Modifiers are words or a group of words that describe other elements in a sentence. While using a modifier, the meaning of the sentence must be clear. Modifiers can act as an adjective, describing nouns and pronouns, or they can act as an adverb, describing verbs, clauses, and other adjectives.
When a Candidate is taking the GMAT exam, he can come across three different modifier errors in the GMAT sentence correction part of the verbal ability section. These errors are:
Let’s understand these errors now:
Dangling modifier errors are the grammatical errors where the modifying word or a group of words is attached to the wrong subject in the sentence or where the subject is missing.
Let’s take an example:
|
Incorrect statement |
Walking through the park, the grass tickled my feet. |
|
The problem |
“Walking through the park” seems to modify the grass. However, in reality, the grass cannot walk through the park. |
|
Correct statement |
Statement 1: The grass tickled my feet as I walked through the park. Statement 2: Walking through the park, I found that the grass tickled my feet. |
For clear & precise meaning of the sentence, the placement of modifiers is important. Modifiers can cause confusion or unintentional humor in a sentence if they are placed too far from the noun they are modifying. In such cases, the sentence fails to communicate the intended meaning.
Let us take an example:
|
Incorrect statement |
The professor posted the notes for the students covered in the class. |
|
The problem |
The modifier, “Covered in the class” appears to modify “the students”. Because the students are not covered in the class, this is a misplaced modifier. |
|
Correct statement |
The professor posted the notes covered in the class for the students. |
These are the toughest to spot errors. It is a misplaced modifier that, because of its location in the sentence, could modify either the phrase that precedes it or the one that follows it. The common errors are the results of the words – only, except, almost & other adverbs.
Let us take an example:
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Incorrect statement |
I am only watching the positive news these days. |
|
The problem |
The reader will get confused as to whether the subject is watching positive news and nothing else, or while watching the new, he watches only positive news. |
|
Correct statement |
I am watching only the positive news these days. |
There is no perfect method that can help you solve modifier errors; however, a consistent approach can address such errors with a step-by-step process:
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