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Modifier Error Practice

Misplaced and dangling modifiers produce sentences that sound ridiculous because they don’t say what was intended.

Misplaced Modifiers:
Modifiers need to be as near as possible to the words they are describing to avoid confusion.
Sample: Flying around the ceiling, Jill was terrified by the bat.
It sounds as if Jill was flying around the ceiling.
Correct: Jill was terrified by the bat flying around the ceiling.

Dangling Modifiers:
Dangling modifiers have no words in the sentence to logically modify.
Example: Visiting the zoo, the lions were the most impressive.
Who visited the zoo? There is no subject in that sentence that those words refer to. Therefore, the modifiers are left hanging alone (dangling).
Correct: Visiting the zoo, WE THOUGHT the lions were the most impressive.

Identify the following as misplaced or dangling modifiers.

AB
Jim could hardly restrain his dog in the tub splashing wildly.Misplaced Modifier
Although a good student, no scholarship was awarded to SandyMisplaced Modifier
Rolled up in a cardboard tube, I mailed my drawing to the judges in AlabamaMisplaced Modifier
The body of the missing woman was found by the police stuffed into the freezer.Misplaced Modifier
Hoping for the best, the final exam was turned in.Dangling Modifier
Watching the boring program, sleep was irresistible.Dangling Modifier
Driving all night, the car felt cramped.Dangling Modifier
Reading the book, the solution to our problem was discoveredDangling Modifier
Eating too much, my stomach was upset.Dangling Modifier
Peering through the trees, the path ahead was evident.Dangling Modifier
Working all afternoon, the foundation was completed.Dangling Modifier
Sitting on the porch swing, the wasp startled the couple.Dangling Modifier
Going around the bend, the ocean came into view.Dangling Modifier
Cartwheeling head over foot, the spectators gasped at the acrobatic spectacle.Dangling Modifier
Coming into the hall, the bouquet on the table looked beautiful.Dangling Modifier
Strolling hand in hand to the farm, the young bulls broke out of the field and headed toward us.Dangling Modifier
While trying to get ready for school, the doorbell rang suddenly.Dangling Modifier
Jogging down the sidewalk, my ankle was sprained.Dangling Modifier
Watching the documentary, the television went dead.Dangling Modifier
Driving the old car, the brakes gave out.Dangling Modifier
A woman passed by, leading a springer spaniel in a long black dress.Misplaced Modifier
After trying the combination several times, the lock finally opened.Dangling Modifier
After reading the paper, the telephone rang.Dangling Modifier
The guest speaker had dedicated his new book to his dog who was an archaeologist.Misplaced Modifier
A young woman knocked on the door wearing a suit and a hat.Misplaced Modifier
Many people watched the Fourth of July fireworks in their cars.Misplaced Modifier
We saw several monkeys on vacation in Mexico.Misplaced Modifier
Reading a book, my cat crawled into my lapDangling Modifier
The vase was lying on the floor broken into several pieces.Misplaced Modifier
I gave olives to my friend that I stabbed with my fork.Misplaced Modifier
We rented a boat from my cousin with two motors.Misplaced Modifier
We saw a herd of sheep on the way to our hotel in Wales.Misplaced Modifier
The library has several books about dinosaurs in our school.Misplaced Modifier
The photojournalist took a picture of a demonstrator with a long lens camera.Misplaced Modifier
To enter this country, a visa must be presented by each tourist.Misplaced Modifier
Give all the boys these blue ribbons that placed first in each divisionMisplaced Modifier



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