Fixing Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers

Is this sentence correct?

100

Is this sentence correct? If not, correct it. I nearly made fifty dollars today.

This sentence is not correct! Correction: I made nearly fifty dollars today.

200

Is this sentence correct? If not, correct it. Having read your letter, we will keep our cat indoors until the ducklings fly off.

This sentence is correct! No changes need to be made.

300

Is this sentence correct? If not, correct it. The child ate a cold dish of cereal for breakfast.

This sentence is not correct! Correction: The child ate a dish of cold cereal for breakfast.

400

Is this sentence correct? If not, correct it. Having seen Blackpool Tower, she thinks the Eiffel Tower is more impressive.

This sentence is correct! No changes need to be made.

500

Is this sentence correct? If not, correct it. I only have five minutes to talk with you.

This sentence is not correct! Correction: I have only five minutes to talk with you.

Fix Misplaced Modifiers

100

This is an example of a misplaced modifier. Rearrange the sentence to correct it: Standing in the damp forest, the rain dripped onto the crowd.

An example of a correct sentence would be: The rain dripped onto the crowd standing in the forest.

200

This is an example of a misplaced modifier. Rearrange the sentence to correct it: Panting heavily, my dog’s collar rattled as he ran down the street.

An example of a correct sentence would be: My dog ran down the street, panting heavily, his collar rattling.

300

This is an example of a misplaced modifier. Rearrange the sentence to correct it: Frosted with dark chocolate icing, the waiters brought out my mother's cake.

This is an example of a corrected sentence: Frosted with dark chocolate icing, my mother's cake was brought out by the waiters.

400

This is an example of a misplaced modifier. Rearrange the sentence to correct it: Swinging wildly through the trees, the children were delighted by the monkeys.

An example of a correct sentence would be: The children were delighted by the monkeys swinging wildly through the trees.

500

This is an example of a misplaced modifier. Rearrange the sentence to correct it: To become a respected politician, campaign funds must be carefully administered.

An example of a correct sentence: To become a respected politician, one must administer campaign funds carefully.

Fix Dangling Modifiers

100

This is an example of a dangling modifier. Insert a subject to correct this sentence: To walk a high wire, **** a pole is needed for balance.

An example of a correct sentence would be: To walk a high wire, an acrobat needs a pole for balance.

200

This is an example of a dangling modifier. Insert a subject to correct the sentence: ****The experiment was a failure, not having studied the lab manual carefully.

An example of a correct sentence would be: They failed the experiment, not having studied the lab manual carefully.

300

This is an example of a dangling modifier. Insert a subject to correct the sentence: Having listened to the latest kind of music,**** the classics are much nicer.

An example of a correct sentence would be: Having listened to the latest kind of music, the mother still thinks the classics are much nicer.

400

This is an example of a dangling modifier. Insert a subject to correct the sentence: Despite trying very hard, **** the meat burned pretty badly.

An example of a correct sentence would be: Despite trying very hard, the young wife burned the meat pretty badly.

500

This is an example of a dangling modifier. Insert a subject to correct the sentence: Anxiously awaiting news,**** the surgery seemed to take forever

An example of a correct sentence would be: Anxiously awaiting news, the family members felt like the surgery took forever.

Pick the Correct Sentence

100

Which one of the following sentences correctly uses modifiers. a)Did Eve really give her grandfather, for his birthday, an Avril Lavigne concert ticket? b)Did Eve really give her grandfather an Avril Lavigne concert ticket for his birthday?

b)Did Eve really give her grandfather an Avril Lavigne concert ticket for his birthday?

200

Which one of the following sentences correctly uses modifiers. a)At the age of four, my father decided that I should live with my grandmother in Beijing. b)My father decided that, at the age of four, I should live with my grandmother in Beijing.

b)My father decided that, at the age of four, I should live with my grandmother in Beijing.

300

Which one of the following sentences correctly uses modifiers. a)While driving along the coastal highway after midnight, a deer suddenly appeared in our headlights. b)A deer suddenly appeared in our headlights while we were driving along the coastal highway after midnight.

b)A deer suddenly appeared in our headlights while we were driving along the coastal highway after midnight.

400

Which one of the following sentences correctly uses modifiers. a)While carrying a tray full of sizzling fajitas, Nancy caught her foot on the leg of the counter. b)While carrying a tray full of sizzling fajitas, Nancy's foot got caught on the leg of the counter.

a)While carrying a tray full of sizzling fajitas, Nancy caught her foot on the leg of the counter.

500

Which one of the following sentences correctly uses modifiers. a)Looking out the windows of the plane, we saw fire spewing from the engines on the wing. b)We saw fire spewing from the engines on the wing, looking out the windows of the plane.

a)Looking out the windows of the plane, we saw fire spewing from the engines on the wing.

MYSTERY

100

Macbeth has three titles. What are they?

Lord Macbeth is Thane of Glamis, later Thane of Cawdor, and then the King of Scotland.

200

What is the definition of a "modifier?"

A modifier is word or phrase that explains or clarifies other words or phrases in a sentence.

300

When did Macbeth first appear in print? a.)1609 b.)1611 c.)1621 d.)1623

Macbeth first appeared in print in the First Folio in 1623.

400

Define "enjambment."

Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza. (So basically, no punctuation at the end of the sentence.)

500

Give an example of a limiting modifier.

A limiting modifier limits the meaning of another word in the sentence, usually the word immediately following it. Some examples include: just, almost, hardly, not barely, at first, simply, only and almost.