Writing - Misplaced Modifiers
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- www.engvid.com "Engvid.com is great for English learners where you can learn many new things about the language." Does that sentence seem OK to you? Well, in this lesson you will find out why it isn't and where the modifying clause should be. Misplaced modifiers are a common problem in writing and after this lesson, should be a problem of the past. Test your writing skill with the quiz here: www.engvid.com/writing-misplac...
TRANSCRIPT:
Hi. Welcome again to www.engvid.com. My name's Adam. Today's lesson is a little bit more advanced. It's actually very useful for native English speakers as well, not only ESL learners. Today we're talking about misplaced modifiers. Now, this is a very important grammar point, plus it's also very, very important for those of you who need to do English writing. Okay? This is a very common mistake that people will see in all kinds of writing. It could be very, very embarrassing sometimes because... You'll understand in a minute why. But I'll show you the different types and we'll figure out a way to fix it as much as we can.
So, first of all, what is a "modifier"? A modifier is anything in a sentence, it could be an adjective or an adverb, a clause, a phrase, anything that modifies something else in the sentence. What does "modify" mean? Means to change, change the meaning of, change the idea of. Okay? So, for example: if you say: "A car", you have an idea of a car. You say: "A red car", you have a different idea of the car probably. So "red" modifies "car".
Okay, so what we're looking at is misplaced modifiers. We have misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers, squinting modifiers. Don't worry about the technical words. Worry about what is actually happening here. So I'm going to start with these examples, and we'll look at a few others in a minute.
So look at these two sentences:
"I call only my mother when I'm sick."
"I only call my mother when I'm sick."
Now, this word: "only" is the modifier we're looking at. It is very, very often misplaced; people don't realize that this word doesn't necessarily go where it should go half the time. It's amazing how many people misplace it. So what does this sentence mean: "I call only my mother when I'm sick"? It means: when I'm sick, I don't call my friends, I don't call my girlfriend or boyfriend, I don't call my aunt or uncle; only my mother. I'm sick: "Mom, come make me some soup, please." You have to be polite, of course.
"I only call my mother when I'm sick." It means: when I'm healthy, I don't call her. I never speak to her, only when I'm sick do I call her. She gets very angry at me, she thinks I'm using her. But according to this sentence, I am, because I only call her when I'm sick. So you understand what this word does to the sentence. Okay? Very, very important where you place it to know which word it's going to modify.
The secret about modifiers: place them close to the word you're trying to modify. But that also doesn't always work.
"People who whistle quickly become annoying."
Now, you're thinking: "This sentence looks okay." The problem is: what does it mean? Is it: "People who whistle quickly, become annoying"? Or: "People who whistle, quickly become annoying"? Which one do you mean? All people who whistle or just people who whistle quickly? I don't think I should whistle, I'll probably blow the mic, but very fast whistling. Right? So, this is called a squinting modifier; you're not sure which word the modifier is going with. How can I fix this? You can probably cut it into two sentences. "I get quickly annoyed by people who whistle." Or: "People who whistle become annoying quickly." Or just change the location or again, just split it into two different sentences, that's another solution.
Here's another one, this is called more... This is more of a dangling modifier:
"I went to see a movie last night with my friend, which was really boring."
Okay, maybe you understand the sentence. I don't. What was boring, the movie or the going out with the friend? This is called a dangling modifier because I don't actually know what it is modifying. I'm not sure what this "which" is, the situation or the movie. So again, to fix it, just bring it closer to the actual thing. I'm going to assume you're talking about the movie. "I went to see a movie last night which was really boring, with my friend." No, that's not a very good way to fix it either. "I went to see a movie which was really boring last night with my friend." That's much better, it's right next to the thing you're modifying. So you want to put this right here, so it modifies the movie itself. Okay? So here're three different examples of misplaced modifiers. Let's look at a few more.
Okay, let's look at a few more examples, and eventually, we'll get to some funny ones that you'll understand why it could be embarrassing.
Sir, you have been one of the best English teacher on CZcams. The world needs more English teachers like you. Your teaching has always been excellent! 5 stars and 5 garlands from me. (Malaysia)
Demon on fire Is “why I’m not able to understand the video”
Yes but his first example was wrong
I agree
@@graciemosko1059 Explain why he's wrong on the first example.
Yeey you got a new subscriber
One of the best English teachers ever. I like every lesson I've went through till now. Very informative. Thank you so much.
I agree with you
I'm totally in love with the way you teach. Thanks from México
Your lessons are amazing! They're clear, fun and useful!
8 years later, and thus has helped me. Thank you!
@englishteacheradam Adam, I am a 48 year old guy studying for a standardized test to get my teaching certificate in Florida. I only speak (American) English and your explanation of this is very clear and very understandable. Thank you for doing the work that you do and you have gained another subscriber to add to your 2.3 million!
Dude, you haven't been paying attention! You mean "I speak *only* (American) English" -- misplaced modifier. 😇
this is a classic lesson. I had those problems, when i write my articles. I just didn't notice. Thanks for point out. love your videos.
U know you r the great teacher i have known on youtube. You teach with all your heart. My English gets better and better. Thanks Adam a lot
Yes, these modifiers have been a bit of a puzzle for long, but now I can say after I heard you, they are less puzzling for I came to you already twice and your medicine has been working well. Thanks.
You are the best teacher, which I have ever seen, you and Emma. Thanks for sharing your great lessons, in a way which nobody did it.
watching this video I've learned what modifiers look like, I realized that I've learned new words and made my vocabulary more expanded, and enhanced, cheers. This Learned Grammar will assist me a lot to acquire obtained knowledge in my speech, thanks
I like how you explained modifiers in a simple way!
:)
Thank you for this lesson. It's very helpful and you presented very clearly. Good job!
Wow your strategic way of teaching is AMAZING! Thanks! Learning some basic english grammar for the police academy praying your teaching works!
Happy New Year and much success, Romulo from Brazil
9 years later and your videos still help me , thanks!
I love your explanations. Can you do one on when to place commas in more complex sentences?
Your talant is definitely teaching. Thank you&all best from Bulgaria!
Hey Adam! I love your lessons. Could it be possible you teach something about gerunds and participles sentences? That woud be very useful for me . Thanks a lot.
Excellent lesson! 👏 You did explain the reason why the modifiers are misplaced and what they did to the meaning of the sentences clearly . thank you, Adam! 🙏
Wow you are a perfect teacher I wish you were my tutor 😅, I was struggling with this topic and you came and make me understand this topic in a minute ❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Adam... Very useful explanation.
Thanks bro! I have trouble understanding this particular lesson. You taught the lesson very well for me to understand.
Hi teacher .Hapy new year.you are the best .thank you for all your help.
Adam, you`re the man! Clear explanation... Thank you
Mr Adam, I am absolutely interested to watch your lessons, so thank you very much
Thanks Adam, you help me to realise some mistakes i have made many times since i started to study English
Adam is my favorite teacher on engvid.. He is amazingly funny and smart
I´ll see you again. Thanks a lot.
I like your prosody, speed and fluency when you talk.
"The bear has some strange intentions" - lol, super! Рассмешили меня
Thank you for your lesson of clarity. Our lives are already full of confusion. From now on, I'll be more careful and try not to make people more confused by these misplaced modifiers.
I'm totally in love with the way you teach. Thanks straight from Saudi
Wow that's really interesting adam. I said this before but it doesn't matter, you're such a great teacher
This is one of the most challeging things when. writing English.
I love to play with words , even in English words, and say everything in short way. And make mistakes, like you showed.
Many thanks for this lesson.🌸😊
Adam, a very helpful lesson, ESPECIALLY for native speakers. It's too common a mistake. You mentioned the definition of the second "only" sentence is that the speaker calls his mother only when he's sick, but that would be true if the sentence were, "I call my mother only when I'm sick." The sentence, as it's written, means the speaker doesn't do any action towards his mother other than calling; he doesn't invite her, greet her, love her, etc. On the other hand, thank you for skipping over "my friend" completely when discussing possible nouns to which "which" could refer. "My friend" is a person and would, therefore, require "who"! Useful, easily digestible stuff here. Thank you!
Princeton to Private huoghj
That's a really interesting and useful lesson. Thank you
than you so much i kinda didn't understand modifiers and i have a test on Monday so i was relying on a CZcams video and this one happened to pop up and it was very helpful because i do struggle in English.
Thanks. It 's really help me to understand the lessons more clearly.
you have been one of the best English teacher on CZcams
You are a very good teacher!
Hey Adam, greetings from Venezuela, I like your lessons, They are very useful for those who really want to learn a real english, I also like the way you pronounce and speak english, I'd like copy your accent. :D
No disrespect, but don't try to copy someone's accent. I teach in Jakarta, and often hear the question if I can speak in a British accent. First of all, there is no such thing as British accent. Second, I am not British, so I will never have a British accent, even if I live 25 years in UK. (That was just an example)
Thanks for your point Jakob.
Excellent lesson, Adam!
However, regarding "I only call my mother when I'm sick", that sentence would mean that the person only *calls* his mother when he's sick -- ie, he doesn't text her, email her or visit her; he only calls her. The correct version would would be "I call my mother *only* when I'm sick." In that sentence, the subject is saying that he calls his mother *only* when he's sick -- when he isn't, he never calls her.
Regarding "She saw dark rain clouds on the way to the park", another option would have been simply to place a comma before "on the way to the park"; however, the better option is, as you said, "On the way to the park, she saw dark rain clouds."
Great stuff!
Invaluable, humorous, and informative!
Thank you very much for that!
I watched a few videos regarding this topic, but I didn't actually understand anything. Unfortunately, plenty of teachers try to explain the subject; meanwhile, they do not absolutely understand it themselves. I was under the impression that motifiers are extremely overwhelming and it is almost impossible to master them; now, however, I have a quite deep understanding of them due to this marvelous video, of course. The only thing that I wanted to point to and remind other people "Don't forget to practice, as 'If you don't use it, you lose it!'"
Regards from Ukraine!
I really had problems in understanding English but your explanation is excellent after 10 years.
One of the best English instructor
thanks for your work
i couldn't understand people speaking English so like that. but your language is so polite that i understood within a while... 😊
Thank you so much for that great input
could you explain when we use upon .thank you for teaching
this was very helpful, thank you so much!!
it's really helpful thank you, Mr. Adam
Hi, I have enjoyed the class.Thank you once again. Love the way you teach. :)
Adam you speak so clear that sometimes I forget you are speaking in English.
Once again you did it! Great lesson teacher!. Would it be possible for you to make a lesson on INVERSIONS?
This is why we all love Adam...
Excellent lesson. Thanks, Adam.
"Oh, I'm so dirty, I don't want to eat this apple.."🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
LOL
ur so annoying'
Thanks Adam, I really like to watch your videos,they are so beneficial in an amazing way
Best regards,
good job man ... you are the best
Really appreciate such lessons.
very good video, would you give us additional lessons like these ones. thank you so much
well done Adam :) thank you. ( my favorite teacher) :p
thats what i was looking for! u got me totally absorbed to the lecture
I had a good laugh when you greeted the clouds on their way to the park. Thank you, sir.
thank you Adam. I enjoy your class.
Thx Adam! love the way u teach:)
Clearly explained it! Thanks man!
Thanks for the video, Adam! Merry Christmas and have a great 2014! Oh, and kisses from Brasil :*
Hello
Thank you so much I haven’t pass in my midterm exam in grammar lesson but i really get benefits from your videos i think you helped me more than my own teacher in university 😅
Excellent job! I understand your presentation. Thanks!
Excellent! Thanks Adam!
So thank you to speak slowly to understand every body..
So 🙏💕🙏💕🙏💕
I am from India🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
RIP English
@@realdealholyfield9616 Indian fact xd
Great lesson, teacher! Thanks a lot : )
Fast, clear and funny, thanks Adam.
You are a great teacher. Keep it up!
Thank you so much it helped me alot because I didn't understand to my teacher but I understand to you and I like how you explain thanks for your videos 😊
So thank you very much.I realy like your teaching method and your explanation.
Thank you so much for very clear explanation.
"Maybe you want to eat the apple when you're dirty, it could clean you up inside." This man is adorable, I kinda just want to hear him narrate my life from now on
wow, really great .i had watched several videos on youtube about this topic, but this video was the best. thanks
Won't it be better to say, 'On seeing the bear, Jeremy ran away in his pyjamas. That would be a good use of participal phrase.
@@radhaenator Adam explained it perfectly. The sentence he lifted from Groucho is grammatically incorrect. He pointed out how with the next sentence, I have no idea how the bear got into Jeremy's underwear.
Ha!
Haha this is awesome! I have an exam for English Comp on Wed and this will help me a great deal. Thank You.
Thanks for this, May God Bless you always!🙏
Best teacher he explain the grammar easily for foreign and beginner's thanks a lot😅😅
Amazing explanation. Thanks
That was great man !! Thank you very much
Great class!!!
thanks for the great lessons
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
You're a great teacher .
Thank you. It was really helpful.
Dear Adam
your logic is always strong.
I'm enjoying your teach style. Thank.
I got 100% at your test, thank you for this vid :)
Very useful, thank you!
thank you so much indeed Adam!!
Thank you so much. You're such a great help :D
I've been studying English and I find that Adam is the most useful, powerful tool (sorry to label you as a tool, Adam!) on the whole web. I've been following all your lessons. I consider you as my friend :)
Ps: Could/Can/May/Might I add you to my friends list on Facebook?
Adam you are the best!!!
great post! thank you Adam :)
you are a great teacher thank you so much !!!!
great video !! thank you so much!