Question

Invented by James Hargreaves in 1765, the spinning jenny was capable of spinning eight to eleven threads at one time. (no error, misplaced modifier)

Short answer

The correct sentence structure should be 'The spinning jenny, invented by James Hargreaves in 1765, was capable of spinning eight to eleven threads at one time.'

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Misplaced Modifier

Firstly, one needs to understand what a misplaced modifier is. A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that does not clearly relate to what it is intended to modify. In other words, it is out of position, and it can lead to awkwardness or confusion.

Identify the Misplaced Modifier

Now, applying this definition to the given sentence. A careful reading of the sentence reveals that the modifier 'Invented by James Hargreaves in 1765' seems to be modifying 'the spinning jenny' but is not perfectly fitting into the sentence. Based on our understanding, the phrase should come next to 'the spinning jenny' to remove ambiguity.

Correct the Misplaced Modifier

To correct the misplaced modifier, the sentence could be rewritten as 'The spinning jenny, invented by James Hargreaves in 1765, was capable of spinning eight to eleven threads at one time.' In this revised sentence, the phrase 'invented by James Hargreaves in 1765' is correctly modifying 'the spinning jenny', removing the previous confusion.