Definition of a Misplaced Modifier with Examples for Rhetorical Analysis

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies/describes. Because of the separation, the sentence sounds awkward, silly, or confusing.
• 📝 Misplaced modifiers often occur because the writer assumes the reader will understand the intended meaning.
• 💡 To correct a misplaced modifier, place it as close as possible to the word it is intended to modify.
• ✍️ Examples:
  • Incorrect: *I saw a dog running down the street with a limp.* (Did the street have a limp?) Correct: *I saw a dog with a limp running down the street.*
  • Incorrect: *Covered in chocolate sauce, I devoured the ice cream.* (Was I covered in chocolate sauce?) Correct: *I devoured the ice cream covered in chocolate sauce.*

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier?
   1. Having finished the test, Sarah went home.
   2. Walking through the park, I saw a beautiful flower.
   3. Covered in mud, the dog ran through the house.
   4. After eating dinner, we watched a movie.
2. In which sentence is the modifier placed correctly?
   1. I almost ate the whole pizza by myself.
   2. I ate almost the whole pizza by myself.
   3. Almost I ate the whole pizza by myself.
   4. I ate the whole almost pizza by myself.
3. Identify the misplaced modifier in this sentence: *He bought a car from a dealer with a powerful engine.*
   1. He
   2. from a dealer
   3. with a powerful engine
   4. bought a car
4. Which revision corrects the following sentence? *She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.*
   1. She served sandwiches on paper plates to the children.
   2. She served on paper plates sandwiches to the children.
   3. On paper plates, she served sandwiches to the children.
   4. To the children, she served sandwiches on paper plates.
5. Which of the following sentences does NOT contain a misplaced modifier?
   1. I returned the soup to the kitchen that was too cold.
   2. That was too cold, I returned the soup to the kitchen.
   3. I returned to the kitchen the soup that was too cold.
   4. I returned the soup that was too cold to the kitchen.
6. Find the sentence with the misplaced modifier:
   1. Barking loudly, the dog ran down the street.
   2. The dog ran barking loudly down the street.
   3. The dog barking loudly ran down the street.
   4. Barking, the dog ran loudly down the street.
7. Which sentence uses the modifier correctly?
   1. Driving quickly, the tree was avoided.
   2. The tree was avoided driving quickly.
   3. Driving quickly, I avoided the tree.
   4. I driving quickly avoided the tree.