Choosing the Best Placement for a Modifier

Understanding Modifiers

Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide additional information about other elements in a sentence. When using modifiers, it is important to place them correctly to ensure clarity and accuracy in communication.

Placement of the Modifier

In this case, the modifier "with the shaggy fur" describes the dog in the sentence. The best placement for this modifier is where it directly follows the noun (dog) it is describing, providing the most clear and concise information to the reader.

Let's analyze the options:

A: With the shaggy fur, we laughed at the dog who was catching the ball. - This sentence places the modifier before the action ("laughed at"), which can cause confusion about what the modifier is describing.

B: We laughed at the dog who was catching the ball with the shaggy fur. - Placing the modifier at the end of the sentence creates a less smooth flow of information and could lead to ambiguity.

C: We laughed at the dog with the shaggy fur who was catching the ball. - This sentence correctly places the modifier directly after the noun "dog," making it clear that the shaggy fur belongs to the dog.

D: Catching the ball, we laughed at the dog who was with the shaggy fur. - This sentence incorrectly places the modifier before the subject ("we laughed"), resulting in a fragmented structure.

Therefore, the best placement for the modifier "with the shaggy fur" is in sentence C. It maintains coherence and ensures the accurate description of the dog in the context of the sentence.