A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes another word or group of words. In the following examples, the modifier is in blue and word(s) it describes is in green.
- I absolutely despise the smell of buttered popcorn.
- The man in the corner is Paul’s father.
- The group of students who are presenting today are all in their first year.
Students make two main kinds of mistakes with their modifiers; they are either in the wrong location of the sentence (Misplaced Modifiers), or they do lack a word or group of words to modify (Dangling Modifiers).
Misplaced Modifiers
Look at the following examples. Where are the modifiers? What are they trying to describe?
- There was a book on the shelf that I hadn't seen since my childhood.
- She would almost read to me every night before bed.
- Climbing a tree, my grandmother saw her cat.
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