GMAS Prep Questions on Modifiers and Sentence Structure

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

• The teacher handed out homework after class ended.

• Barking loudly, the mailman ran from the dog.

• My sister drew a picture of a flower in her notebook.

• The birds flew over the trees.

Which sentence uses a dangling modifier?

• While reading the book, the lights suddenly went out.

• I walked to school quickly.

• She was excited to go on the field trip.

• We stayed late at the party.

Choose the best revision for the sentence below: "Flying high above the lake, the boat looked tiny."

• The boat flying high above the lake looked tiny.

• Flying high above the lake, we saw the tiny boat below.

• High above, the tiny boat flew over the lake.

• Looking tiny, the boat flew high over the lake.

Which sentence uses a compound-complex structure?

• She finished her homework.

• I was late, but I still made it on time.

• Although I was tired, I stayed up, and I finished my essay.

• I walked to the store because I needed milk.

Identify the sentence with correct modifier placement:

• Driving through the tunnel, the lights flashed quickly.

• The lights driving through the tunnel flashed quickly.

• As we drove through the tunnel, the lights flashed quickly.

• Flashing quickly, the tunnel drove through the lights.

Choose the sentence that is a complex sentence:

• The dog barked, and the cat hissed.

• When the rain started, we ran inside.

• I bought a sandwich.

• We went shopping, then we ate lunch.

Which sentence contains a misplaced phrase?

• My mom made dinner for the guests in the kitchen.

• We watched the movie at the theater.

• The teacher read the book aloud.

• He called his friend after school.

Which sentence corrects the dangling modifier below? "After studying all night, the test was surprisingly difficult."

• After studying all night, the test was very hard.

• The test was difficult, after I studied all night.

• After studying all night, I still found the test surprisingly difficult.

• Surprisingly difficult, the test came after I studied.

Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

"Looking out the window, the storm clouds were moving in fast. The wind howled as the trees bent. Preparing for the worst, the windows were shut tightly."

What is the error in the first sentence?

• Misplaced modifier

• Incorrect verb tense

• Dangling modifier

• Run-on sentence

Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

"Looking out the window, the storm clouds were moving in fast. The wind howled as the trees bent. Preparing for the worst, the windows were shut tightly."

What is the best revision of the third sentence?

• The windows were shut tightly, preparing for the worst.

• Preparing for the worst, they shut the windows tightly.

• Preparing for the worst, the windows shut tightly.

• The windows prepared for the worst and were shut tightly.