MODIFIERS
Modifiers are used to qualify the meaning of other parts of speech. They should be placed next to or as close as possible to the word, phrase, or clause they are meant to modify.
Some misplaced modifiers appear in the middle or toward the end of a sentence and create unclear and sometimes unintentionally humorous sentences.
Antia Information Systems has bought new computer chairs for the programmers with more comfortable seats.
Because the phrase with more comfortable seats is next to the noun programmers, it sounds as though the programmers have more comfortable seats, which is ridiculous.
Antia Information Systems has bought new computer chairs with more comfortable seats for the programmers.
Now the phrase is correctly modifying computer chairs.
Dangling modifiers usually occur toward the beginning of sentences and are said to be “dangling” inappropriately.
Lying motionless, co-workers rushed to Barry’s aid.
Readers expect an introductory phrase to modify the subject of the main clause; however, in this case, it wasn’t the co-workers who were lying motionless but rather Barry who was in this situation. Because of the placement of the phrase, it is inappropriately modifying co-workers and not Barry.