Fixing Phrase Placement
Move the phrase to the correct placement:
Eating under the porch, I saw a squirrel.
I saw a squirrel eating under the porch.
Identify the modifier and word that it is intended to modify:
He served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.
Modifier: On paper plates
Word it is intended to modify: Sandwiches
What is a dangling phrase?
A word or phrase that does not logically modify the subject of the sentence.
What is a misplaced modifier?
A word or phrase that is improperly separated from the word it describes.
Move the phrase to the correct placement:
Above my head, I heard the jet.
I heard the jet above my head.
Identify the modifier and word that it is intended to modify:
We saw a deer driving to school.
Modifier: Driving to school
Word it is intended to modify: We
Identify the dangling phrase:
Walking into class, the bell rang loudly.
Walking into class.
I found a wallet walking through the parking lot.
While walking through the parking lot, I found a wallet.
Move the phrase to the correct placement:
At only eight years old, my father took me to my first baseball game.
My father took me to my first baseball game at only eight years old.
Identify the modifier and word that it is intended to modify:
The teacher said on Friday she would give a quiz.
Modifier: On Friday
Word it is intended to modify: Said
Identify the dangling phrase:
Looking out the window, the rain began to fall.
Looking out the window.
Identify the misplaced modifier:
He bought a jacket for his brother with a hood.
With a hood.
Move the phrase to the correct placement:
Rushing to get ready for school, the phone rang.
The phone rang as I was rushing to get ready for school.
Identify the modifier and word that it is intended to modify:
They spotted a bird using binoculars.
Modifier: Using binoculars
Word it is intended to modify: They
Identify the dangling phrase:
Confused by the directions, the classroom was hard to find.
Confused by the directions.
Identify the misplaced modifier:
They saw a dog riding their bikes to school.
Riding their bikes to school.
Move the phrase to the correct placement:
Walking down the street, the flowers in the neighbor's yard looked beautiful.
The flowers in the neighbor's yard looked beautiful as I walked down the street.
Identify the modifier and word that it is intended to modify:
I watched a documentary about space in my science class.
Modifier: In my science class
Word it is intended to modify: Watched
Correct the dangling phrase in this sentence:
After finishing the test, the backpacks were packed quickly.
After finishing the test, the students packed their backpacks quickly.
Correct the misplaced modifier in this sentence:
We saw a squirrel driving to school.
While driving to school, we saw a squirrel.