GMAT Verbal : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #81 : 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.

Trying to keep her balance on the tightrope, the trapeze artist’s toe caught the rope and somersaulted onto the net below.

Possible Answers:

the trapeze artist caught the rope with her toes and somersaulted onto the net below.

the trapeze artist somersaulted onto the net below when her toes were caught in the rope.

the trapeze artist caught the rope with her toes, which made her somersault onto the net below.

the trapeze artist’s toes caught the rope and somersaulted onto the net below.

the toes of the trapeze artist caught the rope and somersaulted onto the net below.

Correct answer:

the trapeze artist caught the rope with her toes and somersaulted onto the net below.

Explanation:

After the comma we need the name of the person. In this sentence the dependent introductory clause (which is not underlined) is "her" which cannot describe a "toe." In order to fix this dangling modifier, the subject of the main clause needs to be changed to "the trapeze artist."

Example Question #82 : 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.

Although not nearly as well-known a monarch as his son Charlemagne, historians consider Pepin the Short almost as important to the success of the Carolingian dynasty.

Possible Answers:

Although not nearly as well known a monarch as

Although he is not nearly as well-known a monarch as

While he is not as nearly a monarch as well-known as

Although not nearly as well-known a monarch as

While not a monarch as nearly well-known as

Correct answer:

Although he is not nearly as well-known a monarch as

Explanation:

There are two major errors here: a modification error; and an idiomatic expression that must be in the correct form, "the idiom X is not nearly as well-known a Y as Z[is]."

As the phrase Although not… Charlemagne would be nonsensical as a description of the historians instead of Pepin the Short, the first clause must become an independent clause by inserting "he is." Moreover, the idiom must be corrected to "he is not nearly as well-known a monarch as … Charlemagne [is]."

Example Question #83 : 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.

Striving all night to complete the level, the game transported Richard through various water worlds filled with otherworldly creatures.

Possible Answers:

Striving all night to complete the level, the game carried Richard

Striving all night to complete the level, the game took Richard

Striving all night to complete the level, the game's transport of Richard

Striving all night through the beautifully designed levels, Richard was transported

Striving all night to complete the level, the game transported Richard

Correct answer:

Striving all night through the beautifully designed levels, Richard was transported

Explanation:

This is a classic dangling modifier error. The dangling modifier should always be followed by the noun it modifies. In this case, the only answer choice which correctly resolves this issue also implements the passive voice. Although this might dissuade you, it is important to weigh your options and ask yourself what the nature of the problem is and which answer choice resolves that issue.

Example Question #1 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting 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.

Even under the sunniest analyses, corporate profits sharply will go down over the final quarter of the year.

Possible Answers:

corporate profits will go down over sharply the final quarter of the year.

corporate profits will go down over the final quarter of the year sharply.

corporate profits will go down sharply over the final quarter of the year.

corporate profits sharply will go down over the final quarter of the year.

sharply corporate profits will go down over the final quarter of the year.

Correct answer:

corporate profits will go down sharply over the final quarter of the year.

Explanation:

The adverb "sharply" is awkwardly placed in the sentence, creating confusion and ambiguity in the phrase. An adverb should be placed immediately next to the word it is describing, which in this case is "down." The only answer choice that  puts "sharply" correctly in the sentence is "corporate profits will go down sharply over the final quarter of the year."

Example Question #2 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting 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.

Five dollars was the measly largest amount the scouts were able to collect from any single individual during their charity drive.

Possible Answers:

Five dollars was the largest amount the scouts were able to collect measly

Five dollars was the measly largest amount the scouts were able to collect

Five dollars measly was the largest amount the scouts were able to collect

A measly five dollars was the largest amount the scouts were able to collect

Five dollars was the largest amount the scouts were able to measly collect

Correct answer:

A measly five dollars was the largest amount the scouts were able to collect

Explanation:

The adverb "measly" is awkwardly placed in the middle of this sentence; it is confusing because its placement does not make it clear which noun the adverb is modifying. As a qualification of an amount, it makes the most sense to associate "measly" with the subject, "five dollars." "A measly five dollars was the largest amount the scouts were able to collect" is the only answer choice which places "measly" in the correct location.

Example Question #2 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting 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.

The young woman only nibbled at the salad overly soggy with too much dressing during her important lunch meeting with her boss.

Possible Answers:

the salad, which was overly soggy with too much dressing, during

the salad was overly soggy with too much dressing during

the salad overly soggy with too much dressing during

the salad, overly soggy with too much dressing during

the salad overly soggy with too much dressing, during

Correct answer:

the salad, which was overly soggy with too much dressing, during

Explanation:

The phrase "overly soggy with too much dressing" describes the salad that the young woman was eating, but is placed within the sentence in a way that it could describe the woman herself. The phrase needs to be set apart from the main sentence structure and more directly linked to the salad. As the only answer choice to make these changes, "the salad, which was overly soggy with too much dressing, during" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #2 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The hotel provided complimentary refreshments to the guests in expensive crystal glasses.

Possible Answers:

complimentarily provided to the guests refreshments in expensive crystal glasses.

the guests with complimentary refreshments in expensive crystal glasses.

in crystal glasses the guest's refreshments complimentarily.

complementary refreshments to the guests in expensive crystal glasses.

complimentary refreshments to guests in expensive crystal glasses.

Correct answer:

the guests with complimentary refreshments in expensive crystal glasses.

Explanation:

The example sentence contains a misplaced modifier. The structure of the example sentence suggests that the guests are "in expensive crystal glasses" rather than the refreshments they are being served. The error can be corrected by placing the modifier as close as possible to the object with which it is meant to be associated, in this case by moving "the guests" to precede the mention of the refreshments, thus clarifying what is in the expensive crystal glasses.

Example Question #4 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting 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.

The only addition of the encryption program served to confuse the programmers.

Possible Answers:

The addition of the encryption program served to confused the programmers solely.

The merely addition of the encryption program served to confuse the programmers.

The addition of the encryption program only served to confuse the programmers.

The addition of the encryption program only served to confuse the programmers.

The addition of the encryption program served to confused the programmers only.

Correct answer:

The addition of the encryption program only served to confuse the programmers.

Explanation:

The example sentence contains a misplaced modifier. "Only" in this context works best when applied to the encryption program's effects. The "only"  thing the software did was confuse the programmers. The modifier should be placed as closely to the action, idea, or thing it modifies. The best version of this sentence reads, "The addition of the encryption program only served to confuse the programmers."

Example Question #5 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier Errors

One associates nominalism most commonly with William of Ockham, but a more careful review of the available evidence seems to suggest that it dates at least to the era of Thomas Aquinas.

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.

Possible Answers:

One associates nominalism most commonly with William of Ockham, but

Nominalism is most commonly associated with William of Ockham, but

William of Ockham is most associated with nominalism commonly, but

Most commonly, one associates nominalism with William of Ockham, but

With William of Ockham is nominalism most commonly associated with, but

Correct answer:

Nominalism is most commonly associated with William of Ockham, but

Explanation:

The credited response shows with the greatest clarity what is being modified by "most commonly" by placing it within the verb phrase "is associated." The response also omits the unnecessary use of the pronoun "one," which makes the sentence clearer, especially later on when the pronoun "it" refers back to "nominalism" as the subject of the adjusted sentence.

Example Question #2 : Correcting Misplaced Or Interrupting Modifier Errors

The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a belated conclusion after the tireless efforts of many officials and a distant emperor.

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.

Possible Answers:

The belated Donatist crisis came to a bloody conclusion after only the tireless efforts of distant officials and many an emperor.

The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a belated conclusion after the efforts of many tireless officials and a distant emperor.

The Donatist bloody crisis only came to a conclusion belated after the tireless efforts of many officials and a distant emperor.

The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a conclusion belated after the efforts of many tireless officials and a distant emperor.

The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a belated conclusion after the tireless efforts of many officials and a distant emperor.

Correct answer:

The bloody Donatist crisis only came to a belated conclusion after the efforts of many tireless officials and a distant emperor.

Explanation:

The credited response is the only one in which every modifier is clearly paired with its object. In this instance, "Donatist crisis" is treated as a singular object modified by "bloody," rather than "Donatist" and "crisis" treated as equally important (and interchangeable) modifiers of "crisis," as "bloody" refers not to a crisis that happened to be "Donatist," but to a specific incident in history. "Belated" modifies "conclusion"; placing it after "conclusion" implies that the efforts delayed the conclusion, rather than that the belated conclusion was reached due to the efforts. While it is common to speak of "tireless efforts," properly speaking, it would be the officials who do not tire, rather than their inanimate efforts.

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