Tutor Ted Misplaced Modifiers

When you use adjectives, you have to

• only use one per noun

• put them right next to the thing they're describing

• set them off with commas

• wear a helmet and look both ways before crossing

The very next thing after an “adjective phrase” has to be

• a dependent clause

• an object pronoun

• the thing it's describing

• Thing, the mutated rock-man of Fantastic Four fame

Consider the misplaced modifier in the sentence below and select the best answer about the sentence’s current meaning:

Freshly painted, my cousin finally had a treehouse elegant enough for her lavish tea parties.

• The treehouse is freshly painted.

• The tea parties are freshly painted.

• My cousin is freshly painted.

Viewing them as messages from other worlds, crop circles have long inspired great interest and awe in humans around the globe.

• NO CHANGE

• The view of messages

• To view messages

• Often viewed as messages

After testing the consistency, sugarmakers verify the desired sugar content then drain the syrup out of the evaporator.

• NO CHANGE

• the sugar content is verified and the syrup is drained by the sugarmakers

• the sugar content is verified by the sugarmakers who drain the syrup

• the syrup is drained out once the sugarmakers verify the sugar content

Treat Friday like a company holiday, the factory foreman suggested (who was looking forward to going fishing on her new boat).

• NO CHANGE

• suggested the factory foreman

• was the suggestion made by the factory foreman

• the factory foreman made the suggestion

Plains Indians in the late 1600s first encountered the horses of Spanish traders.

All of the following would be acceptable placements for the underlined portion EXCEPT:

• where is is now

• at the beginning of the sentence (revising the capitalization accordingly)

• after the word "horses"

• after the word “traders” (ending the sentence with a period)

Which sentence correctly avoids misplaced modifiers?

• Abdullah gasped as the badly wrapped burrito squirted its contents onto his shirt, which was spicy hot and full of lettuce.

• The badly wrapped burrito, which was spicy hot and full of lettuce, squirted its contents onto Abdullah's shirt.

• The badly wrapped burrito squirted its contents onto Abdullah's shirt, which was spicy hot and full of lettuce.

"The old patient was referred to the Chinese physician with stomach pains." Which word or phrase is the misplaced modifier?

• old patient

• with stomach pains

• Chinese

• physician

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

• 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.