Identifying and Avoiding Misplaced Modifiers

The video tutorial by Ali, a test prep tutor, explains misplaced modifiers, a common grammar issue in SAT and ACT tests. Misplaced modifiers can make sentences confusing, and the video provides examples and strategies to identify and correct them. It covers different patterns of misplaced modifiers, including those involving gerunds, and emphasizes the importance of placing modifiers next to the words they modify. The tutorial concludes with key takeaways to help students avoid this grammar mistake in their writing.

What is a misplaced modifier?

• A type of verb that modifies subjects indirectly.

• A punctuation mark used incorrectly in a sentence.

• A modifier that is located far from the subject it describes, causing confusion.

• A modifier correctly positioned next to the subject it describes.

What does a misplaced modifier typically cause in a sentence?

• Enhanced clarity.

• Shorter sentences.

• Improved grammar.

• Confusion or ambiguity.

Why is it important to place modifiers correctly?

• To impress the reader with advanced vocabulary.

• To make sentences longer and more complex.

• To ensure the sentence is grammatically correct.

• To avoid confusion and clarify what is being described.

What example shows a correctly used modifier?

• Ferris, dressed like her father, picks Sloan up from school.

• Driving home with her mom, Jeannie sees Ferris.

• Bright and engaging, Leo was an easy choice for class president.

• Asleep in the garden bed, Naya couldn't find her dog.

In which case is a modifier considered 'misplaced'?

• When it is placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.

• When it creates clarity about who or what is being described.

• When it is not positioned next to the noun it modifies.

• When it directly follows the noun it modifies.

Which pattern is NOT a common way misplaced modifiers appear?

• Using gerunds or -ing words correctly.

• Placing the modifier far from the subject it modifies.

• Prepositional phrases at the beginning of a sentence.

• Modifier followed by a comma and the subject being modified.

How should you correct a sentence with a misplaced modifier to clarify meaning?

• By adding more modifiers.

• By rearranging the sentence structure.

• By changing the subject of the sentence.

• By using a synonym for the misplaced modifier.

How can you correct a sentence with a misplaced modifier involving a gerund?

• By changing the tense of the sentence.

• By placing the gerund closer to the subject it modifies.

• By adding more descriptive words.

• By removing the gerund entirely.

What strategy is NOT recommended for correcting misplaced modifiers?

• Ignoring the misplaced modifier as it often does not affect meaning.

• Adding more information to the sentence to explain the modifier.

• Moving the modifier closer to the noun it modifies.

• Rewriting the sentence to place the modifier next to its noun.

What is the key takeaway regarding modifiers for test writing?

• Use as many modifiers as possible for complexity.

• Ensure modifiers are placed directly next to the subject they modify.

• Modifiers are not important for test writing.

• Always use a comma to separate modifiers from the subject.