Review: Identifying Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers

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Indicate whether each sentence does or does not contain a misplaced modifier or a dangling modifier.

1. Flashing a huge grin, Ralph apologized for being late and then handed his grandmother a bouquet of lilacs.

Oops!

Question:
Flashing a huge grin, Ralph apologized for being late and then handed his grandmother a bouquet of lilacs.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does not contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase flashing a huge grin is correctly modifying the proper noun Ralph.

Good work!

Question:
Flashing a huge grin, Ralph apologized for being late and then handed his grandmother a bouquet of lilacs.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does not contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase flashing a huge grin is correctly modifying the proper noun Ralph.

2. The surgeon was able to quickly and painlessly remove the stitches from Greta’s forehead.

Good work!

Question:
The surgeon was able to quickly and painlessly remove the stitches from Greta’s forehead.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase quickly and painlessly is splitting the infinitive to remove.

Oops!

Question:
The surgeon was able to quickly and painlessly remove the stitches from Greta’s forehead.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase quickly and painlessly is splitting the infinitive to remove.

3. After gathering wild flowers and pressing them between the pages of a heavy book, the dried petals were ready for Teresa to make greeting cards.

Good work!

Question:
After gathering wild flowers and pressing them between the pages of a heavy book, the dried petals were ready for Teresa to make greeting cards.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase after gathering wild flowers and pressing them between the pages of a heavy book is illogically modifying the noun petals instead of modifying the proper noun Teresa.

Oops!

Question:
After gathering wild flowers and pressing them between the pages of a heavy book, the dried petals were ready for Teresa to make greeting cards.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase after gathering wild flowers and pressing them between the pages of a heavy book is illogically modifying the noun petals instead of modifying the proper noun Teresa.

4. We had almost watched the entire movie when the person behind us blurted out, "The doctor did it!"

Good work!

Question:
We had almost watched the entire movie when the person behind us blurted out, "The doctor did it!"
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The adverb almost incorrectly modifies the verb watched. The modifier almost should be placed before the entire movie.

Oops!

Question:
We had almost watched the entire movie when the person behind us blurted out, "The doctor did it!"
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The adverb almost incorrectly modifies the verb watched. The modifier almost should be placed before the entire movie.

5. Before buying a new stereo, you should carefully consider what you need and what you can afford.

Oops!

Question:
Before buying a new stereo, you should carefully consider what you need and what you can afford.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does not contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase before buying a new stereo is correctly modifying the pronoun you.

Good work!

Question:
Before buying a new stereo, you should carefully consider what you need and what you can afford.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does not contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase before buying a new stereo is correctly modifying the pronoun you.

6. I heard that he got married to a countess with a vast fortune in a small church in Italy.

Good work!

Question:
I heard that he got married to a countess with a vast fortune in a small church in Italy.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase in a small church in Italy is placed so that it incorrectly modifies the noun fortune instead of the verb got married.

Oops!

Question:
I heard that he got married to a countess with a vast fortune in a small church in Italy.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase in a small church in Italy is placed so that it incorrectly modifies the noun fortune instead of the verb got married.

7. Covered with bowls of strawberries, plates of bread and cheese, trays of squares and cookies, and huge frosted cakes, the OK Dance Club had organized a magnificent tea.

Good work!

Question:
Covered with bowls of strawberries, plates of bread and cheese, trays of squares and cookies, and huge frosted cakes, the OK Dance Club had organized a magnificent tea.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase covered with bowls of strawberries, plates of bread and cheese, trays of squares and cookies, and huge frosted cakes is illogically modifying the noun phrase the OK Dance Club.

Oops!

Question:
Covered with bowls of strawberries, plates of bread and cheese, trays of squares and cookies, and huge frosted cakes, the OK Dance Club had organized a magnificent tea.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase covered with bowls of strawberries, plates of bread and cheese, trays of squares and cookies, and huge frosted cakes is illogically modifying the noun phrase the OK Dance Club.

8. After borrowing from all his friends, he had barely enough money to pay his rent.

Oops!

Question:
After borrowing from all his friends, he had barely enough money to pay his rent.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does not contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase after borrowing from all his friends is correctly modifying the pronoun he, and the adverb barely is correctly modifying the adjective enough.

Good work!

Question:
After borrowing from all his friends, he had barely enough money to pay his rent.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does not contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase after borrowing from all his friends is correctly modifying the pronoun he, and the adverb barely is correctly modifying the adjective enough.

9. To succeed in engineering, some technical writing ability is a definite asset.

Good work!

Question:
To succeed in engineering, some technical writing ability is a definite asset.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase to succeed in engineering is illogically modifying the noun phrase technical writing ability instead of modifying the person or persons hoping to succeed.

Oops!

Question:
To succeed in engineering, some technical writing ability is a definite asset.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase to succeed in engineering is illogically modifying the noun phrase technical writing ability instead of modifying the person or persons hoping to succeed.

10. My best friend is starting a weight-gain regimen in two weeks of five meals a day.

Good work!

Question:
My best friend is starting a weight-gain regimen in two weeks of five meals a day.
Answer:
The answer contains a misplaced modifier is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase of five meals a day is placed so that it incorrectly modifies two weeks instead of the noun regimen.

Oops!

Question:
My best friend is starting a weight-gain regimen in two weeks of five meals a day.
Answer:
The answer does not contain a misplaced modifier is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence does contain a misplaced modifier. The phrase of five meals a day is placed so that it incorrectly modifies two weeks instead of the noun regimen.

Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
Un outil mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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