Writing Workshop 1 Handout

Practice: Comma Rules

Unit 3 Test

Modifiers: pg. 257

A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes, limits or qualifies another word or word group in a sentence. A modifier should be placed close to the word it modifies.

Identify Modifiers:

• The bridge across the river swayed in the wind.

• Walking along the shore, Mary watched the boats.

Examples of Misplaced Modifiers:

• Venus de Milo is a statue created by a famous artist with no arms.

• He approached the lion with fear in his heart.

Other examples:

Exercise 27.4

Dangling Modifier: a word or phrase that cannot logically modify any word in the sentence (page 262)

Example:

Using this drug, many undesirable side effects are experienced.

Fix this problem by adding a subject to the sentence.

Practice

Exercise 27.6 (page 263)