Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

What is a modifier?

• A word that is used to describe another word in a sentence.

• A phrase, or clause that is used to describe another word in a sentence.

• A word, phrase, or clause that is used to describe another word in a sentence.

• A word, phrase, or clause that is used to change another word in a sentence.

What is the BEST way to fix a misplaced modifier?

• To add a subject and a subordinating conjunction (sc).

• To move it closer to the word its modifying (describing).

• To move it closer to the end of the sentence.

• To add a subject and another adjective.

What is the BEST way to fix a dangling modifier?

• To add a subject and a subordinating conjunction (sc).

• To move it closer to the word its modifying (describing).

• To move it closer to the end of the sentence.

• To add a subject and another adjective.

Which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier?

• She was here just a few minutes ago.

• We have only three more miles to go before reaching the hotel.

• Fortunately, Mark almost sold all his bronze sculptures.

• You nearly ran into that pole because you weren't paying attention.

Which of the following sentences DOES NOT contain a misplaced modifier?

• She found a woolen child's scarf in the yard.

• Hung across two poles, I saw a clothesline.

• Sam saw a bird sitting on the telephone wire that he could not identify.

• Throw that package of spoiled meat into the trash can.

Where should the misplaced modifier, WHICH HAD BEGUN TO CRACK, be moved to correct this sentence? We tiptoed over the ice in our heavy boots, which had begun to crack.

• after "ice"

• before "We"

• after "tiptoed"

• leave it where it is

Which of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier?

• After I finished roller skating, I took off my skates and turned them back in.

• At the age of ten, my parents took me to Disney World.

• When I got up early, the house seemed unusually quiet to me.

• Not being aware of what had happened, Jill was confused by the bear's behavior.

Which of the following sentences DOES NOT contain a dangling modifier?

• I saw a rat sorting the recyclable materials.

• Grading papers last night, my dog slept at my feet.

• Talking to her classmates, the fire alarm sounded

• While I was running for the bus, my book fell in the mud.

Which of the following changes would NOT correct this dangling modifier? Jogging down the sidewalk, my ankle was sprained.

• Change "my ankle was sprained" to "I sprained my ankle."

• Add "As I was" before" "Jogging"

• Change the sentence order to "My ankle was sprained, jogging down the sidewalk."

• Add "When I was" before "Jogging"

Which revision of this sentence BEST expresses its ideas (what it's trying to say) clearly and concisely (in an easy to understand way without a lot of wordiness)?

• The wind blew across the field that was cold and blustery.

• The wind that was cold and blustery blew across the field .

• The strong, forceful wind that was cold and blustery blew across the field of clover until all of it had been destroyed and it wasn't until the next spring when it all grew back again.