GMAT Verbal : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1651 : Gmat Verbal
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.
Although many people think of peanuts as nuts, peanuts actually belong to the legume family.
Although often being thought of as nuts
Although many people think of peanuts as nuts
Although many people think of peanuts as nuts
Although often thought of as nuts
Although often thought of as nuts
Although often thought of as nuts
If you start a sentence with an incomplete phrase or clause, it must be followed closely by the person or thing it describes. That person or thing is always the main subject of the sentence.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Dangling Modifier 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.
Since first coming to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, economists have been debating the value of Milton Friedman’s theories.
Milton Friedman’s theories have been debated by economists.
economists have been debating the valuation of Milton Friedman’s theories.
economists having been debated the value of Milton Friedman’s theories.
the value economists have debated of Milton Friedman's theories.
economists have been debating the value of Milton Friedman’s theories.
Milton Friedman’s theories have been debated by economists.
The phrase preceding the underlined clause needs to directly reference the subject of the clause immediately following the comma. The things that have come "to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s," are Milton Friedman's theories, not "economists," so the first thing mentioned after the comma should be Milton Friedman's theories, to avoid confusion and ambiguity. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Milton Friedman’s theories have been debated by economists."
Example Question #13 : 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.
Heralded as a mighty invention in its time, Eli Whitney may have actually contributed to the increase in the number of slaves in the Antebellum South by increasing the profitability of cotton with his invention, the cotton gin.
Eli Whitney may have actually contributed to the increase in the number of slaves in the Antebellum South, by increasing the profitability of cotton with his invention, the cotton gin
the cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, may have actually contributed to the increase in the number of slaves in the Antebellum South by increasing the profitability of cotton
the cotton gin, having been invented by Eli Whitney, may have actually contributed to the increase in the number of slaves in the Antebellum South by increasing the profitability of cotton
Eli Whiney's inventing of the cotton gin may have actually contributed to the increase in the number of slaves in the Antebellum South by increasing the profitability of cotton
Eli Whitney may have actually contributed to the increase in the number of slaves in the Antebellum South, by increasing the profitability of cotton with his invention the cotton gin
the cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, may have actually contributed to the increase in the number of slaves in the Antebellum South by increasing the profitability of cotton
The modifier clearly modifies "the cotton gin," so that must be the subject of the sentence. Of the two answer choices that do this correctly, the correct answer is the more concise of the two and avoids the awkward wording "having been invented by."
Example Question #3 : Correcting Dangling Modifier 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.
Exhausted by the months he had spent working on the project, the executive's relief was clear to everyone who attended the final meeting.
the executive was clearly relieved, according to everyone who attended the final meeting.
the executive's relief was clear to anyone who attended the final meeting.
the executive's relief was clear, according to everyone who attended the final meeting.
the relief of the executive was clear according to everyone who attended the final meeting.
the executive's relief was clear to everyone who attended the final meeting.
the executive was clearly relieved, according to everyone who attended the final meeting.
This sentence is an example of a dangling modifier, as the sentence reads as though it is the "relief," rather than the "executive," who is "exhausted by the months spent working on the project." This confusion needs to be cleared up to show that the executive is the one who is exhausted. The only answer choice that properly corrects the dangling modifier is "the executive was clearly relieved, according to everyone who attended the final meeting."
Example Question #2 : Correcting Dangling Modifier 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.
Unable to play safely with other children, Jenny's mother pulled her out of summer camp early.
Jenny's mother pulled her out summer camp earlier.
Jenny's mother early pulled her out of summer camp.
Jenny was pulled out of summer camp early.
early Jenny's mother pulled her out of summer camp.
Jenny earlier was pulled out of summer camp.
Jenny was pulled out of summer camp early.
The example sentence includes an unclear modifier. The antecedent phrase "Unable to play safely with other children" describes Jenny, but the highlighted section makes this unclear by referring to Jenny's mother immediately after the phrase. It could be understood from the example sentence that Jenny's mother was pulled out of summer camp early. The correct version of the sentence reads, "Unable to play safely with other children, Jenny was pulled out of summer camp early."
Example Question #3 : Correcting Dangling Modifier 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.
Coming back to the farm, the gruesome scene was seen by everyone in the car.
the gruesome scene being seen by everyone in the car.
the gruesome scene was seen by everyone in the car.
the gruesome scene saw by everyone in the car.
the gruesome scene was seen by everyone at the car.
everyone in the car saw the gruesome scene.
everyone in the car saw the gruesome scene.
The sentence is written with a dangling modifier, which makes the sentence read as though the "gruesome scene" was what was "coming back to the farm." The sentence needs to be restructured to clarify this problem. The only answer choice that does this is "everyone in the car saw the gruesome scene."
Example Question #5 : Dangling Modifier 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.
Waiting for the crucial trial to begin, the anxiety Neil felt was almost overwhelming.
the anxiety almost overwhelmed Neil.
Neil's anxiety felt almost overwhelming.
Neil felt almost overwhelmed with anxiety.
the anxiety being felt by Neil was almost overwhelming.
the anxiety Neil felt was almost overwhelming.
Neil felt almost overwhelmed with anxiety.
When a sentence begins with a dangling participle or descriptive phrase, the person or thing described in that phrase (in this case, "Neil") must immediately follow it. Only one answer choice does this correctly. The answer choice that begins "Neil's anxiety" may appear to do so, but it does not, because the possessive "Neil's" is no longer the subject, but is describing the anxiety.
Example Question #1841 : Correcting Grammatical 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.
Coming around the corner, the skyscrapers came clearly into view across the river.
Coming around the corner, the skyscrapers came clearly into view across the river.
Coming around the corner, the skyscrapers are viewed clearly across the river.
Comes around the corner, the skyscrapers came clearly into view across the river.
Coming around the corner, the skyscrapers come clearly into view across the river.
Coming around the corner, the people got a view of the skyscrapers across the river.
Coming around the corner, the people got a view of the skyscrapers across the river.
The sentence as written contains a dangling modifier, as the construction of the sentence implies the skyscrapers are what is "coming around the corner." The word order can be changed to make this much more clear. The correct answer is "Coming around the corner, the people got a view of the skyscrapers across the river."
Example Question #6 : 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Coming upon the hills, the sun began setting behind the travelers.
As the travelers came upon the hill, the sun began setting behind them.
As the sun began setting, travelers coming upon the hills.
Coming upon the hills, the sun began setting behind the travelers.
Coming upon the hills as the sun began setting begind the travelers.
Coming upon the hills, the sun set behind the travelers.
As the travelers came upon the hill, the sun began setting behind them.
The sentence as written contains a dangling modifier, in that "the sun" is not what is "coming upon the hills." The sentence needs to be rewritten to show that the travelers were the ones "coming upon the hills." "As the travelers came upon the hill, the sun began setting behind them," is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Dangling Modifier 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Passing by the waterfront, the ducks and geese floated around as spectators strolled.
the ducks and geese were floating around as spectators strolled.
the ducks and geese floated around as spectators strolled.
spectators strolled as the ducks and geese floated around.
the ducks and geese and spectators floated around and strolled.
spectators strolled but the ducks and geese floated around.
spectators strolled as the ducks and geese floated around.
The best answer fixes the dangling participle that starts the sentence (the subject of the main clause should be the one doing the action described in the opening phrase), and uses a logical coordinator.
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