Modifiers errors

A modifier is a word or a phrase that provides additional information about a word or a phrase. When a modifier is misplaced or is made up of an incomplete phrase it leads to an error. There are three types of errors that can result in the improper use of modifiers:

Misplaced modifier, Squinting modifier and Dangling modifier.
MISPLACED MODIFIER

When a modifier is misplaced or located in the wrong position in a sentence it modifies the wrong word or phrase. This leads to a change in the meaning of the sentence.

Example:

* Incorrect: The poor boy was playing with a street dog in ragged clothes.

Correct: The poor boy in ragged clothes was playing with a street dog.

In the above example, the prepositional phrase “in ragged clothes’’ modifies the phrase ‘a street dog’ by virtue of being placed immediately next to it. This gives the impression that the ‘street dog’ is wearing ragged clothes. The correct way to construct the sentence is to place the prepositional phrase (modifier) “in ragged clothes” next to the phrase ‘the poor boy’ so that the reader understands that it was ‘the poor boy’ who was ‘in ragged clothes’ and not the dog.

Example:

* Incorrect: The train almost halted for two hours at the station.

In the above example, the adverb ‘almost’ modifies the verb ‘halted’ and suggests a different meaning. The sentence tells us that the train did not halt at the station at all. If we intend to say that the train halted for two hours, then the correct way of stating the sentence is:

The train halted for almost two hours at the station.

Misplaced modifier errors are usually found in case of adverbs and prepositional phrases
MISPLACED ADVERBS.

Modifying adverbs should be placed close to the words/phrases they modify. If not, they change the meaning of the sentences. Adverbs of degree like: almost, hardly, even, just, nearly and only should be placed immediately before the words/phrases they modify.

Example:

* Incorrect: I almost missed the entire dance competition.

Correct: I missed almost the entire dance competition.

In the above example, the first sentence suggests that I was about to miss the competition but did not miss it. The second sentence states that I missed most of the competition.

Example:

* Incorrect: Raj just met one coconut seller on the street.

Correct: Raj met just one coconut seller on the street.

The first sentence states that Raj met one coconut seller a moment ago. The second statement says that there was only one coconut seller on the street.

Example:

* Incorrect: The president only discussed the new policies with the foreign investors.

Correct: The president discussed only the new policies with the foreign investors.

The first sentence says that the President only discussed and did not come to any conclusion on the policies. The second sentence says that only the new policies were discussed and no other issues were discussed.
MISPLACED PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

Prepositional phrases function as adjectives and adverbs.

When prepositional phrases are misplaced, they change the meaning of the sentence.

Example:

· Incorrect: The priest lighted the pyre in white clothes.

Correct: The priest in white clothes lighted the pyre.

The misplaced prepositional phrase in the above example modifies the noun ‘pyre’ and acts as an adjective which changes the meaning of the sentence.

The sentence can be repaired by placing the prepositional phrase next to the word that it is supposed to modify.

2. When there is more than one clause in a sentence, the prepositional phrase should be placed close to the verb it modifies.

Example:Incorrect: I went to the school where I met my new teacher in a bus.

Correct: I went in a bus to the school where I met my new teacher.

In the above example, the prepositional phrase ‘in a bus’ is close to the verb met. Therefore, it changes the meaning of the sentence. It seems that I met the teacher in a bus, rather than in the school.

The sentence can be repaired by placing the adverb prepositional phrase close to the verb (went) it modifies.
SQUINTING MODIFIER

In cases where the location of an adverb in a sentence containing more than one clause is such that it is difficult to say which clause/phrase the adverb modifies; it is called a squinting modifier because it looks like it modifies both the clauses.

Example:

· My mother promised after our relocation she would take me to Disney Land.

In the above example, the adverb prepositional phrase ‘after our relocation’ is a squinting modifier. It can be interpreted in two ways.

Interpretation 1: After we had relocated, my mother promised that she would take me to Disney Land.

For the first interpretation, the phrase ‘after our relocation’ modifies the preceding verb ‘promised’. That is, we had already relocated.

Interpretation 2: My mother promised that after we were relocated, she would take me to Disney Land.

For the second interpretation, the phrase ‘after our relocation’ modifies the verb ‘would take’. That is, my mother is making a promise about what she would do if and when we were relocated.

Example:

· People who exercise often will have a healthy life.

In the above example, the adverb ‘often’ is a squinting modifier which can be interpreted in two ways.

Interpretation 1: Those people who often exercise are the ones who will have a healthy life. (often modifies the verb ‘exercise’)

Interpretation 2: People will often have a healthy life when they exercise. (often modifies the verb ‘will have’)
DANGLING MODIFIER

A modifier that is not grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence is a dangling modifier.

Example:

· Having walked all day, my clothes were drenched in sweat.

In the above example, the phrase having walked all day does not have a subject. The only subject found in the second part of the sentence is ‘clothes’ which cannot be performing an action (drenching in sweat). Therefore, the phrase ‘having walked all day’ is a dangling modifier. It does not connect grammatically with the sentence. It seems to dangle.

A sentence with a dangling modifier can be pointed out with a few steps:

the subject of the main clause at the beginning of the modifying phrase.

' v:shapes="_x0000_i1041"> change the verb in the modifying phrase so that it agrees with the subject.

If the subject and the modifying phrase do not relate to each other, it is a case of a dangling modifier.

Example:

· Having walked all day, my clothes were drenched in sweat.

My clothes (subject of main clause)

My clothes having walked all day (subject placed at the beginning of the modifying phrase)

My clothes walked all day (the verb in the modifying phrase agrees with the subject)

In the above example, the end result is ‘my clothes walked all day’ which is thus a dangling modifier.

Example:

· To excuse from classes, my mother wrote a note to the teacher.

By repeating the above mentioned process we get, ‘My mother to be excused from classes’. Mother is not to be excused. Her son/daughter is to be excused.

Thus, the phrase ‘to excuse from classes’ is a dangling modifier.

The sentences can be repaired in two ways:

· changing a part of the main clause

· changing a part of the modifier.

Examples:

· Incorrect: Having walked all day, my clothes were drenched in sweat.

Correct: As I walked all day, my clothes were drenched in sweat.

· Incorrect: To be excused from class, my mother wrote a note to the teacher.

Correct: To be excused from class, I told my mother to write a note to the teacher.

Correct: So that I may be excused from class, my mother wrote a note to the teacher.
DANGLING PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

Examples:

· Incorrect: Playing along the beach, the sand slipped under our feet.

Correct: As we played along the beach, the sand slipped under our feet.

Correct: Playing along the beach, we felt the sand slipping under our feet.

The participial phrase ‘playing along the beach’ implies that the sand was playing.
DANGLING GERUND PHRASES

Examples:

· Incorrect: After delivering a lecture on time management, the class was concluded.

Correct: After the principal delivered a lecture on time management, the class was concluded.

Correct: After delivering a lecture on time management, the principal concluded the class.

The gerund phrase ‘after delivering a lecture on time management’ seems to be modifying the phrase ‘the class’. This is because the subject is missing.
DANGLING INFINITIVE PHRASES

Examples:

· Incorrect: To become a good worker, sincerity is required.

Correct: If you want to become a good worker, you require sincerity.

Correct: To become a good worker, you will require sincerity.

In the above example, it is not clear who is being addressed. So the phrase ‘to become a good worker’ is a dangling modifier.
DANGLING ELLIPTICAL CLAUSES

Examples:

· Incorrect: While entering the house, the heel broke.

Correct: While I was entering the house, my heel broke.

Correct: While entering the house, I broke my heel.