Faulty Modifiers

Faulty Modifiers

Multiple Choice

Which is a modifier in this sentence?

The water in the river is home to several types of fish.

• water

• in the river

Multiple Choice

Which is a modifier in this sentence?

Late as usual, the boy tiptoed up the stairs of his house.

• late as usual

• boy tiptoed up

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase does the underlined word refer to?

The buffalo ambled toward us slowly.

Which word or phrase does slowly refer to?

• buffalo

• ambled

• toward us

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase does the underlined word describe?

The peaceful chirping of the birds made me smile.

• The

• Chirping of the birds

• made me smile

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• The lady shopped for a dress with a headache.
• The lady with a headache shopped for a dress.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Jessie ate a bowl of cold cereal for breakfast.
• Jessie ate a cold bowl of cereal for breakfast.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Gazing out the window, Paul missed the homework assignment that Mrs. Smith wrote on the board.
• Paul missed the homework assignment that Mrs. Smith wrote on the board gazing out the window.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best way to correct the sentence: Two cars were reported stolen by the police this week.

• The police stole two cars this week.
• The police reported that two cars were stolen this week.
• It's already correct.

Multiple Choice

In the following sentence, who was more than likely the one skiing in the mountains?
While on vacation last December, Kyle encountered a coyote skiing in the mountains.

• Kyle
• a coyote
• the mountains

Multiple Choice

Choose the best way to correct the following sentence:
While on vacation last December, Kyle encountered a coyote skiing in the mountains.

• While on vacation last December, Kyle encountered a coyote skiing on a sled.
• While Kyle was skiing in the mountains on vacation last December, he encountered a coyote.
• The sentence is correct as written.

Multiple Choice

What's the problem with the modifiers in this sentence?

Scrubbing the tile grout with bleach and an old toothbrush, the mildew stains began to fade.

• We don't know who scrubbed the tile grout.

• The mildew stains were scrubbing the tile grout.

• A toothbrush was scrubbing the tile grout.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has a dangling modifier?

• A. Exhausted by his first day at school, Sam's eyes closed in the middle of his favorite TV show.
• B. Exhausted by his first day at school, Sam closed his eyes in the middle of his favorite TV show.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has a dangling modifier?

• A. Though not a fan of science fiction, I liked the new Star Trek movie, to my surprise, was very enjoyable.
• B. Though not a fan of science fiction, the new Star Trek movie, to my surprise, was very enjoyable.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has a dangling modifier?

• A. Not meaning to be cruel, George didn't mean to hurt Jackie's feelings.
• B. Not meaning to be cruel, George's careless remark hurt Jackie's feelings.

For the following sentences, decide whether the modifiers are used correctly or are faulty.

Multiple Choice

Correct or incorrect?

Though not a fan of scary movies, A Quiet Place is actually quite good.

• Incorrect

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Correct or incorrect?

Lying on the beach, thoughts of sun cancer entered my mind as I tried to relax.

• Incorrect

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Correct or incorrect?

The surly customer demanded the waiter, a new employee, immediately get the manager.

• Incorrect

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Correct or incorrect?

Being very shy, strangers easily frighten my little sister, Maggie.

• Incorrect

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Correct or incorrect?

They trudged along the bank of the river, hungry and exhausted.

• Incorrect

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct? 

• Running recklessly through the forest, the tree stump tripped Jay.
• Running recklessly through the forest, Jay tripped over the tree stump.
• Running recklessly through the forest, the stump of the tree tripped Jay.
• Running recklessly through the forest, the tree tripped.