IXL | Select the misplaced or dangling modifier

Select the misplaced or dangling modifier.

With cautious, stealthy strokes, the canoer paddled up to the moose with a camera balanced precariously on his lap.

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question

Select the misplaced or dangling modifier.

The earthy scent of wild rosemary reminded Tanner of the roasted potatoes his mother would make as he ran his hand through the fragrant bush.

key idea

A modifier is a word or phrase that modifies, or describes, another word or phrase.

A misplaced modifier is a modifier that appears to modify the wrong word or phrase because it is too far from the word or phrase that it should modify.

Winston saw monkeys and peacocks on vacation in India.

This sentence has a misplaced modifier. It wrongly suggests that the monkeys and peacocks were on vacation.

On vacation in India, Winston saw monkeys and peacocks.

This sentence correctly suggests that Winston was on vacation.

A dangling modifier is a modifier that appears to modify the wrong word or phrase because the word or phrase that it should modify is missing from the sentence.

Trying to fall asleep, the sheets felt uncomfortably hot.

This sentence has a dangling modifier. It wrongly suggests that the sheets were trying to fall asleep.

Trying to fall asleep, I felt uncomfortably hot in the sheets.

This sentence correctly suggests that I was trying to fall asleep.

solution

As he ran his hand through the fragrant bush is a misplaced modifier because it appears to modify his mother would make. The sentence wrongly suggests that Tanner's mother would make roasted potatoes while he ran his hand through a bush.

The earthy scent of wild rosemary reminded Tanner of the roasted potatoes his mother would make as he ran his hand through the fragrant bush.

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EE.1Misplaced modifiers with pictures

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