Modifiers: misplaced and dangling
A modifier in the wrong place changes the meaning, and examiners read it literally.
Rules with examples
An opening phrase must describe the subject that follows it.
Place 'only', 'just', 'almost', 'even' directly before the word they limit.
Keep descriptive phrases next to the noun they describe.
Modifiers: misplaced and dangling: exercises with answers
- After reading the report, the decision seemed wrong.
- After reading the report, I thought the decision was wrong.
- After reading the report, the decision was wrong.
- Reading the report, the decision seemed wrong to me.
Show answer
After reading the report, I thought the decision was wrong. — The person reading must be the subject.
- The budget only gives a small share to education.
- The budget gives only a small share to education.
- Only the budget gives a small share to education.
- The budget gives a small share only to education.
Show answer
The budget gives only a small share to education. — 'Only' limits 'a small share'.
- Facing a debt crisis, Pakistan turned to the IMF.
- Facing a debt crisis, the IMF was approached by Pakistan.
- Pakistan, facing a debt crisis, turned to the IMF.
- Because it faced a debt crisis, Pakistan turned to the IMF.
Show answer
Facing a debt crisis, the IMF was approached by Pakistan. — It says the IMF faced the debt crisis.
- Destroyed by floods, farmers lost their crops.
- Farmers lost crops destroyed by floods.
- Farmers lost their crops, which floods had destroyed.
- Destroyed by floods, the government compensated farmers.
Show answer
Farmers lost their crops, which floods had destroyed. — The modifier clearly attaches to 'crops'.
Correct these sentences
Show correction
✓ Because Pakistan has weak institutions, foreign investors avoid it.
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✓ We lost almost all our forests.
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✓ In the Lahore Resolution of 1940, Muslims demanded a separate homeland.
Studied in Week 7 alongside Module 7: Critical thinking.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dangling modifier?
An opening phrase whose intended subject is missing from the sentence, so it attaches to the wrong noun.