Concept 5

Place modifiers correctly; avoid dangling or misplaced modifiers.

Core Idea

A modifier belongs next to the word it describes. If the sentence opens with an action, the subject after the comma should be the doer of that action.

Understanding

Rule: Dangling modifiers create accidental nonsense. A sentence can make it sound as if orchids walked into a greenhouse or a poster ran across the room simply because the modifier is attached to the wrong noun.

Check the first phrase and then the noun that follows it. If that noun cannot logically do the action, the modifier is misplaced.

Question

Worked Example

Which choice best revises the sentence?

"Walking into the greenhouse, the orchids immediately caught Lena's attention."

Select an answer to see the explanation