<p>Does anyone have a comprehensive resource for these? I checked out Sparknotes, but I would like greater clarification. Thanks!</p>
<p>Although many different people have different strengths and weaknesses is specific parts of grammar, I believe misplaced modifiers are one of the most easiest mistakes to find. The reason why they’re so easy is because they are so silly. Modifiers have no special meaning… all modifiers are words or phrases that modify something else. Misplaced modifiers are just modifiers that modify things opposed to the initial intention of the reader.</p>
<p>FOR EXAMPLE:
A correct sentence would say: I ate only vegetables. A wrong sentence with the misplaced modifier would say: I only ate vegetables. With the modifier “only” at the wrong place in the sentence, the meaning changes completely.</p>
<p>A rule of thumb for wrong modifiers are that they are located closer to the thing they are modifying. Usually, one word modifiers go right before the thing being modified.</p>
<p>What makes misplaced modifiers so hard/easy on the easy on the SAT is interpretation. Never try to interpret that one sentence could mean “this or that”… if the sentence stops making logical sense due to a modifier placement, it is a misplaced modifier.</p>
<p>rasd, I’m not totally I understand sure what you’re saying. I could convince myself that both sentences make sense…</p>
<p>“I ate only vegetables” -> I ate nothing but vegetables</p>
<p>“I only ate vegetables” -> Could this be interpreted as something like… I only ate the vegetables, I didn’t play with them.</p>
<p>Is that what you’re getting at?</p>
<p>I also have trouble with modifiers.</p>
<p>Those two vegetable sentences mean the same thing…</p>
<p>Unless, of course, you’re suggesting that “I only ate vegetables” implies that you did nothing else in your life but eat vegetables. In that case, I’d say your distinction is pedantic.</p>
<p>Ah, I see where you got those from: [Grammar</a> Girl : Misplaced Modifiers :: Quick and Dirty Tips](<a href=“http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/misplaced-modifiers.aspx]Grammar”>http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/misplaced-modifiers.aspx).</p>
<p>I suppose that’s an acceptable example. I prefer, though, her second pair:</p>
<p>I almost failed every art class I took.</p>
<p>I failed almost every art class I took.</p>
<p>Most SAT questions involving modifiers test your ability to recognize ambiguously modifying participial phrases. Here’s the proper form:</p>
<p>PARTICIPAL (usually ending in “ing”) …, SUBJECT OF CLAUSE… </p>
<p>The participial phrase needs to modify the subject of the clause. (Note that this can be reversed (i.e., the participial phrase is at the end of the sentence).</p>
<p>silverturtle, I wasn’t trying to be pedantic, I just over-analyzed. </p>
<p>How is the sentence “I only ate vegetables” using an improper modifier?</p>
<p>Uggg, all these differing opinions, I am so confused. Does anyone have a solid thing I can stick with?</p>
<p>“silverturtle, I wasn’t trying to be pedantic, I just over-analyzed.”</p>
<p>My comment wasn’t directed toward you. It was just based on a misinterpretation.</p>
<p>“Does anyone have a solid thing I can stick with?”</p>
<p>Post #7 is pretty solid, as is this: [Grammar</a> Girl : Misplaced Modifiers :: Quick and Dirty Tips](<a href=“http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/misplaced-modifiers.aspx]Grammar”>http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/misplaced-modifiers.aspx).</p>
<p>It seems my analysis coincides with what Grammar Girl laid out… How is it wrong?</p>
<p>“It was just based on a misinterpretation.”</p>