Common Modifier Errors

1. Which of the following sentences has a dangling modifier?

• A. By having a friend carefully review your essay, you will keep grammatical errors to a minimum.

• B. By having a friend carefully review your essay, grammatical errors will be kept to a minimum.

• C. When you have a friend carefully review your essay, grammatical errors will be kept to a minimum.

• D. Having a friend carefully review your essay will keep grammatical errors to a minimum.

2. Which of the following sentences is written correctly?

• A. There are three main steps to follow to get rid of pesky ants.

• B. To get rid of pesky ants, you need to follow three main steps.

• C. Three main steps need to be followed to get rid of pesky ants.

• D. To get rid of pesky ants, there are three main steps to follow.

3. Which of these is the clearest and most effective way to revise the sentence below?

When Barbra came home from the mall, she gave a bag to her little sister that was filled with books.

• A. When Barbra came home from the mall, she gave a bag that was filled with books to her little sister.

• B. Barbra gave a bag that was filled with books to her little sister when she came home from the mall.

• C. When Barbra came home from the mall that was filled with books, she gave a bag to her little sister.

• D. Barbra gave a bag to her little sister that was filled with books when she came home from the mall.

4. Which of the following sentences is written correctly?

• A. Looking for someone, the department store with experience is to sell clothes.

• B. The department store is looking for someone with experience to sell clothes.

• C. The department store is looking for someone to sell clothes with experience.

• D. Looking for someone, the department store is with experience to sell clothes.

5. Which of these is the best way to revise the below sentence to make it clear and effective?

Never cleaning his room, it got messier each day.

• A. Because Jerry never cleaned his room, it got messier each day.

• B. Jerry's room got messier each day never cleaning it.

• C. Never being cleaned, Jerry could not find things in his room.

• D. After never cleaning it, Jerry's room got messier each day.

6. Which of the following is a dangling modifier in the sentence below?

Sleeping, the heavy rainstorm passing through was not heard.

• A. Sleeping

• B. passing through

• C. heavy

• D. not heard

7. Which of the following is a misplaced modifier in the sentence below?

I am selling an antique dresser for my grandmother that is in perfect condition.

• A. perfect

• B. that is in perfect condition

• C. antique

• D. selling an antique dresser

8. Which is the correct way to write the sentence?

Alyssa looked forward to a relaxing weekend spent with her family having just finished a tough book report.

• A. Having just finished a tough book report, Alyssa looked forward to a relaxing weekend spent with her family.

• B. A relaxing weekend spent with her family, Alyssa looked forward to having just finished a tough book report.

• C. Spent with her family, Alyssa looked forward to a relaxing weekend having just finished a tough book report.

• D. Alyssa looked forward to a relaxing weekend spent having just finished a tough book report with her family.

9. Which word is a misplaced modifier in the sentence below?

This year's graduating class admires really the famous British authors of the 19th century.

• A. graduating

• B. really

• C. famous

• D. British

10. Which modifier is misplaced in sentence 1?

(1) While cleaning, Ms. Faber found chocolate candy inside her maroon car that was melted. (2) She was happy that she had leather seats, which allowed her to simply wipe off the chocolate with a damp towel.

• A. While cleaning

• B. maroon

• C. chocolate

• D. that was melted