Grammar Modifiers

Which of these is the modifier in the sentence? The tourist excitedly snapped pictures of the ocean.

• tourist

• excitedly

• ocean

• snapped

Read the following sentence. Does it contain a misplaced modifier or dangling modifier?

Running on the track, a soccer ball hit her head.

• misplaced modifier

• dangling modifier

• both

• neither

a word that describes a noun

• adjective

• adverb

• grammar

• modifier

• phrase

a word that describes a verb

• adjective

• adverb

• modifier

• phrase

group of words (not a sentence)

• adjective

• phrase

• adverb

rules of how sentences are put together

• modifier

• grammar

• adjective

• phrase

Correct the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws.

• The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws quickly.

• The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws.

• The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws in the garden.

• The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws while sleeping.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The cat chased the mouse with sharp claws.' It is the only option that does not contain a misplaced modifier.

Correct the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: I found a pair of shoes in the closet that fit perfectly.

• I found a pair of shoes that fit in the closet perfectly.

• I found in the closet a pair of shoes that fit perfectly.

• I found a pair of shoes in the closet perfectly that fit.

• I found a pair of shoes that fit perfectly in the closet.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'I found in the closet a pair of shoes that fit perfectly.' It correctly places the modifier 'in the closet' next to the noun it modifies, 'a pair of shoes.'

Correct the misplaced modifier in the following sentence: The girl quickly ate the delicious cake.

• The quickly girl ate the delicious cake.

• The girl quickly the delicious cake ate.

• The girl ate the delicious cake quickly.

• Quickly the girl ate the delicious cake.

Answer explanation

The misplaced modifier in the sentence is 'quickly'. It should be placed before the verb 'ate'. The correct choice is 'The girl ate the delicious cake quickly.'

Recognize the dangling modifier in the following sentence: Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful.

• The trees looked beautiful

• Walking down the street

• Sitting on the bench

• Running through the park

Answer explanation

The dangling modifier in the sentence is 'Walking down the street', as it is not properly connected to the subject 'the trees'.