Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Quiz

Study Notes

Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier causes confusion by suggesting that the modifier describes the wrong word or phrase in a sentence.
Example of misplaced modifier: “Amber awed the judges tumbling on the mat.” implies that the judges were tumbling.
Corrected version: “Tumbling on the mat, Amber awed the judges.”

Dangling Modifiers

A dangling modifier occurs when the subject of the modifier is not clear or is missing in the sentence.
Example of a dangling modifier: “In a rush, the slow traffic was grating on my nerves.” suggests that the traffic was in a rush, not the speaker.
Corrected version: “Since I was in a rush, the slow traffic was grating on my nerves.”

More Examples of Misplaced Modifiers

Another example: “The balloon was tied to the post before it floated away.” lacks clarity on what was tied.
Corrected to: “Before the balloon floated away, it was tied to the post.”

Correcting Misplaced Modifiers

To correct misplaced modifiers, ensure that modifiers clearly relate to the intended subjects.
A correct revision example: “Fed up with the delays, the travelers joyfully greeted the arrival of the plane.” clarifies that travelers were fed up, not the plane.

More Examples of Dangling Modifiers

Example: “Riding my bike, a raccoon crossed the street.” incorrectly suggests the raccoon was riding the bike.
Corrected version: “While I was riding my bike, a raccoon crossed the street.” establishes clarity on who was riding the bike.

Description

Test your understanding of misplaced and dangling modifiers with this quiz. Learn to identify and correct sentences that cause confusion with improper modifiers. Improve your writing clarity and precision by mastering these important grammatical concepts.