Elite Grammar Week 6 (Misused modifier)

Limiting modifiers

- A particularly subtle ambiguity can arise with limiting modifiers like *only*, *almost*, *even*, or *just*. - To avoid ambiguity, put words like *almost*, *only*, *even*,*nearly*, *hardly*,*scarcely*, *just*, or *not* directly in front of the words they modify. If you don't, you can easily create a logical implication different from what you intended.

Ambiguous Anchor

- In some sentences, there may be more than one possible anchor for the modifier. This might make the sentence have multiple interpretation (ambiguous). EX: The store owner gave the refund to the man *with a smile*. - By moving the modifier, we can eliminate the possibility of confusion. EX: *With a smile*, the store owner gave the refund to the man. - Another case of ambiguous attachment occurs with adverbs. EX: The veterinarian said *eventually* my dog would recover. - As with previous example, place the adverb so that it clearly modifies only the intended anchor. EX: The veterinarian said my dog would recover *eventually*.

Free modifiers

- It isn't rue that you must always put a modifier next to its anchor. Some modifiers appear at the end of a sentence when the anchor is the subject. - In this position, such elements are called *free modifiers*. They come after the main clause, and it's common to see more than one modifier appear at a time. You can put modifiers in this position only when they refer to the *subject* of the sentence. If the modifier refers to something else, it will probably sound strange. EX: Mark will only ear asparagus only *when it is pureed in a soup*.

Sentence Modifier

- Sometimes a phrase at the beginning of a sentence doesn't need an anchor. These phrases establish a topic for the entire sentence without implying a particular subject. They are often called *sentence modifiers*, because they don't refer to the subject (or any other phrase). Instead they establish a topic or indicate the speaker's attitude. EX: 1) *Frankly*, we were surprised that anyone went to see that horrible movie. 2) *Speaking of Gina*, I saw her at the beach last weekend. - These writing are not dangling modifiers, although some people feel that they are too casual to be suitable in formal writing.

The Basic Principle: Anchor your Modifiers

- You can fix most misused modifiers by placing them next to their anchors. EX: Attracted by the tempting aroma of fresh bread (modifier), Ray (anchor) entered the bakery. - The opening modifier creates a strong impression in readers' minds that the person or thing described by the modifier will follow immediately afterwards. If you violate this expectation, you can create a strange, or even unintentionally humorous, sentence. - Note also that anchors are whole noun phrases, not just possessives. Whatever you find a modifier that begins a sentence, check that the next noun phrase serves as a logical anchor EX: While hailing a taxi (modifier), Martha's new suit (false anchor) was splashed with muddy water by a passing car. - Even though Martha, the logical anchor, does come right after the modifier in this sentence, it isn't a separate noun phrase. In this sentence, it seems as if the suit is doing the hailing.

Method# 1: correction

- revise the main clause to add an appropriate anchor and put the modifier next to that anchor. EX: 1) retracing my steps to the store, *I* found the keys lying on the sidewalk. 2) to find a workable option, *the company* investigated many possible solutions. 3) when ripe, *the tomatoes* that my father grows in the garden are canned

Method# 2: correction

- revise the modifier itself so that it contains its own subject. This revision isn't possible for all modifiers and in most cases, you must make changes to the main clause as well. EX: 1) when *I retraced* my steps to the store, I found the keys lying on the sidewalk. 2) *for the company* to find a workable option, it investigated many possible solutions. 3) When *the tomatoes are* ripe, my father cans them.

Common types of misused modifiers

1) Participial phrase EX: *Retracing my steps to the store*, the keys were lying on the sidewalk. 2) Elliptical clause EX: *when ripe*, my father cans the tomatoes he grows in the garden. 3) Adjectival phrase (Appositive) EX: *smooth and cold*, Preston loves homemade vanilla ice-cream. 4) Prepositional phrase EX: *With a confident attitude*, the test didn't seem as daunting to Peter. 5) Infinitive Phrase EX: *To find a workable option*, many possible solutions were investigated.

Appositive

An *appositive* is a noun phrase that renames another noun phrase and shares the same function in the sentence, or an adjective phrase that describes a quality of the noun phrase. Appositives are normally separated from the rest of the sentence by commas or other interrupting punctuation (dashes). EX: Richard Nixon, *the thirty-seventh President of the United States*, resigned the presidency in disgrace.

Infinitive phrase

An *infinitive* is the base form of the verb, without any tense. Like a participial phrase, an infinitive phrase can include all the ordinary items you find in verb phrases, but it is used either as a noun-phrase substitute or as an adverbial that explains why something happens. Typically, infinitive phrases are introduced by "to". EX: To make Betty happy.

Elliptical clause

In an *elliptical* clause, some part of the clause has been left out by is implied. We can infer what's missing from other parts of the sentence. EX: Ted can run faster *than Harry*.

Modifier

Modifiers are phrases or clauses that add extra descriptive information about a phrase. Modifier is a general category, which includes adjectives and adverbs, as well as anything that acts like an adjective (adjectival) or adverb (adverbial). Modifiers can be one word long. (Remember, Phrases can consist of a single word.) EX: 1) the *green* dress. 2) He worked *quickly*.

Adjectival and Adverbial

The terms *adjectival* and *adverbial* refer to things that work in the same way as adjectives and adverbs, although they may not be adjectives or adverbs themselves. In other words, these terms refer to the function of a unit in the sentence rather than its grammatical form

Anchor

What all these modifiers have in common is that they describe an agent performing an action or attribute a quality to someone or something. We will call that implied person or thing the *anchor*

Participial phrase

is built around the present or past participle. This phrase is formed just like any verb phrase__that is, it can include objects, adverbials, etc..__But it can function as things other than predicate, most commonly adverbials. EX: Distracted by the noise.