A misplaced modifier is a participial phrase or other modifier that comes before the subject, but does not refer to the subject.
Look at this sentence:
*Driving down the road, a herd of sheep suddenly crossed the road in front of Liza’s car. (INCORRECT)
This sentence is incorrect because it seems to say that a herd of sheep–rather than Liza–was driving down the road. The participial phrase is misplaced. The sentence could be corrected as shown:
As Liza was driving down the road, a herd of sheep suddenly crossed the road in front of her. (CORRECT)
This sentence now correctly has Liza in the driver’s seat instead of the sheep.
The following sentence structures are often misplaced:
| Misplaced Structure | Example | Correction |
| present participle | Walking along the beach, the ship was spotted by the men. | Walking along the beach, the men spotted the ship. |
| past participle | Based on this study, the scientist could make several conclusions. | Based on this study, several conclusions could be made by the scientist. |
| appositive | A resort city in Arkansas, the population of Hot Springs is about 35,000. | A resort city in Arkansas, Hot Springs has a population of about 35,000. |
| reduced adjective clause | While peeling onions, his eyes began to water. | While he was peeling onions, his eyes began to water. |
| adjective phrases | Warm and mild, everyone enjoys the climate of the Virgin Islands. | Everyone enjoys the warm, mild climate of the Virgin Islands. |
| expressions with like or unlike | Like most cities, parking is a problem in San Francisco. | Like most cities, San Francisco has a parking problem. |
Structure items with misplaced modifiers are usually easy to spot. They generally consist of a modifying element at the beginning of the sentence followed by a comma, with the rest or most of the rest of the sentence missing. The answer choices tend to be long. To find the answer, you must decide what subject the modifier correctly refers to.
∇ Sample Item
Using a device called a cloud chamber, ________________ .
(A) experimental proof for the atomic theory was found by Robert Millikin
(B) Robert Millikin’s experimental proof for the atomic theory was found
(C) Robert Millikin found experimental proof for the atomic theory
(D) there was experimental proof found for the atomic theory by Robert Millikin
Choice (A) and (B) are incorrect because the modifier (Using a device called a cloud chamber . . .) could not logically refer to the subjects (experimental proof and Robert Millikin’s experimental proof). (D) is incorrect because a modifier can never properly refer to the introductory word there or it.