Dangling Modifiers
Instructions: Spot the dangling and misplaced modifiers that can turn sentences into unintentional comedy!
- 1.
Which sentence has a dangling modifier?
AWhile I was walking to the store, the rain began.BThe rain began while I walked to the store.CWalking to the store, the rain began to fall.DI was walking to the store when it rained. - 2.
Which sentence correctly fixes a dangling modifier?
ARunning quickly, she crossed the finish line.BCrossed was the finish line, running quickly.CThe finish line, running quickly, was crossed.DRunning quickly, the finish line was crossed. - 3.
Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
AShe drove her kids to school almost every day.BShe drove her kids to school on most days.CNearly every day, she drove her kids to school.DShe almost drove her kids to school every day. - 4.
What is a dangling modifier?
AA modifier with too many adjectivesBA modifier that doesn't clearly refer to the word it modifiesCA modifier at the end of a sentenceDA modifier that uses a hyphen - 5.
Which sentence has a dangling modifier? 'After reading the book, ___.'
ABoth B and CBI wrote a review.Cmy opinion changed.Dthe review was written. - 6.
Fix the dangling modifier: 'Covered in mud, the washing machine cleaned the dog's blanket.'
AThe washing machine cleaned the dog's blanket, covered in mud.BThe washing machine, covered in mud, cleaned the blanket.CCovered in mud, the dog's blanket was cleaned in the washing machine.DIn mud covered, the blanket was washed. - 7.
Which sentence has a misplaced modifier?
AHe served sandwiches to the guests on paper plates.BOn paper plates, he served sandwiches to the guests.CHe served the guests sandwiches on paper plates.DHe served sandwiches on paper plates to the guests. - 8.
Which sentence is correct?
AThe essay was submitted hoping to win the prize.BHoping to win the prize, the essay was submitted.CHoping to win the prize, she submitted her essay.DSubmitted was her essay, hoping to win. - 9.
Identify the dangling modifier: 'At the age of five, my grandmother taught me to knit.'
AThere is no error.B'My grandmother' is misplaced.C'At the age of five' seems to modify 'grandmother' instead of 'me.'D'Taught' is in the wrong tense. - 10.
Which correction fixes the misplaced modifier? 'She only ate vegetables on Mondays.'
AOnly she ate vegetables on Mondays.BShe ate only vegetables on Mondays.CIt depends on the intended meaning.DShe ate vegetables only on Mondays. - 11.
Which sentence has a dangling modifier?
AWhile driving to work, a deer crossed the road.BI saw a deer cross the road while driving.CA deer crossed the road while I drove to work.DWhile I was driving to work, a deer crossed the road. - 12.
Where is the modifier misplaced? 'I saw a man on the hill with a telescope.'
A'On the hill' could modify 'I' or 'man.'B'Saw' is in the wrong position.CThere is no misplaced modifier.D'With a telescope' could modify 'I,' 'man,' or 'hill.' - 13.
Fix: 'Smelling of fresh flowers, I walked through the garden.'
ASmelling of fresh flowers, the garden was where I walked.BThrough the garden of fresh flowers, I smelled walking.CI walked through the garden smelling of fresh flowers.DI walked through the garden, which smelled of fresh flowers. - 14.
Which word placement causes a misplaced modifier? 'She nearly lost all her money.'
AThe sentence is correct as written.B'Nearly' should come after 'lost' — 'She lost nearly all her money.'C'All' is in the wrong position.D'She' should come after 'nearly.' - 15.
Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier?
ABorn in 1920, the war shaped her childhood.BThe war shaped her childhood, born in 1920.CIn 1920 born, the war shaped her.DBorn in 1920, she grew up during the war.