced Modifiers Students (Auto-Saved)

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    This document discusses misplaced modifiers and how to identify and fix them. [1] A misplaced modifier is when there is a separation between a word, phrase, or clause and the word it is intended to modify, which can make the sentence awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. [2] To fix a misplaced modifier, the general rule is to place the modifier as close as possible to the word it is meant to modify. [3] The document provides examples of misplaced modifiers involving adjectives, adverbs, phrases and clauses, and discusses how to identify and correct them.

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    Lecture 6 Misplaced Modifiers Students (Auto-Saved)

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    5 views14 pages
    This document discusses misplaced modifiers and how to identify and fix them. [1] A misplaced modifier is when there is a separation between a word, phrase, or clause and the word it is intended to modify, which can make the sentence awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. [2] To fix a misplaced modifier, the general rule is to place the modifier as close as possible to the word it is meant to modify. [3] The document provides examples of misplaced modifiers involving adjectives, adverbs, phrases and clauses, and discusses how to identify and correct them.

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    This document discusses misplaced modifiers and how to identify and fix them. [1] A misplaced modifier is when there is a separation between a word, phrase, or clause and the word it is intended to modify, which can make the sentence awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. [2] To fix a misplaced modifier, the general rule is to place the modifier as close as possible to the word it is meant to modify. [3] The document provides examples of misplaced modifiers involving adjectives, adverbs, phrases and clauses, and discusses how to identify and correct them.

    Copyright:

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    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    5 views14 pages

    Lecture 6 Misplaced Modifiers Students (Auto-Saved)

    Uploaded by

    To Tsz Wing
    This document discusses misplaced modifiers and how to identify and fix them. [1] A misplaced modifier is when there is a separation between a word, phrase, or clause and the word it is intended to modify, which can make the sentence awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. [2] To fix a misplaced modifier, the general rule is to place the modifier as close as possible to the word it is meant to modify. [3] The document provides examples of misplaced modifiers involving adjectives, adverbs, phrases and clauses, and discusses how to identify and correct them.

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    Misplaced Modifiers

    LENG201 Academic Reading and Writing II


    Modifiers
    • A working definition for the word “modify” is to
    change or to alter something. (eg. tall , short )

    • A modifier changes, clarifies, qualifies, or limits a


    particular word in a sentence in order to add emphasis,
    explanation, or detail.
    Modifiers
    1. Adjectives and adjective phrases 4. Dependent clauses
    A red car; a quickly-moving train We arrived after the crowds had
    left. ( more info about the time)
    2. Adverbs and adverb phrases
    Soon afterward, they cooked 5. Infinitive phrases
    dinner. We all helped to push the stalled
    car.
    3. prepositional phrases 6. participial phrases
    We walked to the store. We finally finished, helped by Sally.

    Time place statement


    時間 地點 程度 狀態
    Modifiers of Nouns
    A modifier may provide more information about a
    noun. More technically, they could be called
    “adjectivals”.
    • Hong Kong is an international city [single word].
    • Firms from all over the world establish offices in
    Hong Kong[phrase].
    • Only those applicants who have passed the English
    proficiency test will be shortlisted for a second
    interview [clause].
    Modifiers of Verbs
    Modifiers of Verbs-A modifier may provide more
    information about a verb. More technically, they
    could be called “adverbials”. -> help the verb
    • Having near-native English proficiency can greatly
    enhance your job prospects in today’s competitive
    job market [single word].
    • In this essay, we will analyse the status of English
    from multiple perspectives [phrase].
    Modifiers: Only
    Misplaced Modifiers

    • A misplaced modifier means that there is a separation of


    space between the word, phrase, or clause and the modifier.
    When a modifier is misplaced, the meaning of your
    sentence becomes awkward, ridiculous, or confusing:
    Eg 1a. She wore a bicycle helmet on her head that was too
    large.
    Eg 1b. She wore a bicycle helmet that was too large on
    her head.
    Eg 2a. The patient was referred to the physician with
    stomach pains.
    Eg 2b. The patient with stomach pains was referred to the
    physician.
    Misplaced Modifiers
    Beside the modifiers
    Fixing a Misplaced Modifier
    • When fixing a misplaced modifier, the general rule
    is to get the modifier as close as possible to the
    word or phrase it is modifying.
    How Does a Misplaced Modifier Look in a
    Sentence? (adjectives)
    • On her way to work, Elaine saw the silver woman’s
    earring laying on the park bench.
    This sentence implies that there is a silver woman who left her earring on
    the park bench, not that the earring itself is silver.
    • On her way to work, Elaine saw the woman’s silver
    earring laying on the park bench.
    Now the earring is silver instead of the woman.
    How Does a Misplaced Modifier Look in a
    Sentence? (adjectives)
    • Try it…
    The stolen man’s wallet was placed on the police
    department’s counter.

    Think about what was stolen – the man


    or the wallet?
    • Answer:
    The man’s stolen wallet was placed on the police
    department’s counter.
    How Does a Misplaced Modifier Look in a
    Sentence? (adverbs)
    • We drove off in the car we had just bought quickly.
    Did we buy the car quickly, or did we drive
    the car quickly?
    • We quickly drove off in the car we had just bought.
    Okay! We must have made a great deal and
    were afraid the dealership would change its
    mind!
    How Does a Misplaced Modifier Look in a
    Sentence? (phrases/clauses)
    •I chased the balloon running down the
    street.
    Who was running – you or the
    balloon?

     Running down the street, I chased the


    balloon.
    Simple Modifiers that Indicate Number…

    • Simple modifiers like only, almost, just, nearly, and


    barely often get used incorrectly because writers
    often stick them in the wrong place.
    • Almost and nearly mean close to
    • Nouns can be counted; verbs cannot be counted, so
    these words should be close to the noun.
    • For example: He nearly swam for an hour.
    • How can somebody nearly swim? Is he in the water, or is
    he on dry land?

    He swam for nearly an hour

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