SAT Writing : Correcting Dangling Modifier Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1512 : Sentence Correction
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.
Central Park was the subject of many of Edward Hooper's paintings.
Edward Hooper used Central Park as the subject of many of his paintings.
Edward Hooper has 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.
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 #1721 : 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.
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.
Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet.
Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children learn.
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 #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.
Stretching her arm out as far as she could, the shelf was still out of Ramona's reach.
the shelf was still out of Ramona's reach
reaching the shelf was still an impossible task for Ramona
Ramona still couldn't reach the shelf
the shelf was still unreachable to Ramona
reaching the shelf Ramona still could not
Ramona still couldn't reach the shelf
The first part of this sentence, "stretching her arm out as far as she could," necessarily modifies the subject of the sentence. The only possible subject that could do this action of "stretching" is Ramona - therefore Ramona needs to be in subject position. The example sentence thus features a dangling modifier error.
"Stretching her arm out as far as she could" cannot modify a "shelf", so this creates a dangling modifier.
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