SAT Writing : Correcting Modifier Placement Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #571 : Improving Sentences
Behind the rock, the bullets could not hit the soldiers.
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.
The bullets could not hit the soldiers behind the rock.
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.
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.
the shoppers were blinded by the bright sunshine.
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.
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.
the boy always wanted to join the army.
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.
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.
The big screen television dominated the patrons' view when they came into the restaurant.
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.
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.
Hoping to make amends, the young man gave his girlfriend the flowers.
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.
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.
The project was taken away from the young associate because he was making plenty of mistakes.
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.
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.
Walking into the street, the pedestrians had their path blocked by the parade.
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."
Example Question #2201 : Act English
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.
Moving into his new house, the wallpaper was completely renovated by the homeowner.
the wallpaper completely renovated by the homeowner.
the wallpaper was completely renovated by the homeowner.
the wallpaper were completely renovated by the homeowner.
the homeowner completely renovated the wallpaper.
the wallpaper were completely renovation by the homeowner.
the homeowner completely renovated the wallpaper.
The sentence is written in such a way that it makes it seem like "the wallpaper" was "moving into his new house." The sentence needs to be rearranged to show that the "homeowner" is actually the one doing the moving. The only answer choice that does this is "the homeowner completely renovated the wallpaper."
Example Question #27 : 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.
Under a great deal of stress, cooking a meal was too hard for the newly-promoted manager.
Under a great deal of stress, cooking a meal was too hard for the newly-promoted manager.
Under a great deal of stress, cooking a meal was too hard for a newly-promoted manager.
Cooking a meal was too hard for the newly-promoted manager, who was under a great deal of stress.
Under a great deal of stress, to cook a meal was too hard for the newly-promoted manager.
Under a great deal of stress cooking a meal was too hard for the newly-promoted manager.
Cooking a meal was too hard for the newly-promoted manager, who was under a great deal of stress.
The sentence is written in such a way to make it appear that "cooking a meal" is what is "under a great deal of stress." The sentence needs to be rearranged and reworded to clarify this confusion. The answer choice that does this best is "Cooking a meal was too hard for the newly-promoted manager, who was under a great deal of stress."
Example Question #28 : 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 the final turn, the finish line loomed for both of the dueling cars.
The dueling cars making the final turn loomed the finish line.
Making the final turn, the finish line loomed for both of the dueling cars.
Making the final turn, the dueling cars looming for the finish line.
The finish line loomed for both of the dueling cars making the final turn.
Making the final turn to the finish line loomed for both of the dueling cars.
The finish line loomed for both of the dueling cars making the final turn.
The sentence is written in such a way that it makes the finish line appear to be the one "making the final turn," instead of "the dueling cars." The sentence has to be rearranged to make this distinction clear, and still keep the sentence's intended meaning. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "The finish line loomed for both of the dueling cars making the final turn."
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