Misplaced Modifiers

A modifier is "misplaced" when:

• it is placed too close to the word it modifies

• it is placed too far away from the word it modifies

True or False: This sentence contains a misplaced modifier.

Edna kept all her medicine in the medicine cabinet that had been prescribed to her.

• True

• False

Which of the following sentences does not contain a misplaced modifier?

• Running recklessly through the forest, the tree stump tripped Jay.

• Running recklessly through the forest, Jay tripped over the tree stump.

• Running recklessly through the forest, the stump of the tree tripped Jay.

• Running recklessly through the forest, the tree tripped.

Which sentence avoids misplaced modifiers?

• The lady walked in the rain to the car carrying two bags of groceries.

• In the rain the lady walked to the car carrying two bags of groceries.

• Carrying two bags of groceries, the lady walked in the rain to the car.

Identify the sentence with no misplaced modifiers.

• Zinnia remembered that she had forgotten her homework after she arrived at school.

• Zinnia remembered after she arrived at school she had forgotten her homework.

True or False: This sentence doesn't contain misplaced modifiers.

Freddie saw a puppy and a kitten on the way to the store.

• True

• False

Which word or phrase is the misplaced modifier?

The watermelon was served to the guests in the bright pink bowl.

• was served

• to the guests

• in the bright pink bowl

The watermelon was served to the guests in the bright pink bowl.

Which word should "in the bright pink bowl" modify?

• guests

• served

• watermelon

Which sentence avoids misplaced modifiers?

• Billie's parents bought an alpaca for his brother called Zoran.

• Billie's parents bought an alpaca called Zoran for his brother.

Which sentence correctly avoids misplaced modifiers?

• The repairman fixed the kitchen faucet, which leaked in a wasteful manner.

• Leaking wastefully, the repairman arrived to fix the kitchen faucet.

• Leaking in a wasteful manner, we called a repairman to fix the kitchen faucet.