Misplaced and dangling modifiers

Grammar

CCSS L.7.1.CEngland: KS3 GrammarEngland: GCSE English Language (clarity)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Misplaced and dangling modifiers.

I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
I can explain each step and say why it works.
I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses

Leads to: Modifier placement in complex sentences; Placing only, just, almost and nearly; Fixing dangling participle phrases

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? the tall man in the grey coat (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → phrasePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? which was covered in mud (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → subordinate clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? we missed the start (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → main clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.

Hook · 3 min

Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
Share the objective: Misplaced and dangling modifiers. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
Example: Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Nadia ate only one biscuit. • Nadia ate one only biscuit. • Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. • Nadia only ate one biscuit only.
Step 1: A modifier must sit next to the word it describes; otherwise the sentence says something silly (like keys running for a bus).
Step 2: So the answer is: Nadia ate only one biscuit.
Answer: Nadia ate only one biscuit.
Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. • After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. • After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. • The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. (After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. / After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. / After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. / The TV, after finishing her homework, was on.) → After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. • After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. • After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. • The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. (After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. / After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. / After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. / The TV, after finishing her homework, was on.) → After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Nadia ate only one biscuit. • Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. • Nadia only ate one biscuit only. • Nadia ate one only biscuit. (Nadia ate only one biscuit. / Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. / Nadia only ate one biscuit only. / Nadia ate one only biscuit.) → Nadia ate only one biscuit.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Covered in chocolate, I thought the cake looked delicious. • Covered in chocolate, the children loved the cake. • Covered in chocolate, the cake looked delicious. • Covered in chocolate, we ate the cake. (Covered in chocolate, I thought the cake looked delicious. / Covered in chocolate, the children loved the cake. / Covered in chocolate, the cake looked delicious. / Covered in chocolate, we ate the cake.) → Covered in chocolate, the cake looked delicious.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?

Watch out for

Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

Review first: Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses.
Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

Move on to: Modifier placement in complex sentences; Placing only, just, almost and nearly; Fixing dangling participle phrases.
Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Misplaced and dangling modifiers

Name

Date

Score/ 6

1
Question 1
Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • We saw a deer on our walk with huge antlers. • We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk. • With huge antlers, we saw a deer on our walk. • On our walk with huge antlers, we saw a deer.
- A. We saw a deer on our walk with huge antlers.
- B. We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk.
- C. With huge antlers, we saw a deer on our walk.
- D. On our walk with huge antlers, we saw a deer.
2
Question 2
Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. • After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. • After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. • After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.
- A. The TV, after finishing her homework, was on.
- B. After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on.
- C. After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film.
- D. After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.
3
Question 3
Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • While I was walking home, a dog followed me. • Walking home, a dog followed me. • While walking home, a dog followed me. • A dog followed me walking home, while.
- A. While I was walking home, a dog followed me.
- B. Walking home, a dog followed me.
- C. While walking home, a dog followed me.
- D. A dog followed me walking home, while.
4
Question 4
Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • On our walk with huge antlers, we saw a deer. • We saw a deer on our walk with huge antlers. • We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk. • With huge antlers, we saw a deer on our walk.
- A. On our walk with huge antlers, we saw a deer.
- B. We saw a deer on our walk with huge antlers.
- C. We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk.
- D. With huge antlers, we saw a deer on our walk.
5
Question 5
Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. • After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. • After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. • After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film.
- A. The TV, after finishing her homework, was on.
- B. After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on.
- C. After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.
- D. After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film.
6
Question 6
Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. • After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. • The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. • After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on.
- A. After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film.
- B. After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.
- C. The TV, after finishing her homework, was on.
- D. After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on.

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Answer key: Misplaced and dangling modifiers

1. B. We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk.
2. D. After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.
3. A. While I was walking home, a dog followed me.
4. C. We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk.
5. C. After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.
6. B. After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.