Modifiers & Parallel Structure Quiz

Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct parallel structure?

• She likes to swim, to bike, and running.

• He enjoys reading, writing, and to paint.

• They decided to hike, to camp, and to fish.

• I want to go to the store, buy some ice cream, and eating it at home.

Answer explanation

What does it look like?

Identify the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: "Running quickly, the finish line seemed to approach faster for the athlete."

• Running quickly

• the finish line

• seemed to approach

• for the athlete

Answer explanation

-A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is placed too far from the word or words it modifies.

-Misplaced modifiers make the sentence awkward and sometimes unintentionally humorous.

Incorrect: She wore a bicycle helmet on her head that was too large.

Correct: She wore a bicycle helmet that was too large on her head.

Which sentence corrects the dangling modifier in this sentence: "After reading the novel, the book was highly recommended."

• After reading the novel, it was highly recommended.

• The book was highly recommended after reading the novel.

• After reading the novel, I highly recommended the book.

• The novel was highly recommended after it was read.

Answer explanation

A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.

A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept.

Having finished the assignment, Jill turned on the TV.

"Having finished" states an action but does not name the doer of that action.

-the doer must be the subject of the main clause that follows. In this sentence, it is Jill.

-She seems logically to be the one doing the action ("having finished"), and this sentence therefore does not have a dangling modifier.

Choose the sentence that applies parallel structure correctly.

• She wanted to make a cake, decorating it, and to eat it.

• He plans to write a letter, send it, and waiting for a reply.

• They hoped to visit the museum, explore the park, and dine at a nice restaurant.

• I am trying to learn Spanish, to play the guitar, and painting.

Identify the sentence that does not contain any parallel structure errors.

• The teacher asked the students to write an essay, a short story, or recording a poem.

• For breakfast, she had eggs, toast, and drank orange juice.

• The job requires you to be efficient, to be detail-oriented, and to communicate well.

• He likes to run, to swim, and biking.

Which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier?

• The girl with the red hat found a gold man’s watch.

• The man saw a puppy walking to the store.

• She served cupcakes to the children on blue plates.

• They built a house with a beautiful garden.

Answer explanation

The man saw a puppy walking to the store.

While walking to the store, the man saw a puppy.

How can the dangling modifier in this sentence be corrected? "While walking to school, the flowers looked beautiful."

• While walking to school, I thought the flowers looked beautiful.

• The flowers looked beautiful while walking to school.

• Walking to school, the flowers are beautiful.

• The flowers, while walking to school, looked beautiful.

Answer explanation

-A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.

-A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept.

Having finished the assignment, Jill turned on the TV.

"Having finished" states an action but does not name the doer of that action.

==The doer must be the subject of the main clause that follows. In this sentence, it is Jill. She seems logically to be the one doing the action ("having finished"), and this sentence therefore does not have a dangling modifier.

(OwlPerdue.com)

Identify the sentence that correctly uses parallel structure.

• The committee’s goals include increasing membership, to improve communication, and fostering community relations.

• Her daily routine includes jogging in the morning, a nap in the afternoon, and reading at night.

• The chef needs to chop the vegetables, boil the water, and frying the meat.

• To succeed, you should study regularly, pay attention in class, and completing your assignments on time.

Which sentence correctly adjusts the misplaced modifier? "Excited about the concert, the tickets were bought immediately by Jake."

• Excited about the concert, Jake immediately bought the tickets.

• The tickets were immediately bought by Jake, excited about the concert.

• Jake, excited about the concert, the tickets were bought immediately.

• The tickets, excited about the concert, were bought immediately by Jake.

Answer explanation

Excited about the concert, Jake immediately bought the tickets.

(Jake is the subject)

Choose the sentence that demonstrates correct parallel structure.

• The teacher said that he should read more, to write daily, and practicing grammar.

• She plans to travel to France, to visit museums, and to eat lots of pastries.

• They were asked to clean their rooms, taking out the trash, and to study for their exams.

• I enjoy playing the piano, to sing, and writing songs.