Correcting Misplaced Modifiers | Word Usage Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the problem step by step. The task is to correct the misplaced modifiers in each sentence. A *misplaced modifier* is a word, phrase, or clause that is placed too far from the word it's meant to modify, leading to confusion or an illogical meaning.

We'll go through each sentence, identify the misplaced modifier, and rewrite the sentence correctly.

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1. They gave a cat to my sister named Fluffy.

- Problem: The phrase "named Fluffy" is placed after "my sister," which makes it seem like *the sister* is named Fluffy.
- But the intended meaning is that *the cat* is named Fluffy.

✔ Corrected Sentence:
They gave a cat named Fluffy to my sister.

> ✔ Explanation: Now "named Fluffy" clearly modifies "cat."

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2. The student was punished by the teacher who cheated on the test.

- Problem: The phrase "who cheated on the test" is attached to "teacher," implying the teacher cheated.
- But logically, it’s likely the *student* who cheated.

✔ Corrected Sentence:
The student who cheated on the test was punished by the teacher.

> ✔ Explanation: Now "who cheated on the test" clearly refers to the student.

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3. Chased by a lion, the photographers saw a terrified gazelle.

- Problem: The participial phrase "Chased by a lion" is placed at the beginning and seems to modify "photographers."
- That would mean the photographers were chased — but that doesn’t make sense with “saw a terrified gazelle.”
- The gazelle is the one being chased, not the photographers.

✔ Corrected Sentence:
The photographers saw a gazelle that was chased by a lion.

> ✔ Explanation: Now it’s clear that the gazelle (not the photographers) was chased.

Alternatively:
The photographers saw a terrified gazelle being chased by a lion.

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4. The pilot wore a uniform to fly the plane that was covered in gold buttons.

- Problem: The phrase "that was covered in gold buttons" could be interpreted as modifying "plane" or "uniform."
- But if it modifies "plane," it implies the plane has gold buttons — unlikely.
- If it modifies "uniform," it makes more sense: the uniform had gold buttons.

But the current structure suggests the plane is covered in gold buttons.

✔ Corrected Sentence:
The pilot wore a uniform covered in gold buttons to fly the plane.

> ✔ Explanation: Now "covered in gold buttons" clearly modifies "uniform."

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5. Three homes were reported burned by the fire department in July.

- Problem: The phrase "by the fire department" appears to modify "burned," suggesting the fire department burned the homes.
- But that’s not the case — they *reported* the burning.

✔ Corrected Sentence:
Three homes were reported to have been burned in July by the fire department.

Or better:
The fire department reported in July that three homes were burned.

> ✔ Explanation: This avoids ambiguity and clearly states that the fire department *reported* the event.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. They gave a cat named Fluffy to my sister.
2. The student who cheated on the test was punished by the teacher.
3. The photographers saw a gazelle that was chased by a lion.
4. The pilot wore a uniform covered in gold buttons to fly the plane.
5. The fire department reported in July that three homes were burned.

These corrections ensure clarity and proper grammar by placing modifiers close to the words they modify.