Misplaced, dangling modifiers

Misplaced modifier:
A modifier placed too far away from the word it is trying to modify.

Ex:
I know a man with a wooden leg named Smith.
Really? And what is the name of his other leg?

Corrected
I know a man named Smith with a wooden leg.



Dangling modifier:
It occurs when the word that the modifier is trying to modify does not appear in the sentence.

Ex.
As a young girl, her father taught her to climb a tree.

Modifier: as a young girl, BUT who is she?

Corrected
As a young girl, Sally's father taught her to climb a tree.
OR
When Sally was a young girl, her father taught her to climb trees.


Lastly,
Split infinitive is a type of misplaced modifier. An infinitive is the word to followed by the verb. Don't put any words between the to and the verb!

Ex.
I try to always tell the truth.

Be sure to never break a promise.

Corrected
I always try to tell the truth.
Be sure never to break a promise.

Now you try...


1. He came in even first though he was behind at first.

2. Walking three days a week, the heart increases its muscle mass.