MAP 8th Grade Language Usage
An engaging course focused on mastering grammar, usage, mechanics, and effective communication for 8th grade students.
Modifiers and Misplaced Modifiers
Making Descriptions Clear
Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that add detail to your sentences. They can be adjectives, adverbs, or even descriptive phrases.
What Can Go Wrong?
Sometimes, modifiers land in the wrong spot and create confusion. These are called misplaced modifiers.
- Misplaced: She almost drove her kids to school every day.
- Correct: She drove her kids to school almost every day.
Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier is missing the word it’s supposed to describe.
- Dangling: Running down the street, the backpack fell off.
- Correct: Running down the street, I dropped my backpack.
Real-World Fixes
Being careful with modifiers means your readers get the right picture in their heads!
Examples
Covered in chocolate, Julia ate the donut. (Who is covered in chocolate?)
I saw a bird flying through the window. (Is the bird flying through the window or did you see it through the window?)
In a Nutshell
Keep your modifiers close to the words they describe to avoid confusion.