1、Misplaced modifier （修饰语错位),Contents,DefinitionTypes How to avoid them?,Definition,A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies.Because of the separation, sentences with this error often sound awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. Furthermore,
2、they can be downright illogical.,Misplaced: John couldnt drive to work in his small sports car with a broken leg.( Its impossible that car had a broken leg.) Corrected: With a broken leg, John couldnt drive to work in his small sports car.( John, not car, had a broken leg.),Types,1. Misplaced adject
3、ives are incorrectly separated from the nouns they modify and almost always distort the intended meaning.Misplaced: The child ate a cold dish of cereal for breakfast this morning. 这孩子今天早上吃了一盘冷的麦片粥。Corrceted: The child ate a dish of cold cereal for breakfast this morning.,2. Placement of adverb can a
4、lso change meaning in sentences.For example, the sentences below illustrate how the placement of just can change the sentences meaning. Eg. . Just John was picked to host the program. ( Just means only John was picked, no one else.) . John was just picked to host the program. (Just means that John w
5、as picked now.) . John was picked to host just the program. (Just means that John hosted only the program, nothing else.),3. Misplaced phrases may cause a sentence to sound awkward and may create a meaning that does not make sense.Misplaced: They saw a fence behind the house made of barbed wire. Cor
6、rected: They saw a fence made of barbed wire behind the house.,4. Misplaced clauses may cause a sentence to sound awkward and may create a meaning that does not make sense.Misplaced: The waiter served a dinner roll to the woman that was well buttered.Corrected: The waiter served a dinner roll that w
7、as well buttered to the woman.,How to avoid misplaced modifiers?,1. Placing modifying words preciselyLimiting modifiers, such as almost, only, even hardly, nearly and just, should always immediately precede the words they modify. A different placement will change the meaning of the sentence.,Eg: . J
8、ust John was picked to host the program. ( Just means only John was picked, no one else.) . John was just picked to host the program. (Just means that Jhon was picked now.) . John was picked to host just the program. (Just means that Jhon hosted only the program, nothing else.),How to aviod misplace
9、d modifiers?,2. Relocating misplaced phrasesAs a general rule, a modifier should be placed as close as possible to what it modifies.Placing a modifying phrase incorrectly can change the meaning of a sentence or create an unclear or confusing( or even unintentionally humorous) construction. To avoid
10、ambiguity, place phrases as close as possible to the words they modify.,Eg. John couldnt drive to work in his small sports car with a broken leg.( Its impossible that cars had a broken leg.) With a broken leg, Jhon couldnt drive to work in his small sports car.( John, not car, had a broken leg.),How
11、 to avoid misplaced modifiers?,3. Revising intrusive modifiersAn intrusive modifier awkwardly interrupts a sentence, making it difficult to understand. Revise when a long modifying phrase comes between an auxiliary verb.,Eg.Confusing: She had, without giving it a second thought or considering the co
12、nsequence, planned to enlist.Revised: Without giving it a second thought or considering the consequence, she had planned to enlist.,How to avoid misplaced modifiers?, When a phrase begins a sentence, make sure that it modifies the subject of the sentence. When a prepositional phrase begins a sentence, make sure that it midifies the true subject of the phrase. When a verbal phrase ends a sentence, make sure that it cannot modify more than one idea in the main clause.,THANKS!,
