Noun: A content work that qualifies the meaning of a noun or a verb.

•Looking under the bed, my birthday gift was spotted.-Looking under the bed, I spotted my birthday gift.•Wrapped in silver foil, I ate my hamburger. -I ate my hamburger that had been wrapped in silver foil.•Shining in the distance, I saw a star.-I saw a star shining in the distance.

Only, Just, Even, Almost, and Nearly-Limiting modifiers should be before the word they modify.

•Doctors in Buffalo, New York just recently conducted a study. •The doctors studied nearly 50 students taking medication for procrastination. •A planner was given to only half the students.

Limiting Modifiers:

•A misplaced modifier can result in a completely different meaning, because the modifier is modifying another object.

-Example: The fire fighter raced into the building, sweating profusely.

Sweating profusely, the fire fighter raced into the building.

•The bartender served beer to the patrons in a glass.

-The bartender served beer in a glass to the patrons.•Johnny Knoxville ate tacos with dirty hands. -With dirty hands, Johnny Knoxville ate burgers.

Awkward sentence:

Harry, studying for his O.W.L.S., was interrupted by a dragon.

Studying for his O.W.L.S., Harry was interrupted by a dragon.

Keep it simple!

Awkwardly Placed Modifiers

Subject+Verb+Modifier+Object

Ron received an embarrassing howler.

The modifier should always go right next to the object it’s modifying.

An adverb should NEVER separate a verb from its object!

What is an infinitive?

An infinitive consists of “to” and the base form of a verb.

Examples: to laugh, to read, to think.

Splitting an infinitive occurs when a modifier is placed between “to” and the verb.

Awkward: He urged me to if possible visit the museum. Better: He urged me to visit the museum if possible.

Using split infinitives to avoid awkwardness

Awkward: We wanted actually to go to the park for once.

Better: We wanted to actually go to the park for once.

When both splitting infinitives and not splitting infinitives sound alright.

Alright: He asked to quickly go to the library.Better: He asked to go to the library quickly.

•A modifier that doesn’t refer to anything specific in the sentence.•They suggest but don’t name an actor.•Examples -After going to the library, the essay was finished. -Did the essay go to the library? -While eating lunch, the electricity went out. -Was the electricity eating lunch?

•Participial phrase -Deciding to play college football, Mr. and Mrs. Wright hugged Andrew.

-When Andrew decided to play college football, Mr. and Mrs. Wright hugged him.•Preposition followed by a gerund phrase -After becoming a princess, the paparazzi followed her. -After becoming a princess, Diana was followed by paparazzi.

•Infinitive phrase -To pass the test, the review should be completed. -To pass the test, Abby had to complete the review.•Elliptical clause -Though not an official member, the band welcomed Sally with open arms.

-Though Sally wasn’t an official member, the bank welcomed her with open arms.

Common Kinds of Dangling Modifiers

•Name the actor in the modifier•Name the actor in the subject of the sentence

Don’t Forget: You can’t fix a dangling modifier just by moving it.

To pass the test, the review should be completed. A) Split infinitive B) Misplaced modifier C) Dangling modifier – correct answer D) Limiting modifier

He urged me to if possible visit the museum A) Limiting modifier B) Split infinitive – correct answer C) Misplaced modifier D) Dangling modifier

Wrapped in silver foil, I ate my hamburger A) Misplaced modifier – correct answer B) Split infinitive C) Dangling modifier D) Limiting modifier

A planner was given to only half the students. A) Dangling modifier B) Limiting modifier – correct answer C) Split infinitive D) Misplaced modifier

The fire fighter raced into the building, sweating profusely. A) Misplaced modifier – correct answer B) Limiting modifier C) Dangling modifier D) Split infinitive

After becoming a princess, the paparazzi followed her. A) Limiting modifier B) Split infinitive C) Misplaced modifier D) Dangling modifier – correct answer

Looking under the bed, my birthday gift was spotted A) Dangling modifier B) Limiting modifier C) Split modifier D) Misplaced modifier – correct answer

He asked to quickly go to the library. A) Split infinitive – correct answer B) Misplaced modifier C) Dangling modifier D) Limiting modifier

The bartender served beer to the patrons in a glass. A) Dangling modifier B) Limiting modifier C) Misplaced modifier – correct answer D) Split infinitive

Deciding to play college football, Mr. and Mrs. Wright hugged Andrew.

A) Split infinitive B) Limiting modifier C) Dangling modifier – correct answer D) Misplaced modifier