What is a modifier?
A modifier is a word, phrase or clause that describes or limits another word, phrase or clause.
An adjective is an example of a modifier. Look at this first sentence:
This is a bag.
Then look at this next sentence:
This is a leather bag.
In the second sentence we have included the word leather as an adjective to describe the bag. The word leather is a modifier that tells us more about the bag.
An adverb can also be used to modify
The cat stretched lazily. In this sentence the adverb lazily is a modifier describing how the cat stretched. The adverb lazily is modifying the verb stretched.
A modifier can be a phrase.
Example: Richard picked up the stone with the rounded edges. The phrase with the rounded edges is a modifier of the noun stone. The phrase is describing the stone.
A clause can be a modifier.
Example: He took a walk after he washed the dishes. The clause …after he washed the dishes describes or tells when the action of taking a walk took place.
Misplaced modifiers
Where you place a modifier determines the meaning of your message. A misplaced modifier is one that is placed too far from the word that it is describing. This can make your meaning unclear or ambiguous. You should place your modifiers close to the word or words they modify.
Example: She put the plastic laptop cover on the table.
This seems to mean that the laptop is plastic. Or is it the cover that is plastic? It is unclear.
She put the plastic cover of the laptop on the table. When you put the modifier plastic next to the word it describes the sentence becomes clear.
Here is another example of a misplaced modifier.
Example: The dog is lying under the table that is heavily bandaged. This sentence is very awkward because the modifier is placed close to the word table suggesting that the table is bandaged. To make the sentence clear the modifier…that is heavily bandaged should be placed next to the word dog that it is describing.
Limiting modifiers
Words such as never, only, almost, just, hardly, scarcely, simply and merely limit the word they precede. Where you place these words in a sentence affects the meaning of the sentence. Here are some examples of how the placement of the word only can change the meaning of the sentence.
Scientists say that ants live in colonies only.
(The ants do not live in any other type of organisation)
Only scientists say that ants live in colonies.
(Nobody else says that)
Scientists say that only ants live in colonies.
(No other insects live in colonies)
Remember to place only or any other limiting modifier in a position that gives the sentence the meaning you intend.
Dangling modifiers
A dangling modifier occurs when the noun or pronoun to which it refers is not in the sentence. Sometimes a dangling modifier is called a dangling participle or hanging participle. When a sentence begins with a participle it must refer to a noun or pronoun in the main clause.
Example: After watering the plants the gardener closed the gate.
After watering the plants refers to the noun gardener. It is the gardener who is doing the action of watering the plants. In this sentence the modifying phrase is not dangling.
Now change the sentence to …
After watering the plants the gate was closed.
In this sentence there is no reference to who is doing the action. The noun gate in the main clause cannot water the plants. After watering the plants is a dangling modifier. In order to correct this you have to put a noun in the main clause to which the modifier can refer as we did in the first sentence.
Examples: Rowing across the river, the moonlight glowed on the water.
Dangling modifier. The moonlight cannot row.
Rowing across the river I saw how the moonlight glowed on the water.
Corrected sentence. Include the pronoun I to show who was doing the action.
The rain came down while walking the dog.
Dangling modifier (The rain cannot walk the dog)
While George was walking the dog the rain came down.
Corrected sentence. (We include a noun to which the modifier can refer.)
When you write be sure to avoid dangling and misplaced modifiers. Be very careful where you place limiting modifiers. Make your writing clear and easy to understand.