SAT Writing : Correcting Dangling Modifier Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #2191 : Act English

Rounding the corner, the park was right in front of the tourist group.

Possible Answers:

As the tourists rounded the corner, the park being right in front of them.

Rounding the corner, the park was right in front of the tourist group.

Rounding the corner, the park became right in front of the tourist group. 

As the tourists rounded the corner, the park was right in front of them.

Rounding the corner, the park was in right front of the tourist group.

Correct answer:

As the tourists rounded the corner, the park was right in front of them.

Explanation:

The sentence as written contains a dangling modifier, which confusingly makes it read like the park was what rounded the corner. The only answer choice that fixes this issue and is grammatically correct is "As the tourists rounded the corner, the park was right in front of them."

Example Question #21 : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors

Descending the stairs, the young man thought his prom date looked beautiful on the landing.

Possible Answers:

Descending of the stairs

Descending from the stairs

Descending the stairs

Descended the stairs

As she descended the stairs

Correct answer:

As she descended the stairs

Explanation:

The sentence indicates with its final phrase that the "prom date" was the one on the stairs, but is written like the "young boy" is the one "descending." The introductory phrase needs to be restructured to make this distinction clear. The only answer choice that does this is "As she descended the stairs."

Example Question #11 : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors

Under the heavy weight, the rock was crushing the people trapped underneath.

Possible Answers:

the rock was crushing people who were trapped underneath.

the rock crushing the people trapped underneath.

the people trapped underneath the rock were being crushed.

the people being underneath trapping by the rock's crushing.

the rock was crushing the people trapped underneath.

Correct answer:

the people trapped underneath the rock were being crushed.

Explanation:

The sentence is confusingly written, as the modifier clause "Under the heavy weight" reads as though it is describing the rock. Actually the "people trapped underneath" are the ones "Under the heavy weight," and the sentence should be reworded to reflect this and clear up the confusion. The answer choice that does this and becomes clear is "the people trapped underneath the rock were being crushed."

Example Question #571 : Improving Sentences

Behind the rock, the bullets could not hit the soldiers.

Possible Answers:

Behind the rock, the bullets could not hit the soldiers.

Behind the rock, where the bullets could not hit the soldiers.

The bullets could not hit the soldiers behind the rock.

Behind the rock the bullets could not hit the soldiers.

The soldiers being not hit by bullets behind the rock.

Correct answer:

The bullets could not hit the soldiers behind the rock.

Explanation:

As the sentence is written, it makes it seem like the bullets are behind the rock instead of the soldiers. The sentence needs to be reworded to clarify the sentence, and make it clear who is hiding where and from what. The answer choice that does this best is "The bullets could not hit the soldiers behind the rock."

Example Question #23 : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors

Walking out the door, the bright sunshine blinded the shoppers.

Possible Answers:

the shoppers were blinded by the bright sunshine.

the bright sunshine blinded the shoppers.

the bright sunshine blinding the shoppers.

the bright sunshine blinds the shoppers.

the shoppers blinding the sunshine.

Correct answer:

the shoppers were blinded by the bright sunshine.

Explanation:

The sentence is written in a manner that makes it appear the sunshine is what is "walking out the door." The underlined portion of the sentence must be reworded to make it clear the shoppers are the ones doing the walking. The answer choice that best fixes this problem is "the shoppers were blinded by the bright sunshine."

Example Question #21 : 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.

Like his father before him, the army was something the boy always wanted to join.

Possible Answers:

the army was something the boy always wanted to join.

the boy wanted something to join the army.

the army was something the boy wanted always to join.

the army was a thing the boy always wanted to join.

the boy always wanted to join the army.

Correct answer:

the boy always wanted to join the army.

Explanation:

The sentence is written with a dangling modifier. As it is written, it seems that "the army" always wanted to do something "like his father." The wording needs to be rearranged so that it is clear that "the boy" wanted to join the army "like his father" and the sentence's meaning is kept intact. The answer choice that does this the best is "the boy always wanted to join the army."

Example Question #11 : 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 into the restaurant, the big screen television dominated the patrons' view.

Possible Answers:

Coming into the restaurant, the big screen television dominating the patrons' view.

Coming into the restaurant, the patrons' view dominated the big screen television.

The big screen television dominated the patrons' view when they came into the restaurant.

Coming into the restaurant as the big screen television dominated the patrons' view.

Coming into the restaurant, the big screen television dominated the patrons' view.

Correct answer:

The big screen television dominated the patrons' view when they came into the restaurant.

Explanation:

The sentence is written to make it seem like the "big screen television" was what was "coming into the restaurant," as the sentence contains a dangling modifier. The sentence's word order should be switched around to make it clear that the patrons were coming into the restaurant. The only answer choice that does this is "The big screen television dominated the patrons' view when they came into the restaurant."

Example Question #251 : 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.

Hoping to make amends, the flowers were given to the young man's girlfriend.

Possible Answers:

Hoping to make amends, the young man gave his girlfriend the flowers.

Hoping to make amends, the flowers were given by the young man's girlfriend.

Hoping to make amends, the flowers were given for the young man's girlfriend.

Hoping to make amends, the flowers were given to the young man's girlfriend.

Hoping to make amends, the flowers gave to the young man's girlfriend.

Correct answer:

Hoping to make amends, the young man gave his girlfriend the flowers.

Explanation:

The sentence as it is written contains a dangling modifier, because it is unclear who or what was "hoping." The sentence needs to be rewritten to make it clear who is actually doing the "hoping." The answer choice that does this best is "Hoping to make amends, the young man gave his girlfriend the flowers."

Example Question #24 : 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.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project was taken away from the young associate.

Possible Answers:

Making plenty of mistakes so the project was taken away from the young associate.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project was taken away from the young associate.

The project was taken away from the young associate because he was making plenty of mistakes.

The project was taken away from the young associate because it made plenty of mistakes.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project being taken away from the young associate.

Correct answer:

The project was taken away from the young associate because he was making plenty of mistakes.

Explanation:

The sentence is written in such a way to make it seem like the "project" was "making plenty of mistakes." The sentence needs to be reworded and restructured to show that it was "the young associate" who was "making plenty of mistakes." The correct answer choice is the only answer choice that makes this clear, "The project was taken away from the young associate because he was making plenty of mistakes."

Example Question #25 : 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.

Walking into the street, the parade blocked the pedestrians' path.

Possible Answers:

Walking in the street, the parade blocked the pedestrians' path.

Walking into the street, the parade was blocking the pedestrians' path.

Walking into the street, the parade blocked the pedestrians path.

Walking into the street, the parade blocked the pedestrians' path.

Walking into the street, the pedestrians had their path blocked by the parade.

Correct answer:

Walking into the street, the pedestrians had their path blocked by the parade.

Explanation:

The sentence contains a dangling modifier, making it seem as though the "parade" was "walking into the street." The sentence needs to be rearranged to make it clear that the "pedestrians" were walking. The only answer choice that does this is "Walking into the street, the pedestrians had their path blocked by the parade."

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