Learn on PengiElements of Language, 2nd CourseChapter 11: Using Modifiers Correctly: Comparison and Placement

Lesson 5: Placement of Modifiers B

In this Grade 5 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 2nd Course, students learn how to correctly place participial phrases and adjective clauses to avoid misplaced and dangling modifiers. The lesson explains how a participial phrase placed too far from the noun or pronoun it modifies creates a misplaced modifier, and how a participial phrase with no logical word to modify creates a dangling modifier. Students practice identifying and correcting both errors, as well as repositioning misplaced adjective clauses that begin with relative pronouns such as who, whose, and that.

Section 1

Misplaced and Dangling Participial Phrases

Definition

A participial phrase consists of a verb form and any modifiers or complements of the participle. The verb form in a participial phrase is either a present participle or a past participle. A participial phrase modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Explanation

Think of a participial phrase as a description that needs to be right next to what it's describing! If it's too far away, it becomes a misplaced modifier. If it doesn't clearly describe anything in the sentence, it's a dangling modifier. Always check that your phrase points to the right noun or pronoun. Remember that present participles end in -ing and past participles often end in -ed.

Examples

  • MISPLACED: We saw a dog on the way to the park wagging its tail excitedly. [Was the park wagging its tail?]
  • CLEAR: On the way to the park, we saw a dog wagging its tail excitedly.
  • DANGLING: Confused by the patient’s symptoms, more tests were ordered. [Were the tests confused?]
  • CLEAR: Confused by the patient’s symptoms, the doctor ordered more tests.

Section 2

Misplaced Adjective Clauses

Definition

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Explanation

An adjective clause gives more information about a noun, like a little descriptive add-on. These clauses often start with words like who, which, or that. To avoid confusion, you must place the clause directly after the noun or pronoun it's modifying. Otherwise, your sentence might say something very different from what you mean!

Examples

  • MISPLACED: The boy walked the dog who was wearing a red collar. [Was the boy wearing the collar?]
  • CLEAR: The boy walked the dog who was wearing a red collar.
  • MISPLACED: The movie was exciting that we saw yesterday. [Was yesterday exciting?]
  • CLEAR: The movie that we saw yesterday was exciting.

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Chapter 11: Using Modifiers Correctly: Comparison and Placement

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Forms of Modifiers

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Degrees of Comparison

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Regular and Irregular Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Placement of Modifiers A

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  5. Lesson 5Current

    Lesson 5: Placement of Modifiers B

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Misplaced and Dangling Participial Phrases

Definition

A participial phrase consists of a verb form and any modifiers or complements of the participle. The verb form in a participial phrase is either a present participle or a past participle. A participial phrase modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Explanation

Think of a participial phrase as a description that needs to be right next to what it's describing! If it's too far away, it becomes a misplaced modifier. If it doesn't clearly describe anything in the sentence, it's a dangling modifier. Always check that your phrase points to the right noun or pronoun. Remember that present participles end in -ing and past participles often end in -ed.

Examples

  • MISPLACED: We saw a dog on the way to the park wagging its tail excitedly. [Was the park wagging its tail?]
  • CLEAR: On the way to the park, we saw a dog wagging its tail excitedly.
  • DANGLING: Confused by the patient’s symptoms, more tests were ordered. [Were the tests confused?]
  • CLEAR: Confused by the patient’s symptoms, the doctor ordered more tests.

Section 2

Misplaced Adjective Clauses

Definition

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun.

Explanation

An adjective clause gives more information about a noun, like a little descriptive add-on. These clauses often start with words like who, which, or that. To avoid confusion, you must place the clause directly after the noun or pronoun it's modifying. Otherwise, your sentence might say something very different from what you mean!

Examples

  • MISPLACED: The boy walked the dog who was wearing a red collar. [Was the boy wearing the collar?]
  • CLEAR: The boy walked the dog who was wearing a red collar.
  • MISPLACED: The movie was exciting that we saw yesterday. [Was yesterday exciting?]
  • CLEAR: The movie that we saw yesterday was exciting.

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 11: Using Modifiers Correctly: Comparison and Placement

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Forms of Modifiers

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Degrees of Comparison

    LearnPractice
  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Regular and Irregular Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

    LearnPractice
  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Placement of Modifiers A

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  5. Lesson 5Current

    Lesson 5: Placement of Modifiers B

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