Shaky English Logo
BlogBusinessesSchoolsDownload the App

Resources

Blog

Follow us:

Services

TeachersSchoolsBusinesses

Contact & Legal

Contact UsFeedback & IdeasPrivacy PolicyTerms of Use

© 2026 Shaky English. All rights reserved.

  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Sentence Structure & Word Order
  4. Misplaced Modifiers
Sentence Structure & Word Order

Misplaced Modifiers

1 min read
Share:

A misplaced modifier happens when extra information is in the wrong spot in a sentence. This can confuse readers — or make the sentence say something funny by mistake.

Example of a misplaced modifier

Confusing: I nearly saw every student in the classroom.

🧐 Wait — did you not see them? Or just almost see them?

Clear version: I saw nearly every student in the classroom.

This version is much clearer — now we know you saw most of the students.

Another example

Confusing: Running to the bus stop, my backpack fell off.

❌ Sounds like the backpack was running!

Better: While I was running to the bus stop, my backpack fell off.

💡 Tip

✅ Make sure the extra detail is close to the word it’s describing.
💡 If your sentence sounds strange or funny — check your modifier!

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 8Score: 0/8

My friend gave a sandwich to the dog wrapped in foil.

Discover the app: Shaky English

Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Other similar rules

Conjugation

What Is an Appositive?

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or explains another noun right next to it. It helps to add detail or clarify meaning. Both the noun and the appositive refer to the same person or t...

Read more→
Common confusions

Me vs. I

Most people say things like “Me and my friend went to the store” — and in casual English, that’s fine. But what’s technically correct? And why do grammar nerds still care? Let’s clear it up! I I is...

Read more→
A bit of theory

Farther vs. Further

Do we go farther or further? 🛣️ These two words are close in meaning, but there’s a small difference that can help you sound more precise! Farther Farther is used for physical distance — things you...

Read more→
Common mistakes

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

Both the present perfect and the past simple describe actions in the past, but they are used in different ways. The key difference is whether the past action is connected to the present or not. Prese...

Read more→
Conjugation

Prepositions after Adjectives (good at, interested in)

In English, some adjectives are followed by specific prepositions. These combinations are called adjective + preposition collocations. You can’t always guess them from logic — they just “sound right”...

Read more→
Common confusions

Whether vs. If

In English, we often use “whether” and “if” when talking about possibilities or conditions — but they are not always the same. When to Use Whether Use “whether” when there are two or more choices. It...

Read more→
Conjugation

Some vs. Any

Some and any are both used to talk about an unknown quantity of something. They are often used before plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns — but we use them in different types of sentences. Wh...

Read more→
Common confusions

Who vs. That

Ever wondered if you should say “the person who...” or “the person that...”? Let’s clear that up once and for all 👇 Who Who is used when you're talking about people. It introduces a clause that giv...

Read more→