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.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.3A

CCSS.L.7.1C