Grammar Misplaced Modifiers Quiz

Identify the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: Running quickly, the ball was caught by the player.

• Running quickly

• The ball was caught by the player

• Quickly running

• Running slowly

Answer explanation

The misplaced modifier in the sentence is 'Running quickly,' as it is unclear who or what is running quickly. The correct choice is 'The ball was caught by the player.'

Identify the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: The teacher only allows students to use pen during the exam.

• students

• use

• only

• allows

Answer explanation

The word 'only' is a misplaced modifier in the sentence because it should be placed before 'students' to clarify that only students are allowed to use pen during the exam.

Correct the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws.

• The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws quickly.

• The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws.

• The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws in the garden.

• The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws while sleeping.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws.' It is the only option that does not contain a misplaced modifier.

Correct the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: I found a pair of shoes in the closet that fit perfectly.

• I found a pair of shoes that fit in the closet perfectly.

• I found in the closet a pair of shoes that fit perfectly.

• I found a pair of shoes in the closet perfectly that fit.

• I found a pair of shoes that fit perfectly in the closet.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'I found in the closet a pair of shoes that fit perfectly.' It correctly places the modifier 'in the closet' next to the noun it modifies, 'a pair of shoes.'

Correct the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: The girl quickly ate the delicious cake.

• The quickly girl ate the delicious cake.

• The girl quickly the delicious cake ate.

• The girl ate the delicious cake quickly.

• Quickly the girl ate the delicious cake.

Answer explanation

The misplaced modifier in the sentence is 'quickly'. It should be placed before the verb 'ate'. The correct choice is 'The girl ate the delicious cake quickly.'

Recognize the dangling modifier in the following sentence: After finishing my homework, the TV was turned on.

• After finishing my homework

• The TV was turned on after finishing my homework

• The TV was turned on while finishing my homework

• The TV was turned on before finishing my homework

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'After finishing my homework' because it correctly modifies the subject 'I'.

Recognize the dangling modifier in the following sentence: Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful.

• The trees looked beautiful

• Walking down the street

• Sitting on the bench

• Running through the park

Answer explanation

The dangling modifier in the sentence is 'Walking down the street', as it is not properly connected to the subject 'the trees'.

Fix the dangling modifier in the following sentence: After studying hard, the test was aced by the student.

• After studying hard, the test aced the student.

• After studying hard, the student aced the test.

• The student was aced by the test after studying hard.

• The test was aced after studying hard by the student.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'After studying hard, the student aced the test.' because it correctly fixes the dangling modifier by placing the subject 'student' immediately after the introductory phrase 'After studying hard.'

Fix the dangling modifier in the following sentence: While cooking dinner, the fire alarm suddenly went off.

• While cooking dinner, the fire alarm went off suddenly.

• I heard the fire alarm suddenly go off while cooking dinner.

• The fire alarm suddenly went off while cooking dinner.

• While cooking dinner, I suddenly heard the fire alarm go off.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'I heard the fire alarm suddenly go off while cooking dinner.' It fixes the dangling modifier by clearly indicating who heard the fire alarm while cooking dinner.