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Wience [email protected]
3746-0170
HHB 1630
CC0040CC0040academic English workshopsacademic English workshops
2009-20102009-2010
Session 7Session 7Misplaced ModifiersMisplaced Modifiers
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meanings that you can
think of?The manager announced
that two employees hadresigned
before the meeting.
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What are the possible
meanings that you canthink of?
She likes the music boxon the book cover which
is nicely decorated.
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meanings that you can
think of?
I just teach in thedaytime.
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What is a MisplacedModifier?
A misplaced modifierisinappropriately positioned in asentence.
It makes the sentence unclearwhich word, phrase, or clause is
modified.
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Part A: Diagnostic Test
Identify and underline the misplacedmodifiers in the following paragraphs.
Then, revise these sentences to eliminateerrors of misplaced modifiers in the space
between the lines by putting ^ in thecorrect position.
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Part B:Grammatical principles -
Review
ModifiersModifiers of Nouns
Modifiers of Verbs
Misplaced ModifiersHow to correct misplaced modifiers
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Modifiers
A modifier is a word or groups ofwords which describes or identifiesanother word or group of words in
the same sentence.
It can be a single word, a phrase, ora clause.
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Modifiers of Nouns A modifier may provide more information about a
noun.
More technically, they could be called
adjectivals.
Hong Kong is an international city [single word].
Firms from all over the world establish offices in
Hong Kong [phrase].Only those applicants who have passed the English
proficiency test will be shortlisted for a secondinterview [clause].
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Modifiers of Verbs A modifier may provide more information about a
verb.
More technically, they could be called adverbials.
Having near-native English proficiency can greatlyenhance your job prospects in todays competitivejob market [single word].
In this essay, we will analyse the status of English
from multiple perspectives [phrase].Since the lecturer could establish a friendly
atmosphere in the lesson, students participatedactively in the class learning activities [clause].
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Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier which is placed in a wrongposition can distort the meaning and thusconfuse readers.
You may avoid misplaced modifierproblems by putting modifiers as close aspossible to the words being modified.
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How to correctMisplaced ModifiersPlace modifiers such as even, only, merely,
almost, nearly, justimmediately before thewords they modify.
Example:
Misplaced Modifier: The presenter speaks too soft;the audiences sitting in the front can only hear him.[Onlyintends to modify the audiences.Nevertheless, because of its position, it appears to
modify hearin this sentence.]Revision: The presenter speaks too soft; only the
audiences sitting in the front can hear him.
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Place clause modifiers beginning with who, whichor thatimmediately after the words they modify.
Example:
Misplaced Modifier: The student received full marks in
the test who is always punctual to the class.[who is always punctual to the class intends to modifythe student. Nevertheless, because of its position, itappears to modify the testin this sentence.]
Revision: The student who is always punctual to theclass received full marks in the test.
How to correctMisplaced Modifiers
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Avoid inserting a modifier between to andthe verb that follows [split infinitives].
Example:
Misplaced Modifier:As tropical cyclone signal#8 has just been hoisted, the lecturer asks thestudents to quickly but calmly leave.
Revision:As tropical cyclone signal #8 has just
been hoisted, the lecturer asks the students toleave quickly but calmly.
How to correctMisplaced Modifiers
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Avoid positioning a modifier in a place whereits meaning is ambiguous, i.e. describing bothwhat precedes and what follows them.
Example:
Misplaced Modifier: Tommy said after theexamination he wanted to ask the lecturer for themodel answers.[Did Tommy say this after the examination? Ordid
he have the desire to ask the lecturer for the modelanswers after the examination?]
How to correctMisplaced Modifiers
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Depending on the meaning you want, we may revisethis misplaced modifier problem in either way:
Revision i):After the examination, Tommy said hewanted to ask the lecturer forthe model answers.
[after the examination describing said].
Revision ii): Tommy said he wanted to ask thelecturer for the model answers after theexamination.
[after the examination describing wanted].
How to correctMisplaced Modifiers
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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises
Exercise C1: Identify and underline the modifiers inthe following sentences. Then, circle the word(s)being modified.
1. I do not think anyone can succeed without love.
2. If you lack passion for your work, you will not succeed.
3. Falling in love with your work can make a person performbetter.
4. Michael Jordan, a famous American basketball player whoplayed 1072 games and ended his career with 32,292
points, said in his retirement, What is love? Love is playingevery game as my last.
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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises
Exercise C2: Make sentences using themodifiers given. Then, circle the word(s)being modified.
1.
silently2. for several years
3. without hesitating
4. although you would not believe it
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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises Exercise C3: Identify and underline
the misplaced modifiers in thefollowing paragraphs. Then, revisethese sentences to eliminate errors of
misplaced modifiers in the spacebetween the lines by putting ^ inthe correct position.
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Reflective Writing Practice III(Comments on a Journal
Article)In this task, you are required to
i) read and choose ajournal article relevant to
your study discipline* (Health Care) andii) write a reflection paragraph of100-150 words
on the article.
Due Date: In the Workshop of Week 9
*You may use the electronic resources (e.g. AcademicSearch Premier, Business Source Premier, ProQuest 500)available at the website of the CPCE Libraries to search for a journal article in your studydiscipline.
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