Modifiers

Modifier
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies—that is, gives

information about—another word in the same sentence.
For example, in the following sentence, the word "burger" is modified
by the word "vegetarian"
Example: I'm going to the Grill Hauz for a vegetarian burger.
The modifier "vegetarian" gives extra information about what kind of
burger it is.
A modifier can be an adjective (a word that modifies a noun, like
"burger"), but it can also be an adverb (a word that modifies a verb):
Example: The student carefully proofread her draft.

The adverb "carefully" is the modifier in this example—it modifies the
verb "proofread," giving important details about how the proofreading
was conducted.
a. WORD MODIFIER
1. Adjectives
We already know that adjectives act as modifiers. An adjective is a word

that describes a noun. An adjective can describe the kind or amount of a
noun.
Examples:
Chad thought that the blue shirt looked good on him.
There are many students in the classroom.
2. Adverbs
While an adjective modifies a noun, an adverb is a word that modifies a
verb, adjective or another adverb.
Examples:
Betsy likes to sing loudly during music class.
Arthur was extremely tired at the end of the day.
b. PHRASE MODIFIER
 Prepositional phrase
Adjective Phrase
Adverbial Phrase
Examples:
She studied in the library.
Here, the phrase "in the library" gives us extra information about the
verb, "studied."
The boy ran towards the tree.
Misplaced Modifiers
When a modifier is ambiguously or illogically modifying a word, we
consider it a misplaced modifier.
Example: Mr. Smith discovered an ancient Mayan civilization using
astronavigation.
The modifier, "using astronavigation," is unclear in this sentence. Does
it modify "Mr. Smith" or "civilization"? A reader will wonder, "Was Mr.
Smith using astronavigation? Or was the civilization he discovered using
astronavigation?"
Revision 1: Using astronavigation, Mr. Smith discovered an ancient
Mayan civilization.
This modifier placement makes it clear that "Mr. Smith" is the one using
astronavigation.
Revision 2: Mr. Smith discovered an ancient Mayan civilization that
used astronavigation.
This modifier placement makes it clear that the "civilization" used
astronavigation.
a. Tom read the book on the chair.

b. She arrived home and fell onto the sofa covered in sweat.
Answer: Covered in sweat, she arrived home and fell onto the sofa.
She arrived home covered in sweat and fell onto the sofa.
c. Neil Armstrong made history as the first man to step on the moon
in 1969.
Answer: In 1969, Neil Armstrong made history as the first man to
step on the moon.
Neil Armstrong made history in 1969 as the first man to step
on the moon.
d. He nearly drove the car for six hours a day.
e. Iris almost failed every exam she took.
f. People who laugh rarely are sad.
g. James bought a horse for his sister called Prince.
He drove the car for NEARLY six hours a day.

Iris failed ALMOST every exam she took.
People who RARELY laugh are sad.
James bought a horse CALLED PRINCE for his sister.
Exercises:
1. The saleslady almost sold all her pottery at the crafts fair.
2. She served hamburgers to the children on paper plates.
3. The man walked toward the car carrying a briefcase.
4. I told my son when the game was over I will play with him.
5. The waiter presented a steak to the guest that was medium rare.
6. She arrived home and fell onto the sofa covered in sweat.
7. The manager presented a presentation that is intelligent.
8. Anna suggested often that the children should play outside.
9. The man picked up the box of books with arthritis.
10. The boy is sitting on the fence with red hair and whistling.
The example above suggests that a gold man owns a watch.
Misplaced modifiers can usually be corrected by moving the modifier to

a more sensible place in the sentence, generally next to the word it
modifies.
Example
Now it is the watch that is gold.
There are several kinds of misplaced modifiers:

1. Misplaced adjectives are incorrectly separated from the nouns they
modify and almost always distort the intended meaning.
Example 1
Correct the error by placing the adjective next to the noun it modifies.
Corrected
Example 2
Corrected
Sentences like these are common in everyday speech and ordinarily
cause their listeners no trouble. However, they are quite imprecise and,
therefore, should have NO place in your writing.
2. Placement of adverbs can also change meaning in sentences.
For example, the sentences below illustrate how the placement of just
can change the sentence's meaning.
Just means only John was picked, no one else:
Just means that John was picked now:
Just means that John hosted only the program, nothing else:
Each of these sentences says something logical but quite different, and
its correctness depends upon what the writer has in mind.
Often, misplacing an adverb not only alters the intended meaning, but
also creates a sentence whose meaning is highly unlikely or completely
ridiculous.
This sentence, for example, suggests that we brought a lunch slowly:
To repair the meaning, move the adverb slowly so that it is near ate.
Watch out for adverbs such as only, just, nearly, merely, and almost.
They are often misplaced and cause an unintended meaning.
This sentence, for example, means that I only contributed the money:
Repaired, however, the sentence means that I contributed only
$10.00.
Like adjectives, adverbs are commonly misplaced in everyday speech,

and may not cause listeners difficulty. However, such sentences are
quite imprecise and, therefore, should have NO place in your writing.
Now click on the link below to complete Exercise 1.
Link to Exercise 1
3. Misplaced phrases may cause a sentence to sound awkward and may

create a meaning that does not make sense.
The problem sentences below contain misplaced phrases that modify

the wrong nouns.
To fix the errors and clarify the meaning, put the phrases next to the
noun they are supposed to modify.
Example 1 (a buyer with leather seats?)
Corrected
Example 2 (a corner smoking pipes?)
Corrected
Example 3 (a house made of barbed wire?)
Corrected
Click on the link below to complete Exercise 2.
Link to Exercise 2
4. Misplaced clauses may cause a sentence to sound awkward and may

create a meaning that does not make sense.
The problem sentences below contain misplaced clauses that modify the
wrong nouns.
To fix the errors and clarify the meaning, put the clauses next to the
noun they are supposed to modify.
Example 1 ( a buttered woman?)

Corrected
Example 2 (a hamper that Ralph wore?)
Corrected
Be careful! In correcting a misplaced modifier, don't create a sentence

with two possible meanings.
Example
Problem: Did the teacher say this on Monday or will she return the
essays on Monday?)
Correction #1 (meaning the essays will be returned on Monday)

Correction #2 (meaning that the teacher spoke on Monday)
Dangling Modifiers
When a modifier is not modifying a specific word, we call it a dangling
modifier. See APA 7, Section 4.23 for more explanation and examples.
Example: After consulting a selection of current publications, research

in this area has been sparse.
In this example, it is not clear who is consulting the selection of current
publications. In other words, there is no referent in the sentence.
Revision 1: After consulting a selection of current publications, I
determined that the research in this area has been sparse.
Now the subject in the sentence “I” matches the modifier “after
consulting a selection of current publications.”
Revision 2: According to the selection of current publications, research
in this area has been sparse.
Now the modifier “according to the selection of current publications”
matches the subject “research.”

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Modifier

A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies—that is, gives

Example: The student carefully proofread her draft.

We already know that adjectives act as modifiers. An adjective is a word

a. Tom read the book on the chair.

He drove the car for NEARLY six hours a day.

The example above suggests that a gold man owns a watch.

Misplaced modifiers can usually be corrected by moving the modifier to

Now it is the watch that is gold.

There are several kinds of misplaced modifiers:

2. Placement of adverbs can also change meaning in sentences.

Just means only John was picked, no one else:

Just means that John was picked now:

This sentence, for example, suggests that we brought a lunch slowly:

Like adjectives, adverbs are commonly misplaced in everyday speech,

Now click on the link below to complete Exercise 1.

3. Misplaced phrases may cause a sentence to sound awkward and may

The problem sentences below contain misplaced phrases that modify

Example 1 (a buyer with leather seats?)

Example 2 (a corner smoking pipes?)

Click on the link below to complete Exercise 2.

4. Misplaced clauses may cause a sentence to sound awkward and may

Example 1 ( a buttered woman?)

Example 2 (a hamper that Ralph wore?)

Be careful! In correcting a misplaced modifier, don't create a sentence

Correction #1 (meaning the essays will be returned on Monday)

Example: After consulting a selection of current publications, research

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