A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes or qualifies another word or word group in the sentence. There are two types of modifier errors which are common: dangling and misplaced.

Dangling modifiers

In this type of modifier error, the modifies modifies the wrong word because the word it is supposed to modify is absent. As the name suggests, the modifier is left ‘dangling’. A dangling modifier is sometimes difficult to spot because of our natural tendency to supply the missing word automatically when reading the incorrect sentence. Hence, it is imperative to read the sentence carefully and keep track of the word/s that the modifier is supposed to modify.

Here are a few examples of dangling modifiers:

Example 1: Having read the letter sent by the police, the doors and windows were bolted shut.

There is a modifier error in this sentence as clearly the doors and windows did not read the letter from the police. Hence, we can correct the sentence as shown below:

Having read the letter sent by the police, I bolted the doors and windows shut.

Example 2: Celebrating their pay hike, there was a party in the office.

Again, the word which the modifier intends to describe is not present in the sentence. Hence, we can correct it to:

Celebrating their pay hike, the office workers hosted a party in the office.

Misplaced modifiers

A misplaced modifier occurs when the word is placed awkwardly so that we are unsure as to what word/s the modifier is describing. To avoid this problem, we generally place the modifier as close as possible to the word it modifies.

Example 1: Suresh bought a second-hand car from an unscrupulous dealer with a faulty transmission.

In this sentence, the faulty transmission refers to the dealer! It should instead refer to the second-hand car. Hence, let’s move the modifier and place it next to the word car so that the error is corrected. Hence, the correct sentence will be:

Suresh bought a second-hand car with a faulty transmission from an unscrupulous dealer.

Here’s another funny example (source: sinandsyntax.com):

Example 2: The company’s refrigerator held microwavable lunches for 18 employees frozen in the top compartment.

The company’s employees were certainly not frozen in the top compartment of the refrigerator. Instead, it was the microwavable lunches. Hence, again we must move the modifier and place it next to lunches.

The company’s refrigerator held microwavable lunches frozen in the top compartment for 18 employees.

Here are a few more examples. Can you find out the dangling/misplaced modifier error?

1. Walking along the banks of the Yamuna, the Taj Mahal can be seen
2. Climbing the mountain, the birds chirped loudly.
3. Having finished her homework, the TV was turned on.
4. He served samosas to the guests on paper plates.
5. He nearly drives the car for six hours a day.

Leave your answers in the comments below.