HSPT: Modifiers: put the description next to its target
Learn to spot dangling and misplaced modifiers, including opening -ing phrases, with-phrases, which-clauses and the word only, and pick the sentence that says what it means.
How can you tell which sentence attaches a describing phrase to the right person or thing?
Short answer
A describing phrase attaches to the nearest noun it could describe. After an opening phrase, the next noun must be the one doing that action; otherwise, move the words so the description touches its target.
Know first: Subjects and verbs, Phrases that describe nouns
Step 1 of 5
A modifier describes whatever it touches
A modifier is a word or phrase that describes something: holding a map, with long ears, which was leaking. Readers attach a modifier to the nearest noun it could describe. When that noun is the wrong one, the sentence says something silly.
Holding a map, the forest seemed endless to Kai. The forest isn't holding the map. An opening phrase with no correct noun after it is called a dangling modifier.
| Error | Wrong | Right |
|---|---|---|
| Opening -ing phrase | Holding a map, the forest seemed endless to Kai. | Holding a map, Kai thought the forest seemed endless. |
| With-phrase in the wrong spot | We bought a lamp from the old shop with a green shade. | From the old shop, we bought a lamp with a green shade. |
| Which-clause after the wrong noun | I returned the kettle to the store, which was leaking. | I returned the kettle, which was leaking, to the store. |
| Only in the wrong spot | Jess only ate the crust. (when you mean she ate nothing else) | Jess ate only the crust. |
In every fix, the description sits right next to the noun it describes.
Step 2 of 5
Fix an opening phrase
Worked example: Who is reading?
Which sentence correctly describes the person reading the recipe?
- AReading the recipe aloud, the oven was preheated by Marisol.
- BReading the recipe aloud, Marisol preheated the oven.
- CMarisol preheated the oven, which was reading the recipe aloud.
- DReading the recipe aloud, there was an oven to preheat.
- 1
Ask who does the action
Only a person can read a recipe aloud. Here that's Marisol.
- 2
Check the first noun after the comma
In the second choice, the first noun after the comma is Marisol. The phrase attaches to the right person.
- 3
See why the others are there
The first choice puts the oven right after the comma, so the oven is reading. The third uses a which-clause that attaches to oven. The fourth has no reader at all, since there can't read.
Answer
Reading the recipe aloud, Marisol preheated the oven.
Wrong: Theo only practiced the hard song.
Right: Theo practiced only the hard song.
Put only right before the word it limits. To say the hard song was the one song he practiced, only goes before the hard song.
Step 3 of 5
Match each modifier to its target
Check yourself · Question 1
Which sentence correctly attaches the opening phrase?
Answer: B
Ben is the one shaking, and Ben is the first noun after the comma.
Check yourself · Question 2
Which revision makes clear that the bicycle had a bent wheel?
Answer: C
Only this version puts with a bent wheel right after bicycle, the noun it describes.
Trap answer: Jada pushed the bicycle home with a bent wheel.
Close, but not touching
- Why it looks right
- Bicycle is nearby, and you can tell what the writer means.
- Why it's wrong
- Home sits between the bicycle and the phrase, so the phrase seems to describe home or the pushing.
- The right answer
- Jada pushed home the bicycle with a bent wheel, where the phrase touches bicycle.
Check yourself · Question 3
Which sentence makes clear that the jacket was the thing that was torn?
Answer: B
A which-clause attaches to the noun right before it. Here that noun is jacket.
Common mistake
Choosing a sentence because I can tell what the writer meant.
- Why it's tempting
- Your brain fixes the error automatically, so a dangling sentence doesn't look wrong at first.
- Do this instead
- Read each choice literally. Find the first noun after an opening phrase, or the noun just before a which-clause, and ask if that's really the thing being described.
Step 4 of 5
What to remember
Remember
- After an opening describing phrase, the next noun must be the one doing that action.
- Keep with-phrases and which-clauses right next to the noun they describe.
- Put only directly before the word it limits.
Step 5 of 5
Practice on a real question
Use what you just learned on this question, then check the explanation.
In your own words
In the practice question, what was the opening phrase, and which noun came right after the comma in each choice?