Problems with Modifiers?
By: Mario Jackson
Limiting Modifiers
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Modifiers that limit the meaning of another word in a sentence
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The limiting modifier must go right before the word that it is limiting
Examples:
Only, hardly, nearly, simply, not, even, almost, just
Placement is important
1.
Last Friday, Grant and Maggie only went to the party to see their old friend.
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2.
(The two went to the party but did nothing else last Friday.)
Last Friday, Grant and Maggie went to the only party to see their old friend.
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3.
(The party they attended was the only party that Friday.)
Last Friday, Grant and Maggie went to the party only to see their old friend.
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4.
(The only reason they went to the party was to see their friend.)
Last Friday, Grant and Maggie went to the party to see their only old friend.
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(The two have only one old friend, whom they went to see.)
Misplaced modifiers
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Unlike limiting modifiers, modifying phrases and clauses do not have to be right next to the
word they are modifying as long as the meaning is clear.
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Unfortunately, the misplacement of modifiers is a common mistake when trying to write clear
sentences
Misplaced – The soccer player returned to the clinic where he had undergone emergency surgery in
2009 in a limousine sent by Adidas.
 Traveling in 2009 in a limousine sent by Adidas, the soccer player returned to the clinic where he
had undergone emergency surgery.
Misplaced- It was reported that three officers were robbed by the Virginia Police last week.
 Last week, the Virginia Police reported that three officers were robbed.
Misplaced Modifiers and ambiguity
Ambiguous – The exchange students we met for coffee occasionally questioned us about our latest
slang.
 Correction 1: The exchange students we occasionally met for coffee questioned us about our
latest slang.
 Correction 2: The exchange students we met for coffee questioned us occasionally about our
latest slang.
Dangling modifiers
Dangling Modifiers fail to refer logically to any word in the sentence.
To fix:
o Name the actor in the subject of the sentence
(or)
o Name the actor in the modifier
Dangling: To satisfy her mother, the piano had to be practiced every day.
 To satisfy her mother, Julie had to practice the piano every day
Dangling: Deciding to join the navy, the recruiter enthusiastically shook Joe’s hand
 When Joe decided to join the navy, the recruiter enthusiastically shook his hand
Dangling: Though only sixteen years old, the college accepted Martha's application.
 Although Martha is only sixteen years old, the college accepted her application