SAT Writing : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
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Example Question #1 : Identifying 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.
When she was young, living in her mother's garden, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies.
Living in her mother's garden, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies when she was young.
When she was young, living in her mother's garden, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies.
When she was young, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies living in her mother's garden.
Helen, when she was young, living in her mother's garden, liked to imagine there were fairies.
Helen liked to imagine, living in her mother's garden, there were fairies when she was young.
When she was young, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies living in her mother's garden.
In many of these examples, it is not clear if the modifier "living in her mother's garden" refers to Helen or the fairies. The modifier should appear as close to the noun that it modifies as possible so that the meaning is clear. For this reason, "When she was young, Helen liked to imagine there were fairies living in her mother's garden" is the most correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Observing from the summit, the valley that stood below Mike's tour group seemed unfathomably extensive and arid. No error
Mike's
Observing from the summit,
unfathomably
arid
No error
Observing from the summit,
“Observing” is apart of a misplaced modifier that should refer to Mike's tour group, not the valley. The way the sentence is written, it seems as if "the valley" is "observing from the summit," not "Mike's tour group."
Example Question #3 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Damaged beyond repair, the tow truck hauled the totaled car away from the accident scene and to the local junkyard. No error
away from
scene and
hauled
Damaged beyond repair,
No error
Damaged beyond repair,
“Damaged beyond repair” is a modifier that refers to the totaled car, but with its current placement it appears to be describing the (obviously functional) tow truck. The modifier should be moved next to “the totaled car.”
Example Question #2 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Facing snow, ice, and starvation, I can’t imagine how the early Arctic explorers survived their hazardous expeditions, some of which lasted for weeks. No error
early Arctic
Facing snow, ice, and starvation,
some of which
No error
expeditions
Facing snow, ice, and starvation,
“Facing snow, ice, and starvation” is a dangling modifier, since it is obviously meant to describe not the speaker of the sentence but rather the Arctic explorers. To correct the sentence, the modifier would have to be moved next to the phrase it modifies.
Example Question #4 : Identifying Dangling Modifier Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jumping up and down in joy, Annie's excitement was evident when she saw her sister, who had been deployed for nearly a year and whom she had dearly missed. No error
nearly
who
Jumping up and down in joy,
No error
sister,
Jumping up and down in joy,
“Jumping up and down in joy” is a misplaced modifier that refers to “Annie," but as the sentence is currently written, is seems as if “Annie's excitement” is jumping up and down in joy, not Annie. The sentence should therefore be rephrased so that “Annie" is modified by the introductory phrase, e.g. "Jumping up and down in joy, Annie was excited when she saw her sister."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Smelling like old dirty socks, Andy threw the wheel of cheese into the dumpster at the end of the street. No error
No error
into the dumpster
of
end
Smelling like old dirty socks
Smelling like old dirty socks
"Smelling like old dirty socks" is a misplaced modifier that refers to the wheel of cheese, but in the current form of this sentence seems as if it is modifying Andy.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Barely hanging from the tree branch, the outstretched arms of its owner seemed like they were a million miles away from the scared kitten. No error
they were
No error
its owner
Barely hanging from the tree branch,
the scared kitten
Barely hanging from the tree branch,
"Barely hanging from the tree branch" is a misplaced modifier in the current incarnation of this sentence, as it is modifying "the outstretched arms" rather than correctly referring to "the scared kitten."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Dangling Modifier Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Shaking the rafters of the old gymnasium, the varsity basketball team was overwhelmed by the hometown crowd's vigorous cheers after the epic championship victory. No error
No error
epic
vigorous cheers
was overwhelmed
Shaking the rafters of the old gymnasium,
Shaking the rafters of the old gymnasium,
"Shaking the rafters of the old gymnasium" is a misplaced modifier that is intended to refer to the crowd's vigorous cheers, but here incorrectly modifies "the varsity basketball team."
Example Question #4 : Identifying Dangling Modifier Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Facing a harsh winter and a lack of food in a new land, the students were engrossed in the story of how the Pilgrims survived their first winter in America. No error.
Facing a harsh winter and a lack of food in a new land
No error
were engrossed
their first winter
how the Pilgrims
Facing a harsh winter and a lack of food in a new land
"Facing a harsh winter and a lack of food in a new land" is a dangling modifier that should modify the Pilgrims, not the students. We will need to update the sentence so that the modifier more clearly reflects the correct noun.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Modifier Placement Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Projecting a stately demeanor as he descended from the helicopter, the Secret Service officer immediately stepped up to protect the smiling President. No error.
immediately
to protect
smiling
No error
Projecting a stately demeanor as he descended from the helicopter
Projecting a stately demeanor as he descended from the helicopter
"Projecting a stately demeanor as he descended from the helicopter" is a dangling modifier that should refer to the President, not to the Secret Service.
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