Question

Read the two sentences below and explain how the placement of the underlined phrase changes the meaning of each.

' = underlined

Bella was shaping the molten glass 'in full safety gear'.

Bella, 'in full safety gear', was shaping the molten glass.


Responses will vary. A sample response follows: Modifiers should usually be positioned as close a s possible to the words they modify. In the first sentence, “in full safety gear” is closest to glass, which makes it seem like the glass is wearing safety gear! However, in the second sentence, it is clear that Bella is the one wearing full safety gear.

Answer 1

Modifiers that are positioned thus need to be more in proximity to the first subject of the sentence or not used at all.

Step-by-step explanation:

The modifier in this sense is the underline.

When the underline is placed near the subject that is Bella the meaning becomes much more clear in the second sentence that Bella is wearing the safety gear while working on the glass.

In the second sentence it is not so clear because it is near glass and the weird statement that the glass could be wearing the protective gear is not out of question.