Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Read each sentence. Then select the correct answer below.

Tonya was petting the cat eating a candy bar.

• contains a misplaced modifier

• contains a dangling modifier

• is correct as written

• contains no modifier

Answer explanation

This sentence indicates that the CAT is eating a candy bar. "Eating a candy bar" needs to be moved closer to Tonya.

After the football game, the leftover pizza went into the refrigerator.

• contains a misplaced modifier

• contains a dangling modifier

• is correct as written

• contains no modifier

Answer explanation

The leftover pizza didn't take itself into the fridge after the game. Information is left out here.

While singing a high note, the crowd clapped for the singer.

• contains a misplaced modifier

• contains a dangling modifier

• is correct as written

• contains no modifier

Answer explanation

The way this sentence is written, it seems the CROWD is singing the high note. "While singing a high note," needs to be moved closer to the SINGER than the crowd.

Each of these three sentences contains a misplaced modifier or a dangling modifier. Choose the sentence that fixes it best.

While standing in line for movie tickets, lightning flashed.

• Lightning flashed while standing in line for movie tickets.

• While John stood in line for movie tickets, lightning flashed.

• While standing in line for movie tickets, lightning flashed on John.

• While stadning in line for movie tickets, a bolt of lightning flashed.

Answer explanation

The way the sentence is written, we don't know who is standing in line. That must be added in.

The girl danced on the stage with curly brown hair.

• Correct as is.

• While on the stage with curly brown hair, the girl danced.

• The girl danced on the curly, brown-haired stage.

• The girl with curly brown hair danced on the stage.

The man walked the dog in a pinstriped suit.

• The man in a pinstriped suit walked the dog.

• While in a pinstriped suit, the dog was walked.

• Because the dog was in a pinstriped suit, the man walked him.

• Correct as is.