SAT Writing : Correcting Dangling Modifier Errors
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Example Question #242 : 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.
Only taking classes at night, the degree came slowly to the young woman.
The degree came slowly to the young woman who was only taking classes at night.
Only taking classes at night, the degree coming slowly to the young woman.
Only taking classes at night, the degree came slowly to the young woman.
Only taking classes at night, the degree came slow to the young woman.
The degree came slowly to the young woman; only taking classes at night.
The degree came slowly to the young woman who was only taking classes at night.
The sentence is written in a way that makes it appear that the "degree" was "taking classes at night," rather than the "young woman." The sentence must be rearranged and restructured to properly indicate who or what is doing the action of the sentence. The answer choice that best clarifies the sentence is "The degree came slowly to the young woman who was only taking classes at night."
Example Question #243 : 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.
Coming into his own, the beard was grown by the teenager to make himself look older.
Coming into his own, the teenager grew the beard to make himself look older.
The beard was grown by the teenager to make himself look older coming into his own.
Coming into his own, the beard growing by the teenager to make himself look older.
Coming into his own, the beard grew the teenager to make himself look older.
Coming into his own, the beard was grown by the teenager to make himself look older.
Coming into his own, the teenager grew the beard to make himself look older.
The sentence is written in such a way to make the sentence read as though "the beard" was "coming into his own." The sentence needs to be rearranged and restructured to show it was the teenager was "coming into his own." The correct answer choice, which also eliminates the passive voice construction, is "Coming into his own, the teenager grew the beard to make himself look older."
Example Question #31 : 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.
Running down the hill, the underbrush the boy fell into was thorny.
Running down the hill, the boy fell into the thorny underbrush.
Running down the hill, fell into the thorny underbrush the boy.
Running down the hill, the boy fell into the underbrush that was thorny.
Running down the hill, fell into the underbrush that was thorny the boy.
Running down the hill, the thorny underbrush the boy fell into.
Running down the hill, the boy fell into the thorny underbrush.
The sentence is written in such a way that "the underbrush" was "running down the hill," and this confusion needs to be clarified. To do this, the sentence needs to be rearranged so that the introductory participial phrase, "Running down the hill," is as close as possible to the noun that it describes, "the boy." Two answer choices rearrange the sentence in this way: "Running down the hill, the boy fell into the thorny underbrush" and "Running down the hill, the boy fell into the underbrush that was thorny." The first of these options is the best because saying "the underbrush that was thorny" instead of "the thorny underbrush" is redundant.
Example Question #261 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Choose the best answer from the options given.
Skeptical that prophets could actually tell the future, Ancient Greece was where droves of philosophers began to value reason over revealed truths.
valuing of reason over revealed truths by philosophers in Ancient Greece was begun.
it was droves of philosophers that began to value reason over revealed truths.
Ancient Greece was where droves of philosophers began to value reason over revealed truths.
the valuing of reason over revealed truths was begun by droves of philosophers in Ancient Greece.
droves of philosophers in Ancient Greece began to value reason over revealed truths.
droves of philosophers in Ancient Greece began to value reason over revealed truths.
The modifying phrase beginning the sentence must also modify the subject of the main clause. Ancient Greece cannot be skeptical. The only logical subject is philosophers.
Example Question #50 : 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the path was followed for miles by the convoy.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the path was following for miles by the convoy.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy following the path for miles.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the path was followed for miles by the convoy.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the path followed by the convoy for miles.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy followed the path for miles.
Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy followed the path for miles.
The sentence as written contains a dangling modifier, as it is constructed in a manner that makes it seem as if "the path" is "unaware of" "any problems ahead." To correct this, the sentence's word order needs to be reversed so that the introductory phrase is immediately followed by the noun it describes—"the convoy," not "the path." "Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy followed the path for miles" is the only answer choice that corrects this error. "Unaware of any problems ahead, the convoy following the path for miles" is incorrect because "following" is acting as a participle (that is, like an adjective describing "convoy"), and so the sentence does not contain a predicate and is thus a fragment.
Example Question #262 : 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.
Walking into the room, the conference table dominated the interviewee's vision.
the conference table dominating the interviewee's vision.
the conference table dominated an interviewee's vision.
the conference table that had dominated the interviewee's vision.
the interviewee's vision was dominated by the conference table.
the conference table dominated the interviewee's vision.
the interviewee's vision was dominated by the conference table.
In the sentence, the word "walking" is a dangling modifier, as it is confusing which noun is modified by the action of "walking into the room." The sentence is written in a way that makes it the conference table, and the word order needs to be moved around to clear this up; therefore, the correct answer choice is "the interviewee's vision was dominated by the conference table."
Example Question #42 : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors
Seething with anger, the door slammed behind me.
Seething with anger, the door was slammed behind me.
Seething with anger, the door from behind me was slammed.
Seething with anger, the door slammed behind me.
Anger full of seething, the door slammed behind me.
Seething with anger, I slammed the door behind me.
Seething with anger, I slammed the door behind me.
Here, “seething with anger” needs to describe who comes right after the comma. Thus, “Seething with anger, I slammed the door behind me” is the only answer choice that makes sense.
Example Question #253 : 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.
Although she was worried about bankruptcy, Masha's concern was more about the possibility of losing her home.
it was the possibility of losing her home that gave Masha concern.
the possibility of losing her home gave Masha more concern.
Masha was more concerned towards her home and losing it.
Masha was more concerned about the possibility of losing her home.
Masha's concern was more about the possibility of losing her home.
Masha was more concerned about the possibility of losing her home.
It is illogical to state that a "concern" is "worried." The only logical subject of this participle is "Masha."
Example Question #254 : 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.
Like his other historical plays, Shakespeare dramatizes themes of corruption, betrayal, and power in the play King John.
Like his other historical plays, Shakespeare dramatized themes of corruption, betrayal, and power in the play King John.
Like his other historical plays, Shakespeare dramatizes themes of corruption, betrayal, and power in the play King John.
Like his other historical plays, in the play King John, Shakespeare dramatizes themes of corruption, betrayal, and power.
Like his other historical plays, themes of corruption, betrayal, and power are dramatized by Shakespeare in the play King John.
Like Shakespeare's other historical plays, King John dramatizes themes of corruption, betrayal, and power.
Like Shakespeare's other historical plays, King John dramatizes themes of corruption, betrayal, and power.
This sentence contains a faulty comparison. All of the answer choices except "Like Shakespeare's other historical plays, King John dramatizes themes of corruption, betrayal, and power" make it sound as though either Shakespeare or the themes are like the other historical plays.
Example Question #254 : 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.
Walking out of the house, the cold immediately affected the little boy.
Walking out of the house so the cold immediately affected the little boy.
Walking out of the house, the cold immediately affected the little boy.
Walked out of the house, the cold immediately affected the little boy.
The cold immediately affected the little boy walking out of the house.
Walking out of the house, the cold immediately affecting the little boy.
The cold immediately affected the little boy walking out of the house.
The sentence is written with a dangling modifier, making it appear like "the cold" was "walking out of the house." The sentence needs to be rearranged to make it clear that "the little boy" was the one doing the walking. The only answer choice that fully takes care of this confusion is "The cold immediately affected the little boy walking out of the house."
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