Modifiers modify, add details or change the meaning of another word in a sentence.

Misplaced modifiers are

phrases that are not located properly in relation to the words they modify. Misplaced modifiers lead to illogical
sentences that are difficult to follow or have confusing meaning.

Example:

A small book sat on the desk that Sarah had read.

The modifier: “that Sarah had read”

This modifier is misplaced because it modifies the desk. It sounds as if Sarah had read the desk.

Correct sentence: A small book that Sarah had read sat on the desk.

Example:

The professor posted the notes for the students covered in class.

The modifier, “covered in class,” appears to modify “the students.” Because the students are not covered in class,
this is a misplaced modifier.

Correct sentence: The professor posted the notes covered in class for the students.

Misplaced single word modifiers:

Artisans almost sold all their handicrafts in the fair.

The modifier ‘almost’ should modify the word handicrafts. The artisans were not short of selling ( almost sold),
rather they sold most handicrafts (sold almost)

Correct sentence: Artisans sold almost all their handicrafts in the fair.

Misplaced Phrase modifiers:

The school serves meals to the children on biodegradable plates.

The modifier ‘on biodegradable plates’ should modify the word meal.

Correct sentence: The school serves meals on biodegradable plates to the children.

Misplaced Clause modifiers:

Akira returned the necklace to the shop that was missing a stone.

The modifier ‘that was missing a stone’ should modify the word ‘necklace’.

Correct sentence: Akira returned the necklace that was missing a stone to the shop.

Squinting modifiers:

In this case it is not clear as to which word of the sentence gets modified by the modifier.

She told her mom on phone when the movie was over that she would have lunch with her friends.
The modifier: when the movie was over

Correct sentence: she told her mom on phone that she would have lunch with her friends when the movie was
over.

Correct sentence: when the movie was over, she told her mom on phone that she would have lunch with her
friends.

Dangling Modifiers occur mostly with -ing modifiers. Modifiers dangle when they are not logically connected to
the main part of the sentence. To correct the given sentence either state the subject right after the dangling
modifier, or Add the subject to the dangling phrase.

Example: Walking through the park, the grass tickled my feet.

“Walking through the park” seems to modify the grass. However, grass cannot walk through the park. Therefore,
this is a misplaced modifier.

Correct sentence: The grass tickled my feet as I walked through the park

Or, walking through the park, I found that the grass tickled my feet.

More examples:

1. Emma Sue was delighted when Mr. Nguyen returned her perfect calculus test with an ear-to-ear grin.

Solution: With an ear-to-ear grin, a prepositional phrase, is describing test when its target should be Mr. Nguyen.
When a modifier is next to a word it doesn't logically describe, it is misplaced. To fix the problem, you should
organize the sentence like this:

With an ear to-ear grin, Mr. Nguyen returned the perfect calculus test, which delighted Emma Sue.

2. To finish by the 3 p.m. deadline, the computer keyboard sang with Sylvia's flying fingers.

Solution: To finish by the 3 p.m. deadline, an infinitive phrase has no target in the sentence to describe. We find
Sylvia's fingers, but not the typist herself. To fix the problem, you should revise the sentence like this:

To finish by the 3 p.m. deadline, Sylvia made the keyboard sing with her flying fingers.

3. Lying under the dining room table, Noodle the poodle waited for bites of roast beef that Rosie sneaked off
her plate.

Lying under the dining room table, a participle phrase comes right before the noun Noodle. This is a clear and
logical pairing of target and modifier. There is no error.

4. Tonya made the mistake of walking her boisterous bulldog Billy in high heels.

Solution: In high heels, a prepositional phrase, is currently describing Billy, the bulldog, when its target should be
Tonya. To fix the problem, you should revise the sentence like this:

Tonya made the mistake of walking her boisterous bulldog Billy while she was wearing high heels.

5. Charles saw a dog on the way to the library.

Solution: On the way to the library, Charles saw a dog.

6. They gave a cat to my sister named Fluffy.

Solution: They gave a cat named Fluffy to my sister.

7. The student was punished by the teacher who cheated on the test.

Solution: The student who cheated on the test was punished by the teacher.

8. Chased by a lion, the photographers saw a terrified gazelle.

Solution: The photographers saw a terrified gazelle chased by a lion.

9. The pilot wore a uniform to fly the plane that was covered in gold buttons.

Solution: To fly the plane, the pilot wore a uniform that was covered in gold buttons.

10. Three homes were reported burned by the fire department in July

Solution: The fire department reported three homes burned in July.