Modifiers (Misplaced and Dangling)

Which sentence is correct?

• Running quickly, the school bus was missed by Sarah.

• Running quickly, Sarah missed the school bus.

• Sarah missed the school bus running quickly.

• The school bus was missed by Sarah running quickly.

Answer explanation

The modifier 'Running quickly' correctly describes Sarah, not the bus.

Which sentence uses modifiers correctly?

• Covered in cheese, I ate the nachos.

• I ate the nachos covered in cheese.

• I covered in cheese ate the nachos.

• The nachos I ate covered in cheese.

Answer explanation

The modifier 'covered in cheese' correctly describes 'the nachos'.

Complete the sentence: The man _____ the street was my uncle.

• crossed

• crossing

• crosses

• cross

Answer explanation

The present participle 'crossing' correctly describes the man.

True or False: 'After eating lunch, the sun was shining brightly.' is a correctly structured sentence.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The sentence suggests the sun ate lunch, which is incorrect.

Identify the correctly placed modifier: 'Reading a book, the cat sat on my lap.'

• Reading a book

• the cat sat

• on my lap

• Reading a book, on my lap

Answer explanation

The modifier 'Reading a book' doesn't describe the cat; it's misplaced.

Which sentence has a misplaced modifier?

• The dog barked at the stranger walking down the street.

• Walking down the street, the dog barked at the stranger.

• The stranger walked down the street, and the dog barked.

• The dog, barking, was on the street as the stranger walked.

Answer explanation

The modifier 'Walking down the street' incorrectly describes the dog.

True or False: 'To win the game, practice is necessary every day.' is a correctly structured sentence.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The modifier 'To win the game' correctly applies to the need for practice.

Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier?

• After playing in the rain, the clothes were wet.

• After playing in the rain, we found our clothes were wet.

• The clothes were wet after playing in the rain.

• Playing in the rain, the clothes were wet.

Answer explanation

The modifier 'After playing in the rain' correctly applies to 'we', not the clothes.

Identify the sentence with a dangling modifier.

• While watching the movie, the popcorn was eaten.

• We watched the movie and ate popcorn.

• While we watched the movie, the popcorn was eaten.

• Watching the movie, the popcorn was eaten.

Answer explanation

The modifier 'While watching the movie' doesn't specify who was watching.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses modifiers.

• The car was parked by the driver with a flat tire.

• With a flat tire, the driver parked the car.

• With a flat tire, the car was parked by the driver.

• The driver parked the car with a flat tire.

Answer explanation

The modifier 'With a flat tire' correctly describes the driver, not the car.