Chapter 3 .1 sentence problems.pptVIP

Writing Clear Sentences Sentence Clarity Why? To communicate _____________to the reader effectively Avoiding Sentence Errors 1)comma splice 2) sentence fragments 3) misplaced modifier 4) dangling modifier 5)unclear pronoun reference 6) unjustified change of person I did not answer her call. Because it was too late. I did not answer her call because it was too late. Fragments 1) Please give the book to the boy with the blue cover. 2) He served steak to the men on paper plates. misplaced modifier 1. Misplaced Modifiers a word or phrase that causes confusion because it is located within a sentence so far away from the word(s) to which it refers How might you correct the following sentence? Tom rushed to the store loaded with cash to buy the birthday gift. Better: Tom, loaded with cash, rushed to the store to buy the birthday gift. Misplaced Modifiers Some one-word modifiers often cause confusion: almost just nearly simply even hardly merely only Explain the meaning of each sentence: Almost everyone in the class passed the math exam. Everyone in the class almost passed the math exam. Which sentence indicates that everyone in the class failed the exam? Explain the meaning of each sentence: John nearly earned $100. John earned nearly $100. Which sentence indicates that John earned some money? Misplaced Modifiers Sometimes misplaced modifiers are used for comic effect: The other day I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas Ill never know. Misplaced Modifiers ___ “little girl, I’m looking for a small brown dog with one eye.” ____ “If he’s small, you’d better use two eyes. Dangling modifier 1) Looking up at the sky, the sun went under a cloud. 2) After finishing her composition, the translation exercise was taken up. Dangling modifiers A dangling modifier is one that, when referred to its grammatical subject, makes nonsense. Dangling modifiers Having finished dinner, the football game was watched. Having finished dinner, J