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Grammar: Difference between revisions
→Modifiers, intensifiers & qualifiers
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== Modifiers | == Modifiers == | ||
* modifiers change or add or "modify" the meaning of a word or sentence | * modifiers change or add or "modify" the meaning of a word or sentence | ||
* modifiers provide or extent additional meaning to the reader | * modifiers provide or extent additional meaning to the reader | ||
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>> to do | >> to do | ||
=== | === modifier errors: dangling modifiers === | ||
* | * a modifier that has no word or phrase to modify | ||
* ''' | ** i.e., it stands by itself, which is inherently illogical since a modifier must have something to modify | ||
** | ** usually, dangling modifiers occur with participial phrases (using the -ing present participle) or prepositional phrases | ||
*** | ** dangling modifiers frequently mistake the target of the modification, such as modifying one thing, then discussing another | ||
** examples: | |||
* | ** wrong: ''While playing around, it was late'' | ||
*** | *** correct: ''While playing around, I noticed it was late" | ||
** wrong: ''Driving to school, I forgot my homework'' | |||
*** correct: ''Driving to school, I realized I forgot my homework'' | |||
=== modifier errors: misplaced modifiers === | |||
* a modifier that is next to or seemingly modifies the word or phrase | |||
* examples. | |||
** wrong: ''The student failed the test in the back of the class'' | |||
*** correct: ''The student in the back of the class failed the test'' | |||
** wrong: ''The teacher gave a grade to the student that was really good'' | |||
*** correct: ''The teacher gave a really good grade to the student'' | |||
=== modifier errors: pre and post adverbs === | |||
* modifier placement can change the meaning of a sentence: | |||
* example: | |||
** ''The student almost failed every test'' | |||
** v. ''The student failed almost every test'' | |||
*** here the modifier "almost" is an adverb | |||
** ''The mechanic only works on trucks on Tuesdays'' | |||
*** = on Tuesdays the mechanic works on trucks and nothing else | |||
** v. ''The mechanic works on trucks only on Tuesdays'' | |||
*** = it is only on Tuesdays that the mechanic will work on trucks (but might also work on cars, as well) | |||
== Sentence diagramming == | == Sentence diagramming == | ||