Q. What is a modifier?

A word or phrase that qualifies (modifies) a

word, phrase or clause is a modifier.
Types:
o

o
o

adjectives (modify nouns and pronouns) (for example: the

RED house)
adverbs (modify verbs) (for example: he ran QUICKLY)
modifier or modification phrases (modify an action or an
actor) (LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, he noticed that he was
late)

Dangling modifiers: In clear, logical sentences, you will often find

modifiers right next toeither in front of or behindthe target words
they logically describe. Sometimes, however, an inexperienced writer
will include a modifier but forget the target. The modifier thus dangles
because the missing target word leaves nothing for the modifier to
describe. So we can define dangling modifier in the following way:
If a word or phrase that modifies another word or phrase has not been
stated clearly within the sentence then the word or the phrase becomes a
dangling modifier. In other words: A dangling modifier is a modifier
that has nothing to modify.
Dangling modifiers are errors. Their poor construction confuses readers.
Look at the samples below:
Hungry, the leftover pizza was devoured.
Hungry is a single-word adjective. Notice that there is no one in the
sentence for this modifier to describe.
Rummaging in her giant handbag, the sunglasses escaped detection.
Rummaging in her giant handbag is a participle phrase. In the current
sentence, no word exists for this phrase to modify. Neither sunglasses
nor detection has fingers to make rummaging possible!

With a sigh of disappointment, the expensive dress was returned to the

rack.
With a sigh of disappointment is a string of prepositional phrases. If you
look carefully, you do not find anyone in the sentence capable of feeling
disappointed. Neither dress nor rack has emotions!
Fixing a dangling modifier will require more than rearranging the
words in the sentence. You will often need to add something new so that
the modifier finally has a target word to describe:
Hungry, we devoured the leftover pizza.
Rummaging in her giant handbag, Frieda failed to find her sunglasses.
With a sigh of disappointment, Charlene returned the expensive dress to
the rack.
(Wrong) Although not finished, we left the meeting early to see a
movie.
From the way this sentence is written, the people (we) are the ones not
yet finished. On second thought, a listener or reader would probably
realize that it must be the meeting that is not finished, which means this
would be a better sentence:
(CORRECT) Although the meeting was not finished, we left early to see
a movie.
CORRECTING Dangling Modifier: From the above, we can
understand that dangling modifiers can be repaired by:
Decide on a logical subject, and do one of the followings:
Dangling: Having finished dinner, the football game was turned on.
o

placing the subject of the modification phrase as the subject

of the independent clause:

Having finished dinner, Joe turned on the football game.

Or
o

placing the subject of the action within the modification

phrase:

After Joe finished dinner, he turned on the football game.

Examples:
Incorrect: Using a variety of pedagogical techniques, the students were
taught grammar.
Correct: Using a variety of pedagogical techniques, the teacher taught
the students grammar.
Incorrect: To improve his essay, each page was proofread.
Correct: To improve his essay, David proofread each page.
Incorrect: While reading the novel, the pages that contain important
information should be marked.
Correct: While reading the novel, you should mark the pages that
contain important information.
Incorrect: Playing solitaire on the computer for three hours, Michaels
paper was not completed.
Correct: Playing solitaire on the computer for three hours, Michael did
not complete his paper.
Correct: Because Michael played solitaire on the computer for three
hours, he did not complete his paper.
Incorrect: To work as a loan officer, an education in financial planning is
required.

Correct: To work as a loan officer, one is required to have an education

in financial planning.