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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Modifier in a Sentence
Hi, I have a question about the following sentence:
"The apple was picked from a branch of the tree, which we painted yellow."
What was painted yellow here, the branch or the whole tree? If it's faulty sentence structure, what's the appropriate term for this error (i.e. "dangling modifier," or something else)? Thank-you.
"The apple was picked from a branch of the tree, which we painted yellow."
What was painted yellow here, the branch or the whole tree? If it's faulty sentence structure, what's the appropriate term for this error (i.e. "dangling modifier," or something else)? Thank-you.
Top answer
In English, a modifier is placed close to the word or phrase being modified. Otherwise there is ambiguity of meaning. " You painted the tree yellow.
- In English, a modifier is placed close to the word or phrase being modified.
- Otherwise there is ambiguity of meaning.
- " You painted the tree yellow.
- " You painted the branch yellow.
- This is clearer.
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1 Answers
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In English, a modifier is placed close to the word or phrase being modified. Otherwise there is ambiguity of meaning.
"The apple was picked from a branch of the tree, which we painted yellow." You painted the tree yellow. (But this is a bit ambiguous - it could be the branch!)
"The apple was picked from a tree branch, which we painted yellow." You painted the bran
"The apple was picked from a branch of the tree, which we painted yellow." You painted the tree yellow. (But this is a bit ambiguous - it could be the branch!)
"The apple was picked from a tree branch, which we painted yellow." You painted the bran
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