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Copperfield Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
misplaced modifiers
Hi there,
I don't understand if this underlined part of the following sentence is a misplaced modifier.
1. To sum up/ To conclude/ To summarise, there are factors leading to the increasing breast cancers amongst Amercian women.
How about a sentence beginning with 'To begin with,...'? Is 'To begin with' is a misplaced modifier?
I know the following sentence is a misplaced modifier:
To stay in shape for competition, exercise is important every day. It should be:
2. To stay in shape for competition, athletes must exercise every day.
#1 and # 2 both contain 'To pattern', any different?
Peter
I don't understand if this underlined part of the following sentence is a misplaced modifier.
1. To sum up/ To conclude/ To summarise, there are factors leading to the increasing breast cancers amongst Amercian women.
How about a sentence beginning with 'To begin with,...'? Is 'To begin with' is a misplaced modifier?
I know the following sentence is a misplaced modifier:
To stay in shape for competition, exercise is important every day. It should be:
2. To stay in shape for competition, athletes must exercise every day.
#1 and # 2 both contain 'To pattern', any different?
Peter
Top answer
Hi Copperfield You have a scientific mind and you are trying to apply logic and consistency to English. When an incorrect usage has been around long enough, it is labelled 'idiomatic usage' and considered excellent English. We'll just have to live with that.
- Hi Copperfield You have a scientific mind and you are trying to apply logic and consistency to English.
- When an incorrect usage has been around long enough, it is labelled 'idiomatic usage' and considered excellent English.
- We'll just have to live with that.
- Cheers CB
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2 Answers
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Hi Copperfield
You have a scientific mind and you are trying to apply logic and consistency to English. When an incorrect usage has been around long enough, it is labelled 'idiomatic usage' and considered excellent English. We'll just have to live with that.
You have a scientific mind and you are trying to apply logic and consistency to English. When an incorrect usage has been around long enough, it is labelled 'idiomatic usage' and considered excellent English. We'll just have to live with that.
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In reverse order, I agree that the exercise one is a misplaced modified, and if I were writing it, I'd notice it and correct it, but in spoken English, you're moving too fast to really notice. It's clear that exercise is not the thing that is staying in shape, but that athletes who complete.
With your first one, "To summarize" is being applied to the entire sentence/paragrap
With your first one, "To summarize" is being applied to the entire sentence/paragrap
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