Chapter 1
Information and Ideas
Course: Sat Prep
Subject: Reading And Writing
Chapter: Standard English Conventions 5879 11902
In this lesson, you will learn how word placement and sentence structure affect clarity and meaning. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify and correct misplaced modifiers.
- Recognize and fix dangling modifiers.
- Apply parallel structure correctly.
- Write clear and logical comparisons.
- Improve sentence clarity through proper word order and structure.
What a Modifier Does
A modifier is a word or group of words that describes something else. Modifiers make a sentence specific. The van broke down becomes The old delivery van, parked outside the depot since Monday, broke down again through modifiers alone.
Modifiers come in three sizes.
Single words. Adjectives describe nouns — the old van. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs — the van broke down suddenly.