Download Correcting Common Sentence Errors: Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers, Faulty Parallelism and more Assignments English Language in PDF only on Docsity!
Continued: Common sentence errors Check your textbook from page 21-
3. Misplaced modifier: Logically, modifiers should be placed with words, phrases or clauses they modify. When they are placed apart or too far from the words, nouns, pronouns, phrases or clauses they modify, they are known as misplaced modifiers. A modifier should be placed next to the word it describes. Or , to correct a sentence with misplaced modifier, move the modifier as close as possible to the word it modifies. Therefore, make sure the modifier clearly refers to the element you want to modify in your text. Examples : 1. Misplaced: Cleaned and polished, Azeb proudly viewed her car. (Who is cleaned and polished? Azeb or her car?) Corrected: Azeb proudly viewed her cleaned and polished car. (Participial phrase correctly modifying car)
- Misplaced : George could not drive to work in his small sports car with a broken leg. (The meaning of this sentence is the car has broken leg which is not logical.) Corrected: With a broken leg, George could not drive to work in his small sports car.
- Misplaced : My brother nearly studies for five hours every day. Corrected: My brother studies nearly for five hours every day.
- Misplaced : A fish was found in the Pacific Ocean that had been considered extinct. Corrected : A fish that was considered extinct was found in the Pacific Ocean.
- Misplaced : Sam asked me to go for a ride on the telephone. Corrected : On the telephone, Sam asked me to go for a ride.
4. Dangling modifier: To modify means to qualify or limit the meaning of a word, phrase, or a clause. Thus, in grammar, a modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that qualifies or limits other words, phrases, or clauses. When the modifier occurs at the beginning of the sentence, readers usually expect it to modify the subject of the sentence. When it doesn’t logically do that, the modifier is said to be dangle. The word or phrase that needs to be modified is left out of the sentence/ it is a modifier that modifies a term not clearly stated in the sentence. It does not modify any word in the sentence in which it appears. The effects of such phrases and clauses maybe confusing and misleading. In short, dangling modifier is either in the wrong place or missing. To fix this kind of error in sentence production/writing, rewrite the sentence by adding a noun/pronoun/word to which the dangling phrase clearly refers. Examples: 1. Following the recipe carefully, the soup was made. What does the sentence mean? Who followed the recipe carefully? The participial phrase following the recipe is not modifying any word in the sentence. The word or phrase that needs to be modified is left out of the sentence. By supplying a word that can be modified by the dangling modifier, you can correct the sentence. Following the recipe carefully, the woman made the soup. 2. After trying the combination several times, the lock finally opened. As you can see in the construction, who tried the combination several times is not mentioned and due to this the participial phrase, after trying the combination several times , dangles making the whole sentence absurd or illogical. It is important to remember that: a) The modifier and the word modified should be as near each other as possible. b) The main clause following an introductory verbal modifier should begin with a subject which names the logical person or thing to do the act (or have the state of being /referred to by the verbal). You can correct the above sentence by providing /supplying the missing element(s): After trying the combination several times, Aster finally opened the lock. See examples from your textbook on page 21
Used in a sentence, they create a jarring effect and produce writing with unclear emphasis and meaning. We call such an error "faulty parallelism." Parallel clauses: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Parallel phrases : This is a government of the people, for the people, by the people. Parallel words: The salad contains tomatoes, lettuce, and onions. With lists after a colon or lists in series When listing a series of things, ideas, or actions, make sure that all the elements in a list have the same grammatical structure. a. The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings and looking up irregular verbs. (Non- parallel) Revised : The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings and irregular verbs. b. The work of the department is identifing problems, some research on how to solve them, and to recommend the best solution. (Non- parallel) Revised: The work of the department is identifing problems, researching on how to solve them, and recommending the best solution. Or The work of the department is to identify problems, to research on how to solve them, and to recommend the best solution. c. Faulty: The frustrated customer wanted to exchange the article, to obtain a refund, or she wanted to speak to the manager. Revised: The frustrated customer wanted to exchange the article, to obtain a refund, or to speak to the manager. Revised: The frustrated customer wanted to exchange the article, obtain a refund, or speak to the manager. With coordinating conjunctions
When joining two words or word groups by the coordinating conjunctions, each word or word group must have the same grammatical functions. a. He enjoys playing football and to read different fictions. (Non-parallel) Revised : He enjoys playing football and reading different fictions. b. My friend blocked well, but tackles unskillfully. (Non- parallel) Revised : My friend blocked well, but tackled unskillfully. Or my friend blocks well, but tackles unskillfully. c. My uncle likes to eat in expensive restaurants and visiting museums. (Non-parallel) My uncle likes to eat in expensive restaurants and to visit museums.(Parallel phrase) My uncle likes eating in expensive restaurants and visiting museums. (Parallel phrase) d. Faulty: My friends never judged me by my words or what I did. Revised: My friends never judged me by my words or my actions. Revised : My friends never judged me by what I said or (by) what I did. With correlative conjunctions These includes: either…or , neither…nor , not only….but also , both…. and , need to have the same or balanced patterns both before and after the half of the pair. Examples: a. This book is not only broader, but also the most difficult one. (Non- parallel) Revised : This book is not only broader, but also more difficult. Or This book is not only the broadest, but also the most difficult one. b. That man is either a thief or robbing the bank. (Non- parallel) Revised : That man is either a thief or a robber.
Exercise 6: Rewrite the following sentences by correcting the faulty references of pronouns. (1-
- on your textbook on page 23 ASSIGNMENT: ( Dear all students, all the following exercises are from sentence faults taken from your course book. Thus, rewrite all the sentences under each exercise and submit to my telegram account. Use a single page and send me only your revised sentences. Exercise 3: Rewrite the following sentences by placing the modifiers at the appropriate position. (1-5) from your textbook on page 21 Exercise 4 : Correct the dangling modifiers in the following sentences (1-5) on page 22 Exercise 5 Rewrite the following sentences by correcting the faulty parallelism error (1-5) on page 22
