Where to Place Modifiers

in a Sentence

University of the Sacred Heart

Department of Humanities
Center for Language Development
Across the Disciplines
LAD
 Objective

To help the student write clear, precise

sentences by placing modifiers correctly
 Modifiers

 Modifying words and phrases are used

to explain, expand, or clarify the
meaning of a sentence

 If modifiers are not properly placed,

the sentence might be confusing
 Placing Modifiers

Find the misplaced modifiers in the

following sentences:
 Myrna distracted Jim when he was about to
study with her friends for the test.
 James entered the room while I was watering
the plants with a cup of tea.
 Placing Modifiers

Look at the correct position of the modifiers now.

 When Jim was about to study for the test.

Myrna distracted him with her friends.

 James entered the room with a cup of tea

while I was watering the plants.
 Placing Modifiers

 In the first case, it is understood that

Jim was going to study with Myrna’s
friends
 Once the modifiers are placed correctly,
it is understood that Myrna and her
friends distracted Jim when he was
about to study
 Placing Modifiers

 In the second case, it is first understood

that I was watering the plants with a cup
of tea
 Once the modifiers are placed correctly,
it is understood that James entered the
room with a cup of tea
 The Use of Commas With
Modifiers
Punctuation is also very important when
placing modifiers.
 John, my brother sneaked out of the house last
night.
 John, my brother, sneaked out of the house
last night.
 The Use of Commas With
Modifiers

 In the first example, it is understood that I am

talking to someone called John, and telling
him that my brother sneaked out last night

 In the second example, it is understood that

John, who is my brother, sneaked out last
night
 Remember

 To write clear sentences, place

adjectives, adverbs, phrases, and other
modifiers near the word or phrase being
modified

 Use commas correctly to convey the

message properly
 For More Information
 Index English Grammar and Composition
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.htm
 Tons of Fun with Grammar
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/flin/103_handouts/sentences
_and_phrases.htm

 Grammar Book Table of Contents

http://
www.grammarbook.com/exercises/grammar/cnt_gra
m.html
Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines

Prepared by: Thalia N. Nazario-Santiago

English Mentor
April-June 2003
Revised by: Patricia Kidd
August 2004
Revised by: Prof. Delia Serrano
January 2005