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Attempts Attempt 1 score is2.4Attempt 2 score is
Keep the Highest 2.4 out of 32.4 / 3
Attempt3 score is2.4
2.1
14. Avoiding Misplaced and Confusing Modifiers
Avoid misplaced, confusing, or dangling modifiers in your writing.
Example of a misplaced modifier:
An excellent writer, the exam was done very well.
Is the exam an excellent writer? The modifier should refer to the writer and not to the exam.
Correction:
An excellent writer, Shevaun did very well on the exam.
Which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier?
A hopeless young girl needs support.
A hopeless young girl, the boy tried to help as much as possible.
A hopeless young girl, Lara could not find happiness.
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
The sentence "A hopeless young girl, the boy tried to help as much as possible" contains a misplaced
modifier. Since the girl cannot refer to a boy, you need to rewrite the sentence so that it makes sense.
One way to correct this sentence is as follows: The boy tried to help the hopeless young girl as much
as possible.
Directions: The sentence requires a revision. Read the sentence, and then choose the correct revision
from the choices that follow.
Exhausted and amazed, the race was astonishingly won by the novice runner.
Exhausted and amazed, the end of the race welcomed a new champion.
Exhausted and amazed, the win was astonishingly accomplished by the novice runner.
Exhausted and amazed, the novice runner astonishingly won the race.
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
The original sentence contains a misplaced modifier. Since a race cannot be exhausted and amazed,
you need to rewrite the sentence so that it makes sense. The correct revision is "Exhausted and
Points:
1 / 1
Explanation:
Close Explanation
amazed, the novice runner astonishingly won the race." This is the only sentence that does not contain
a misplaced modifier.
Directions: Complete the following sentence.
Dangling modifiers are confusing because they Error! Filename not specified.misplace what they are
referring to in the sentence.
Points:
0 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
Dangling modifiers are confusing because they do not refer to anything in the sentence. You need to
revise sentences that contain dangling modifiers. In the example at the top of the page, an excellent
writer is a dangling modifier because it does not refer to anything in the sentence.
Directions: Yoshi is writing an essay about presidential campaigning for his composition class. Help
him
choose which sentences he needs to revise. Read each of the sentences in the left-hand column; then,
select the blank line in the right-hand column and choose the correct answer from the dropdown
menu. If Yoshi's sentence on the left contains a dangling modifier, select "Revise." If Yoshi's sentence
does not contain a dangling modifier, select "No revision required."
Correct Sentence
Campaigning for
president, a candidate is
required to make many
campaign stops.
Stopping at every door, the
Sentence
Campaigning for president, many campaign
stops are required.
Stopping at every door, the candidate must
make a good impression.
Working day and night, a candidate needs a
good staff.
Speaking for hours at a time, knowing the
issues is important.
Revision Required?
Error! Filename not specified.Revise
Error! Filename not specified.No revision
required
Error! Filename not specified.No revision
required
Error! Filename not specified.Revise
Explanation
The correct answer is "Revise." This sentence contains a
dangling modifier and requires revision. You don't know who
is campaigning for president. In the revision on the left, you
know that a candidate, the subject, is campaigning for
president.
The correct answer is "No revision required." Since the
Complete
Sentence Eating
lunch
outside, we all
enjoyed a nice
picnic.
Flying through the
air, the birds
entertained us.
Staring at the blue
sky, we felt happy.
Modifier
Eating lunch outside,
Flying through the air,
Staring at the blue sky,
Correct Sentence
candidate must make a
good impression.
Working day and night, a
candidate needs a good
staff.
Speaking for hours at a
time, a candidate must
know the issues.
Sentence Completion
Error! Filename not specified.we all enjoyed a nice picnic.
Error! Filename not specified.the birds entertained us.
Error! Filename not specified.we felt happy.
Explanation
candidate is stopping at every door, there is no dangling
modifier.
The correct answer is "No revision required." Since a
candidate is working day and night, there is no dangling
modifier.
The correct answer is "Revise." This sentence contains a
dangling modifier and requires revision. You don't know who
is speaking for hours at a time. In the revision on the left, you
know that a candidate, the subject, is speaking for hours at a
time.
Explanation
"We all enjoyed a nice picnic" correctly completes the sentence. In
order to avoid a dangling modifier, complete the sentence with a
subject to show who is eating lunch outside. In the complete sentence
on the left, you know that we, the subject, are eating lunch outside.
"The birds entertained us" correctly completes the sentence. In order
to avoid a dangling modifier, complete the sentence with a subject to
show what is flying through the air. In the complete sentence on the
left, you know that the birds, the subject, are flying through the air.
"We felt happy" correctly completes the sentence. In order to avoid a
dangling modifier, complete the sentence with a subject to show who
is staring at the blue sky. In the complete sentence on the left, you
know that we, the subject, are staring at the blue sky.
Points:
1 / 1
Explanation:
Directions: The left-hand column in the table contains beginning modifiers. Each modifier has two
options in the right-hand column to complete the sentence. Click on each blank line in the right-hand
column, and choose the option from the dropdown menu to correctly complete the sentence.
Close Explanation
