修饰语错置导致语意模糊。例如:
The block on the highway had been cleared before heavy traffic jam was caused by the policemen.
此句的介词短语by the policemen的错置似乎表示the policemen造成了heavy traffic jam,这就引起了很大的误解。这个介词短语应该位于had been cleared之后,表明是the policemen清除了路障。所以应改为:
The block on the highway had been cleared by the policemen before heavy traffic jam was caused.