modifier question

by **persevering** Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:33 am

I made this sentence up --

Michael Jackson, who career spans three decades, has received 5 Grammy awards, including two for Best Male Vocal, winning in 1983 and 1987.

What does the last phrase -
winning in 1983 and 1987.
modify ?

Does it modify M Jackson? I don't think so.

Can you please tell me the subjects/verbs in above sentence ?

thanks.

by **StaceyKoprince** Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:31 pm

MJ, whose career spans three decades, has received 5 Grammy awards, including two for Best Male Vocalist. That's all okay (with the correction I made in italics). Main subj = MJ, main verb = has received

There's no place to put "winning in 1983 and 1987" - at least, not correctly.

You could say "MJ, whose career spans three decades, won 5 Grammy awards in 1983 and 1987, including two for Best Male Vocalist." Main subj = MJ, main verb = won

Or, "MJ, whose career spans three decades, was nominated for xx Grammy awards and won in 1983 and 1987, including two wins for Best Male Vocalist." Main subj = MJ, main verb = was nominated, won (there are two verbs)