Misplaced Modifier

A misplaced modifier is a participial phrase or other modifier that comes before the subject but does

NOT refer to the subject.

Look at this sentence:

Driving down the road, a herd of sheep suddenly crossed the road in front of Liza’s car.

(INCORRECT)

This sentence is incorrect because it seems to say that a herd of sheep—rather than Liza—was driving down the road. The participial phrase is misplaced. The sentence could be corrected as shown:

As Liza was driving down the road, a herd of sheep suddenly crossed the road in front of her.

(CORRECT)

This sentence now correctly has Liza in the driver’s seat instead of the sheep.

The following sentence structures are often misplaced:

Misplaced

Structure          Example                                               Correction

present

participle           Walking along the beach, the

ship was spotted by the men.    Walking along the beach, the men spotted the ship.

past participle   Based on this study, the

scientist could make several

conclusions.                            Based on this study, several conclusions could be        made by the scientist.

Appositive        A resort city in Arkansas, the

population of Hot Springs is

about 35,000.                            A resort city in Arkansas, Hot Springs has a population of about 35,000.

reduced

adjective

clause               While peeling onions, his

eyes began to water.     While he was peeling onions, his eyes began to water.

adjective

phrases                        Warm and mild, everyone

enjoys the climate of the

Virgin Islands.               Everyone enjoys the warm, mild climate of the Virgin

Islands.

Expressions      with like or unlike           Like most cities, parking is a

problem in San Francisco.

Like most cities, San Francisco has a parking problem.

Structure items with misplaced modifiers are usually easy to spot. They generally consist of a modifying element at the beginning of the sentence followed by a comma, with the rest or most of the rest of the sentence missing. The answer choices tend to be long. To find the answer, you must decide to which subject the modifier correctly refers.

Focus: Completing structure problems involving misplaced modifiers (Note: ALL the items in this exercise focus on misplaced modifiers.)

Directions: Mark the answer choice that correctly completes the sentence.

1. Fearing economic hardship, __________________________________________________

(A) many New Englanders emigrated to the Midwest in the 1820s

(B) emigration from New England to the Midwest took place in the 1820s

(C) it was in the 1820s that many New Englanders emigrated to the Midwest

(D) an emigration took place in the 1820s from New England to the Midwest

2. Rich and distinctive in flavor, ____________

(A) there is in the United States a very important nut crop, the pecan

(B) the most important nut crop in theUnited States, the pecan

(C) farmers in the United States raise pecans, a very important nut crop

(D) pecans are the most important nut crop in the United States

3. Orbiting from 2.7 to 3.6 billion miles fromthe sun, ______________________________

(A) the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930

(B) Pluto was discovered by the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930

(C) it was in 1930 that the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto

(D) the discovery of Pluto was made by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930

4. A popular instrument, _____________

(A) only a limited role has been available to the accordion in classical music

(B) there is only a limited role for the accordion in popular music

(C) classical music provides only a limited role for the accordion

(D) the accordion has played only a limited role in classical music

5. Unlike most birds, ________________

(A) the heads and necks of vultures lack feathers

(B) feathers are not found on the heads and necks of vultures

(C) vultures do not have feathers on their heads and necks

(D) there are no feathers on vultures’ heads and necks

6. Widely reproduced in magazines and books,___________________

(A) Ansel Adams depicted the Western wilderness in his photographs

(B) the Western wilderness was depicted in the photographs of Ansel Adams

(C) Ansel Adams’ photographs depicted the Western wilderness

(D) it was through his photographs that Ansel Adams depicted the Western wilderness

7. Smaller and flatter than an orange, ________

(A) a tangerine is easy to peel and its sections separate readily

(B) the peel of a tangerine is easily removed and its sections are readily separated

(C) it’s easy to peel a tangerine and to separate its sections

(D) to peel a tangerine is easy, and its sections can be readily separated

8. Like the federal government, _________

(A) taxation provides most of the funds for state and local governments as well

(B) state and local governments obtain most of their funds through taxation

(C) through taxation is how state and local governments obtain most of their Funds

(D) funds are provided from taxation for state and local governments

9. Originally settled by Polynesians around

700 C.E., __________________________

(A) Hawaii received its first European visitor in 1778, when Captain James Cook landed there

(B) Hawaii’s first European visitor, Captain James Cook, landed there in 1778

(C) in 1778 the first European, Captain James Cook, visited Hawaii

(D) the first European to visit Hawaii was Captain James Cook, landing there in 1778