Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers Practice

How can you correct a misplaced modifier?

• Reposition it in the sentence so that it is next to the word it is intended to modify.

• Remove the modifier entirely from the sentence.

• Add more modifiers to clarify the meaning.

• Change the order of the words in the sentence.

Identify the error: 'Wearing a scarf for the winter parade, the parade worker saw lawn chairs lining the street.'

• This sentence is written correctly; the modifier 'Wearing a scarf for the winter parade' clearly describes 'the parade worker'.

• The sentence is incorrect because it suggests that the lawn chairs were wearing a scarf.

• The sentence is incorrect due to a misplaced modifier that confuses the subject.

• The sentence is correct, but it lacks a comma after 'parade worker'.

What is a misplaced modifier?

• A word or phrase that is improperly separated from the word it modifies, causing ambiguity or confusion in the sentence.

• A grammatical error that occurs when a subject and verb do not agree in number.

• A type of sentence structure that emphasizes the main idea by placing it at the beginning.

• A phrase that adds unnecessary information to a sentence, making it overly complex.

What is a dangling modifier?

• A word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence, often leading to confusion about what is being modified.

• A grammatical error that occurs when a subject and verb do not agree in number.

• A type of sentence structure that uses excessive adjectives and adverbs.

• A phrase that provides additional information but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Identify the error: 'My dad needed a break, building a shed, from the heat.'

• The sentence is correct as it is.

• The sentence contains a run-on sentence error.

• The sentence contains a misplaced modifier; it suggests that 'building a shed' is the break, which is misleading.

• The sentence has a subject-verb agreement error.

What is an example of a correctly placed modifier?

• The dog barked loudly at the mailman.

• The loudly dog barked at the mailman.

• The dog barked at the loudly mailman.

• Loudly, the dog barked at the mailman.

Provide an example of a dangling modifier.

• After reading the book, the movie was disappointing.

• Running down the street, the rain soaked my clothes.

• To win the game, the team practiced hard every day.

• While eating dinner, the phone rang loudly.

What is the purpose of modifiers in a sentence?

• Modifiers provide additional information about a noun or verb, helping to clarify or enhance the meaning of the sentence.

• Modifiers are used to replace nouns in a sentence.

• Modifiers are only used in complex sentences to add confusion.

• Modifiers are a type of punctuation that separates clauses.

How can reading sentences aloud help identify modifier errors?

• It allows you to memorize the sentences better.

• It helps you hear awkward phrasing or confusion, making it easier to spot dangling or misplaced modifiers.

• It makes the sentences sound more formal and polished.

• It enables you to read faster and improve your fluency.

Why is it important to avoid dangling and misplaced modifiers?

• To enhance the aesthetic appeal of writing.

• To ensure that the intended meaning is conveyed.

• To make writing more complex and sophisticated.

• To reduce the length of sentences.