Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier? Enclosed within the metal fence, Jaden watched the elephant spraying water with hi
s trunk. We watched the ocean carefully for several hours, but we never saw the dolphins. By the age of thirteen, Jennifer Snyder had released several original songs. I worked hard all morning in the garden, and the dog trampled all the flowers I planted.
The first sentence contains a misplaced modifier due to the implication that Jaden is using his own trunk in an effort to watch the elephant spray water.
Enclosed within the metal fence, Jaden watched the elephant spraying water with his trunk.
Explanation:
A modifier is misplaced when the object it modifies is not clearly stated in the sentence, therefore the sentence is confusing, and it is wrong. In the sentence, "Enclosed within the metal fence" is the modifier (it describes the state or situation of a noun), however, its object is not clear in the sentence, as we do not know to whom this modifier is referring to: Is Jaden the one enclosed within the metal fence or is it the elephant?
