Modifiers Quiz: Test Your English Grammar Skills

Study Notes

Modifiers

A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that clarifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause.
Modifiers can be used correctly or incorrectly, leading to clear or confusing sentences.

Dangling Modifiers

A dangling modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes something that has been left out of the sentence.
When a modifier is left dangling, the reader is left wondering what the modifier is supposed to modify.
To correct a dangling modifier, add a subject to the independent clause in the sentence or change the dangling modifier to a dependent clause.

Examples of Dangling Modifiers

Incorrect: Riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly. (Who is riding in the sports car?)
Correct: As Michael was riding in the sports car, the world whizzed by rapidly.
Incorrect: Walking home at night, the trees looked like spooky aliens. (Who is walking home at night?)
Correct: As Jenny was walking home at night, the trees looked like spooky aliens.

Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is placed too far from the word or words it modifies.
Misplaced modifiers make the sentence awkward and sometimes unintentionally humorous.
Examples: Incorrect: She wore a bicycle helmet on her head that was too large. (It sounds like her head was too large.)
Correct: She wore a bicycle helmet that was too large on her head.
Incorrect: They bought a kitten for my brother they call Shadow. (It sounds like they call the brother Shadow.)
Correct: They bought a kitten they call Shadow for my brother.

Common Misplacement of Modifiers

Simple modifiers like only, almost, just, nearly, and barely are often used incorrectly because writers often put them in the wrong place.
Incorrect: Rona almost found fifty cents under the sofa cushions. (It's unclear what "almost" refers to.)
Correct: Rona found almost fifty cents under the sofa cushions. (It's clear that "almost" refers to the amount of money.)

Description

Test your understanding of modifiers, how to identify misplaced and dangling modifiers, and learn to correct sentences with modifier errors. Improve your writing skills and avoid confusion with this quiz!