Misplaced Modifiers

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

Which sentence is written MOST clearly and correctly?

• Gasping after the 5-mile run in the summer sun, the bottle of cold water quenched Donovan's thirst.

• Gasping after the 5-mile run in the summer sun, Donovan quenched his thirst with a bottle of cold water.

• Gasping after the 5-mile run in the summer sun, Donovan's thirst was quenched with a bottle of cold water.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.4

CCSS.L.9-10.2

What does the red phrase modify (or describe) in the following sentence?

The shoes with the yellow stripes are expensive.

• expensive

• shoes

• stripes

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Which sentence correctly avoids misplaced modifiers?

• Abdullah gasped as the badly wrapped burrito squirted its contents onto his shirt, which was spicy hot and full of lettuce.
• The badly wrapped burrito squirted its contents onto Abdullah's shirt, which was spicy hot and full of lettuce.
• The badly wrapped burrito, which was spicy hot and full of lettuce, squirted its contents onto Abdullah's shirt.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Which sentence correctly avoids misplaced modifiers?

• The repairman fixed the kitchen faucet, which leaked in a wasteful manner.
• Leaking in a wasteful manner, we called a repairman to fix the kitchen faucet.
• Leaking wastefully, the repairman arrived to fix the kitchen faucet.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.4

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

CCSS.W.9-10.2

Which sentence correctly avoids misplaced modifiers?

• Whining in a pitiful manner, Rodney waited for a commercial break to let the dog in from the rain.
• During a commercial break, Rodney let the dog in from the rain, which was whining in a pitiful manner.
• During a commercial break, Rodney let in the dog, who had been whining pitifully out in the rain.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.4

"The old patient was referred to the Chinese physician with stomach pains." Which word or phrase is the misplaced modifier?

• old patient

• Chinese

• with stomach pains

• physician

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

"The old patient was referred to the Chinese physician in Toronto with stomach pains." Which word should "with stomach pains" modify?

• physician

• patient

• Toronto

• pains

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.3

CCSS.L.9-10.4A

"The salesman sold the picture to the short woman in the silver frame." A correct version is:

• The salesman sold the silver picture to the short framed woman.

• The salesman sold the framed picture to the short silver woman.

• The silver salesman sold the picture to the short framed woman.

• The salesman sold the picture in the silver frame to the short woman.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.4

Choose the sentence with the modifier in the correct place.

• The clerk sold the scarf to the woman with the red print.
• The clerk sold the scarf with the red print to the woman.
• The clerk with the red print sold the scarf to the woman.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.1B