Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which revision best fixes the dangling modifier in “After reviewing the budget, several errors were obvious to Priya”?
After the budget reviewed Priya, several errors were obvious.
After reviewing the budget, several errors noticed Priya.
After reviewing the budget, Priya noticed several errors.
Several errors, after reviewing the budget, were obvious to Priya.
2. You want to make it unmistakable that the dog—not the person finding it—wore a red collar. Which revision is clearest?
Wearing a red collar, we found the dog near the station.
We found the dog that was wearing a red collar near the station.
We, wearing a red collar, found the dog near the station.
Walking near the station, a red collar helped us identify the dog.
3. What is a squinting modifier?
A modifier that contradicts the noun it describes
An introductory modifier that has no comma after it
A modifier positioned between two sentence elements so that it could reasonably modify either one
A modifier containing two comparative adjectives
4. An editor can tell that a modifier dangles, rather than merely occupying an unclear position, when which condition is present?
The modifier appears more than five words away from the noun it describes.
The sentence does not supply the modifier with a logical grammatical subject.
The modifier could logically describe either of two stated words.
The modifier appears before the main clause instead of after it.
5. The intended meaning is that Jordan—and nobody else—made the statement. Which sentence expresses that meaning most clearly?
Only Jordan said he would submit the report on Friday.
Jordan said only he would submit the report on Friday.
Jordan said he would submit only the report on Friday.
Jordan said he would only submit the report on Friday.
6. What does “Evan nearly drove for six hours” normally suggest?
Evan drove for slightly less than six hours.
Evan drove for six hours and almost reached his destination.
Evan came close to driving for six hours but did not actually do so.
Evan drove carelessly for the entire six-hour period.
7. Which description best defines a misplaced modifier?
A modifier positioned so that it seems to describe the wrong word or creates ambiguity
A modifier that lacks any stated or implied subject in the surrounding passage
A modifier that changes an adjective into an adverb
A modifier separated from the main clause by a comma
8. Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
After sunset, the bats emerged from the cave.
Covered in frost, the windshield glittered in the morning light.
Nora placed the vase carefully on the shelf.
The librarian handed books to the students bound in leather.
9. Which revision best fixes the dangling modifier in “To improve her score, the piano was practiced every morning by Nia”?
To improve her score, Nia practiced the piano every morning.
To improve her score, Nia’s piano was practiced every morning.
To improve her score, every morning was devoted to piano practice by Nia.
To improve her score, daily piano practice was completed.
10. Which sentence most clearly indicates that the photographer used a telephoto lens?
Using a telephoto lens, I photographed a cyclist.
The cyclist was photographed near me with a telephoto lens.
I photographed a cyclist with a telephoto lens.
I photographed the cyclist near the fountain with Sam.
11. After an introductory participial phrase such as “Running for the bus,” what should normally appear immediately after the comma?
An adverb explaining how the action occurred
The object receiving the action of the main verb
The noun or pronoun performing the action in the introductory phrase
A passive verb that restates the introductory action
12. What is wrong with this sentence: “Walking through the museum, the paintings impressed Lena”?
The verb “impressed” should be replaced with a passive verb.
The phrase “through the museum” incorrectly modifies “walking.”
Nothing is wrong; the sentence clearly says that Lena was walking.
The opening phrase dangles because the grammatical subject, “the paintings,” was not walking.
13. Which revision best fixes “Exhausted after the hike, the cabin looked welcoming to us”?
Exhausted after the hike, the cabin seemed especially welcoming.
Exhausted after the hike, we thought the cabin looked welcoming.
Exhausted after the hike, a welcoming cabin came into view.
After the hike, exhausted, the cabin looked welcoming to us.
14. Which revision most clearly fixes the modifier problem in “We saw a deer driving through the park”?
Driving through the park, a deer appeared beside our car.
A deer saw us driving through the park.
We saw, driving through the park, a deer.
While we were driving through the park, we saw a deer.
15. What is the main problem with “She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates”?
It says that the children served the sandwiches.
It says that the sandwiches were made from paper plates.
The phrase “to the children” dangles because “she” is the subject.
The placement of “on paper plates” can suggest that the children, rather than the sandwiches, were on the plates.
16. Which sentence has no misplaced or dangling modifier?
Driving to work, the rain began to fall heavily.
Covered in fresh snow, the mountain looked brilliant at dawn.
She put the cupcakes on plates that she had frosted.
To finish before noon, the report required careful editing.