A modifier is a word or a word group that modifies or describes something in a sentence. Modifiers can be adjectives (which describe nouns and pronouns), adverbs (which describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs), prepositional phrases, ing or ed word groups, or dependent clauses.

The child wanted a red balloon

        (Red is an adjective modifying the noun balloon.)

The panther moved swiftly through the grass.

        (Swiftly is an adverb modifying the verb moved.)

The panther moved swiftly through the grass.

        (Through the grass is a prepositional phrase modifying the verb moved.)

The man in the yellow sweater is the thief.

        (In the yellow sweater is a prepositional phrase modifying the noun man. The phrase also contains an adjective, yellow, which is modifying the noun sweater.)

The woman flying that plane used to do search and rescue work in the Yukon.

        (Flying that plane is an ing word group modifying the noun woman.)

The clothing lines produced by some designers are very expensive.

        (Produced by some designers is an ed word group modifying the noun lines.)

Lester B. Pearson, who was Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968, was the first Canadian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

        (Who was Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968 is a dependent clause modifying the noun Lester B. Pearson.)

When you have finished with that book, may I borrow it?

        (When you have finished with that book is a dependent clause modifying the verb may borrow.)

There are two kinds of modifier errors that you need to be able to recognize and avoid: misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers.

Misplaced modifiers are modifiers that are in the wrong place in the sentence so that they are modifying the wrong word. For example, any word or word group modifying a noun or pronoun must be next to that noun or pronoun; if placed somewhere else in the sentence, the modifier will attach itself to the wrong word. Similarly, words or word groups modifying a verb will attach themselves to the closest verb, so care must be taken to ensure that they are not misplaced.

(a) Mother gave the cake to the homeless man that she had baked and iced yesterday.

    Here, the dependent clause that she had baked and iced yesterday is supposed to modify the noun cake; unfortunately, because of its placement, it attaches itself to the noun man. The solution is to reword the sentence so that the clause is next to cake.

Correction: Mother gave the homeless man the cake that she had baked and iced yesterday.

(b) We watched the tree come crashing down with bated breath.

    A tree cannot come crashing down with bated breath. The prepositional phrase with bated breath is meant to modify the verb watched but has been misplaced so that it attaches itself to the closer verb come. The solution is to move the modifier closer to the first verb.

Corrections: With bated breath, we watched the tree come crashing down.

We watched with bated breath as the tree came crashing down.

(c) Scurrying into the hole in the baseboard, Melissa spotted a tiny gray field mouse.

    Many modifiers placed at the beginning of the sentence will attach themselves to the subject of the sentence. In particular, ing and ed word groups at the beginning of a sentence are very often modifiers attached to the subject.

In this case, the writer meant that the field mouse was scurrying into the hole; however, because of its placement at the beginning of the sentence, the ing word group scurrying into the hole in the baseboard automatically attaches itself to the subject Melissa. The solution is to move the modifier next to the noun mouse.

Correction: Melissa spotted a tiny gray field mouse scurrying into the hole in the baseboard.

(d) Manufactured in Italy, Alan was delighted with the fine quality of the leather shoes.

    Unless Alan is a droid, he could not have been manufactured in Italy. The ed word group manufactured in Italy is mistakenly placed at the beginning of the sentence and therefore attaches itself to the subject Alan instead of the word shoes. The solution, once again, is to move the modifier next to the noun shoes.

Correction: Alan was delighted with the fine quality of the leather shoes manufactured in Italy.

Of course, if the sentence were differently worded, it might be correct to have the ing or ed word group at the beginning:

Dangling modifiers are modifiers that have no word to which they can be correctly attached. Very often, they are ing or ed word groups at the beginning of a sentence.

(a) Having leaped out of a second-story window, her leg was broken by the fall.

    A leg cannot leap out of a second-story window. This ing word group is modifying the subject leg when it should be modifying a noun such as girl or woman, which does not appear in the sentence.

Corrections:

Having leaped out of a second-story window, the girl suffered a broken leg in the fall.

(b) When opened, a snapshot fell out.

    A snapshot cannot be opened. The ed word group is modifying the subject snapshot when it should be modifying a word like envelope or book. In this case, the modifier needs to be reworded.

Corrections:

When the book was opened, a snapshot fell out.

When I opened the envelope, a snapshot fell out.

(c) In a red satin gown spangled with sequins, David was captivated by her beauty.

    David was probably not wearing a red satin gown spangled with sequins. This word group is modifying the subject David when it was intended to refer to the beautiful woman.

Correction:

Catching sight of Maria in a red satin gown spangled with sequins, David was captivated by her beauty.

Rewrite the following sentences to correct any misplaced or dangling modifiers. Two of the sentences are correct.

1. Jeff offered an apple to the horse that he had been carrying around in his pocket for two weeks.
2. Expecting a storm, we turned the boat around and headed for harbor.
3. I enjoyed watching the other passengers stretched out on a deck chair in my string bikini.
4. Speeding along the lane on my ten-speed bicycle, a herd of cows flashed by.
5. I strolled cheerfully along as the freight train roared past me without a care in the world.
6. After passing her grade 6 English exam, the teacher congratulated the pupil.
7. At the age of 24, my daughter was born.
8. Judges are giving stiffer penalties if caught driving while under the influence of alcohol.
9. Hoping to arrive early enough for lunch, Jason did not bring any food with him on the bus.
10. Frustrated by the lengthy delay, the honking of horns began to be heard.

Rewrite the following sentences to correct any misplaced or dangling modifiers. Two of the sentences are correct.

1. Jason and Paulette stood and watched as the deer bounded away, hand in hand.
2. Mark handed the book to the woman that he had found lying covered with dust under the sofa.
3. I watched as the tent collapsed, horrified by what I had done.
4. When visiting my relatives in Toronto, the train is very slow.
5. Travelling by plane over long distances is much faster than going by train.
6. Disgusted at the number of mistakes I had made, the exercise ended up in the wastebasket.
7. Dressed in cap and gown, the graduates filed onto the stage.
8. Babbling and chuckling while rushing along, I was soothed by the sound of the brook.
9. A man was escorted out by the security guard who was drunk and disorderly
10. After barking and growling fiercely, the letter carrier raced off in terror.

ANSWERS

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