LESSON 11

Misplaced Modifiers

Misplaced Modifier errors are one of my favorite mistakes in the SAT & ACT Grammar sections.
In a test that is almost entirely boring and humorless, this type of mistake can bring a little bit
of comedy to your experience. You just have to know how to appreciate it…

What is a “Modifier”?
A “modifier” or “modifying phrase” is essentially another name for a “Parenthetical Clause”
(review Lesson 9 on Sentence Structure for more details.) These phrases are never essential to
the main sentence; they simply add extra details about other elements of the sentence.

Here’s an example of a “modifying phrase” (or Parenthetical Clause).

“who worked as a fireman for many years”

This phrase cannot stand on its own, but it adds detail and description to something – in this
case, it would provide background information about a person mentioned elsewhere within the
sentence. Notice that these commonly start with Relative Pronouns, like “who” or “where.”

These modifying details need to be attached to something or someone – they can’t just stand
on their own. Modifiers will never be independent; they are always attached to something else
from the main sentence.

Continuing with the fireman example, the modifying phrase might be attached to a sentence in
the following way:

“Jeremy, who worked as a fireman for many years, was able to rescue the cat
from the tall tree.”

Notice that the modifying phrase (or Parenthetical Clause) is not essential to the main sentence.
Take it out, and you’ll be left with “Jeremy was able to rescue the cat from the tall tree,” which
is still perfectly able to stand on its own.

Now, in the case above, the modifying phrase has not been “misplaced.” That’s because
“Jeremy,” the person who is being modified or described in more detail, is right next to the
modifying phrase “who worked as a fireman for many years.”

It’s really, really important that a modifier is right next to the person or thing it is modifying, so
that we know who the description is meant to “attach” to.

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If this rule is broken, creating what we call a “Misplaced Modifier” error, then prepare for some
hilarious misinterpretations. Check out the ridiculous results of moving the modifying phrase to
a different location in the sentence, far away from “Jeremy”:

“Jeremy was able to rescue the cat, who worked as a fireman for many years,
from the tall tree.”

Heh heh. Silly sentence – cats can’t work as firemen! By placing the modifying phrase next to
“cat” instead of next to “Jeremy,” the modifier has been “misplaced,” and the meaning of the
sentence is now completely altered - not for the better!

The big trick to catching these errors every time they show up is to expect them. Any modifying
phrase should be considered “suspicious.” Treat these descriptive phrases as “guilty” until
proven innocent. Make sure the descriptive phrase is attaching to the correct noun.

Once you’ve found such a mistake, the next step is to look for answer choices that fix the
modifier by putting it next to the person or thing it was actually meant to describe. Use your
common sense and make sure that the modifying phrase matches up with (and is placed right
next to) something or someone that it’s actually meant to describe.

Let’s look at a Pretest question that might have sent you to this chapter:

While it panted and strained at its leash, the dog’s owner attempted to restrain the
puppy when it saw a squirrel at the dog park.

(A) [NO CHANGE]

(B) The dog’s owner attempted to restrain the puppy while it panted and strained at its
leash
(C) While it panted and strained at its leash, the puppy’s owner attempted to restrain it
(D) The dog’s owner, while it panted and strained at its leash, attempted to restrain the
puppy

First, notice the modifying phrase at the start of the sentence: “While it panted and strained at
its leash…”

This modifying phrase gives extra details about something, but what? The phrase can’t stand on
its own - until we read further, it’s unclear what or who this modifying phrase attaches to.

The way modifiers work is to attach to whatever person or thing they are closest to. In this
example, the nearest person or thing would be “the dog’s owner.” (Note the common trick of
using a possessive like “the dog’s owner” - many readers will only see “the dog” and not catch
the fact that “dog’s owner” actually refers to a person, not to an animal).

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Isn’t it ridiculous to imagine a dog’s owner panting and straining at a leash? I certainly hope so…
otherwise, your life is a lot weirder than mine is. Yes, the original sentence contains a Misplaced
Modifier error!

Now that we’ve identified the mistake, start eliminating answer choices that repeat the same
flaw. Choice C makes the same Misplaced Modifier mistake by continuing to use the possessive
form to refer to a person instead of the puppy.

Choice D continues the Misplaced Modifier error, even though it shifts the modifying phrase
into the middle of the sentence. “The owner” is still the closest noun for the modifying phrase
to attach to.

Choice B is the correct solution: the phrase “while it panted and strained at its leash” is now
nestled up right next to “puppy,” the thing it describes. The Misplaced Modifier is fixed and the
meaning of the sentence is clear. Excellent!

Misplaced Modifiers Quick Reference

 Practice looking for Parenthetical Clauses, which are also called “modifying phrases”:
nonessential phrases that add extra detail or description. They cannot stand on their own.

 Modifying phrases / Parenthetical Clauses are often set apart from the rest of the sentence
by commas, and frequently begin with Relative Pronouns like “who” or “where,” or with “-
ing” words. Review Sentence Structure (Lesson 9) and Punctuation Marks (Lesson 8) for
more tips on Parenthetical Clauses and commas.

 The beginning or end of a sentence is usually the most common place to find a Misplaced
Modifier error; however, Misplaced Modifiers can also be hidden in the middle of the
sentence.

 Use common sense and logic to decide if a modifying phrase is describing the “wrong”
person or thing: Can cats be firemen? Do dog owners walk on leashes?

 Learn to appreciate the unintentional humor of Misplaced Modifiers so that you enjoy
looking for them and finding them.

 Fix these errors by moving modifying phrases so that they are right next to the person or
thing they are actually meant to describe.

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Now let’s look at the second Pretest example of a Misplaced Modifier error:

Bursting with color, the pale hospital patient appreciated her friend’s gift of
flowers.

(A) [NO CHANGE]

(B) Bursting with color, the pale hospital patient’s friend’s gift of flowers
was appreciated.
(C) The pale hospital patient, bursting with color, appreciated her friend’s
gift of flowers.
(D) The pale hospital patient appreciated her friend’s gift of flowers, which
was bursting with color.

Notice that the sentence starts off with a modifying phrase again: “Bursting with color.” What,
exactly, is supposed to be “bursting with color?” Would a “pale hospital patient” be “bursting
with color,” or would a “gift of flowers” probably be more colorful?

In context, the “color” definitely should refer to the “gift of flowers.” That means the modifying
phrase “bursting with color” is in the wrong place! So, Choice A is out, as is Choice C (which has
a similar structure).

Choice B actually fixes the Misplaced Modifier error (it’s hard to tell with all the possessives, but
“bursting with color” actually does apply to the “flowers” in this sentence). However, compared
to the correct answer, it is very poorly-written; we would hope for a better option than the
multiple-possessive form “the hospital patient’s friend’s gift of flowers was appreciated,” which
is clumsy, confusing, wordy, and passive. See Lesson 13 on Redundancy & Wordiness for more
info.

Choice D is correct: It fixes the Misplaced Modifier mistake by placing the modifying phrase
“which was bursting with color” next to the thing it is meant to describe: the “gift of flowers.”
The meaning is clear, direct, and logical. Excellent!

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