ACT English : Modifier Placement Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
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Example Questions
Example Question #391 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Cascading to the floor in a rainbow-colored shower, I saw my bead collection scattered across the entire room.
Cascading to the floor in a rainbow-colored shower, my bead collection scattering across the entire room.
Cascading to the floor in a rainbow-colored shower, my bead collection was scattered across the entire room, as I saw.
I saw my bead collection cascading to the floor in a rainbow-colored shower and scattering across the entire room.
Cascading to the floor in a rainbow-colored shower, I saw my bead collection scattered across the entire room.
I saw, cascading to the floor in a rainbow-colored shower, my bead collection was scattered across the entire room.
I saw my bead collection cascading to the floor in a rainbow-colored shower and scattering across the entire room.
“Cascading to the floor in a rainbow-colored shower” is a modifier that refers to an action performed by the beads, not the speaker, so the modifier must be placed immediately before or after “my bead collection” in the sentence. Here, the most correct and concise choice is a completely rewritten sentence with clear modifiers.
Example Question #271 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Oozing with four kinds of melty cheese, I relished each bite of my wife's homemade mac and cheese with bacon.
I relished, oozing with four kinds of melty cheese, each bite of my wife's homemade bacon mac and cheese.
I relished each bite, oozing with four kinds of melty cheese, of my wife's homemade bacon mac and cheese.
Oozing with four kinds of melty cheese, I relished each bite of my wife's homemade bacon mac and cheese.
I relished each oozing with four kinds of melty cheese bite of my wife's homemade bacon mac and cheese.
I relished each bite of my wife's homemade bacon mac and cheese, which oozed with four kinds of melty cheese.
I relished each bite of my wife's homemade bacon mac and cheese, which oozed with four kinds of melty cheese.
The phrase "oozing with four kinds of melty cheese" is intended to modify "[the writer's] wife's homemade bacon mac & cheese."; therefore, it should be placed at the end of the sentence to be as close as possible to the noun phrase it is describing. The participle "oozing" could still be easily attributed to either the subject "I" or the "mac and cheese," but changing the phrase "oozing with four kinds of melty cheese" to "which oozed with four kinds of melty cheese" removes the possibility of the phrase referring to the subject "I," making the sentence less ambiguous.
Example Question #1191 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Invented in China over three centuries ago, explorers and trade merchants alike have used the compass as a navigational tool.
Invented in China over three centuries ago, explorers and trade merchants alike use the compass as a navigational tool.
Invented in China over three centuries ago, explorers and trade merchants alike used the compass as a navigational tool.
Invented in China over three centuries ago, both explorers and trade merchants alike have used the compass as a navigational tool.
Invented in China over three centuries ago, explorers and trade merchants alike have used the compass as a navigational tool.
Invented in China over three centuries ago, the compass has served as a navigational tool for explorers and trade merchants alike.
Invented in China over three centuries ago, the compass has served as a navigational tool for explorers and trade merchants alike.
The original text contains a misplaced modifier. When we have a modifying phrase at the beginning of a sentence, such as "Invented in China over three centuries ago," we know that the noun that appears right after that phrase must be the thing that the modifying phrase describes. In this case, this means the thing that was invented in China over three centuries ago.
All of the answer choices except "Invented in China over three centuries ago, the compass has served as a navigational tool for explorers and trade merchants alike" make is sound as though explorers and trade merchants were invented in China over three centuries ago, which is not correct.
Example Question #273 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
A popular tourist destination, Edward Hooper used Central Park as the subject of many of his paintings.
Edward Hooper has used Central Park to be the subject of many of his paintings.
Edward Hooper used Central Park to be the subject of many of his paintings.
Edward Hooper has used Central Park as the subject of many of his paintings.
Edward Hooper used Central Park as the subject of many of his paintings.
Central Park was the subject of many of Edward Hooper's paintings.
Central Park was the subject of many of Edward Hooper's paintings.
When a sentence begins with an introductory modifying clause, such as "A popular tourist destination," the noun right after that clause must be the entity that the clause describes—in this case, Central Park. Otherwise, an error known as a "dangling modifier" is created and the sentence becomes confusing and ambiguous.
Only the answer choice "Central Park was the subject of many of Edward Hooper's paintings" places the subject "Central Park" immediately after the modifying introductory clause and avoids confusion and ambiguity.
All of the other answer choices make it sound as though Edward Hooper is a popular tourist destination, which is somewhat silly and definitely incorrect.
Example Question #81 : Modifier Placement Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Realizing the game was tied, the ball was immediately shot by the player.
Since the game was tied, the ball was immediately shot.
NO CHANGE
Realizing the game was tied, the player immediately shot the ball.
Realizing the game was tied, the ball was shot.
Realizing the game was tied, the player immediately shot the ball.
The phrase "realizing the game was tied" describes the player in this sentence. For clarity, it should be followed by mentioning the player to imply that the player realized the game was tied and not "the ball," as is suggested in the sentence as it is presented.
Example Question #1902 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Adapted from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)
Laurie ran to meet and present them to his friends in the most cordial manner. The lawn was the reception room, and for several minutes a lively scene was enacted there. Meg was grateful to see that Miss Kate, though twenty, was dressed with a simplicity which American girls would do well to imitate, and who was much flattered by Mr. Ned's assurances that he came especially to see her. Jo understood why Laurie "primmed up his mouth" when speaking of Kate, for that young lady had a standoff-don't-touch-me air, which contrasted strongly with the free and easy demeanor of the other girls. Amy found Grace a well-mannered, merry little person, and after staring dumbly at one another for a few minutes, they suddenly became very good friends.
Tents, lunch, and croquet utensils having been sent on beforehand, the party was soon embarked, and the two boats pushed off together, leaving Mr. Laurence waving his hat on the shore. Laurie and Jo rowed one boat, Mr. Brooke and Ned the other, while Fred Vaughn, the riotous twin, did his best to upset both by paddling about in a wherry like a disturbed water bug. Jo's funny hat deserved a vote of thanks, for it was of general utility. It broke the ice in the beginning by producing a laugh, it created quite a refreshing breeze, flapping to and fro as she rowed, and would make an excellent umbrella for the whole party, if a shower came up, she said.
Meg, in the other boat, was delightfully situated, face to face with the rowers, which both admired her and feathered their oars with uncommon skill and dexterity.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded and underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Amy found Grace a well-mannered, merry, little person, and after staring dumbly at one another for a few minutes, Amy suddenly found a new friend.
Amy found Grace a well-mannered, merry, little person, and after staring dumbly at one another for a few minutes, their friendship was suddenly formed.
Amy found Grace a well-mannered, merry, little person, and after staring dumbly at one another for a few minutes, a friendship suddenly emerged.
Amy found Grace a well-mannered, merry, little person. After staring dumbly at one another for a few minutes, a great friendship suddenly formed.
NO CHANGE
NO CHANGE
The modifying phrase "after staring dumbly at one another for a few minutes" is modifying the actions of both Amy and Grace. Therefore, the word that immediately follows the modifying phrase must be the subject that phrase is modifying. Only the original sentence refers to both girls in this manner by using the pronoun "they."
Example Question #72 : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.
Caring for a pet responsibility is something children can learn.
Caring for a pet, responsibility is learned by children.
Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.
Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children learn.
Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet.
Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet.
With the sentence phrased the way it is, the thing that is "caring for a pet" appears to be "responsibility." This dangling modifier needs to be changed to make it clear that "children" are "caring for a pet." The correct answer choice is "Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet."
Example Question #82 : Modifier Placement Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Waiting for her friend, the plaza was a nice spot for Ariel to sit on a bench and rest her feet.
Waiting for her friend, a nice spot for Ariel to sit on a bench and rest her feet was the plaza
Waiting for her friend, the plaza was a nice spot where Ariel could sit on a bench and rest her feet.
Waiting for her friend, the plaza was where Ariel sat on a bench and rested her feet.
Waiting for her friend, Ariel found a nice spot in the plaza to sit on a bench and rest her feet.
NO CHANGE.
Waiting for her friend, Ariel found a nice spot in the plaza to sit on a bench and rest her feet.
"Waiting for her friend" modifies "Ariel," so "Ariel" must be the subject of the following clause. As written, "the plaza" is the subject of the clause and the sentence reads as though the plaza was waiting for her friend, which makes no sense. When an introductory clause has a subject that does not match the subject of the main verb this creates what is called a dangling modifier.
Example Question #83 : Modifier Placement Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
As someone who takes great pride in farming, water is one of the most important resources.
water has to be considered as one of the most important resources.
water will be one of the most valuable resources.
NO CHANGE
water was one of the most important resources.
I believe water is one of the most important resources.
I believe water is one of the most important resources.
This question requires the reader to fix the dangling modifier "As someone who takes great pride in farming." This phrase is modifying the farmer, therefore the first person perspective of the farmer ("I") must follow the phrase immediately afterwards. Otherwise, the sentence could be misunderstood in a way that implies that the water takes great pride in farming.
Example Question #84 : Modifier Placement Errors
After she read the magazine article, the thought of life on Mars consumed Janet's thoughts all day.
Choose the best alternative to the sentence above. If the sentence is correct as is, choose NO CHANGE.
NO CHANGE
After she read the magazine article, life on Mars consumed the thoughts of Janet all day.
After she read the magazine article, Janet was consumed by thoughts of life on Mars all day.
After reading the magazine article, life on Mars consumed the thoughts of Janet all day.
After reading the magazine article, the thought of life on Mars consumed Janet's thoughts all day.
After she read the magazine article, Janet was consumed by thoughts of life on Mars all day.
The original sentence contains a dangling modifier that needs to be addressed. The phrase "after she read the magazine article" is referring to Janet, therefore "Janet" should immediately follow this phrase.
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