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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Take the Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Quiz Now!

Spot every misplaced or dangling modifier on the first try - challenge yourself now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a quiz on misplaced and dangling modifiers on a sky blue background

This misplaced and dangling modifiers quiz helps you spot and fix unclear sentences fast. You'll work through real examples and get instant feedback on each question; for more practice, try a follow-up quiz or a focused quiz on dangling modifiers .

Identify the sentence that contains a dangling modifier.
After the storm passed, the sun came out.
By studying nightly, Bob earned top grades.
While I was reading the book, I found a typo.
Walking through the park, my hat blew off.
The phrase Walking through the park dangles because it doesnt modify any noun in the main clauseit illogically suggests that the hat was walking. To fix it, attach the modifier to the correct subject (e.g., As I was walking through the park, my hat blew off). .
Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
I went to the store after lunch yesterday.
Only John said he would help with the project.
She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.
He drove his car to work in the morning.
In She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates, the phrase on paper plates wrongly appears to modify children instead of sandwiches. It should be moved closer to the noun it describes. .
Choose the best revision of the sentence: Covered in chocolate, she ate the strawberries.
She ate the strawberries, covered in chocolate.
She ate the chocolate-covered strawberries.
She ate the chocolate, covered strawberries.
Chocolate-covered, she ate the strawberries.
To avoid confusion, the compound adjective chocolate-covered should directly precede the noun strawberries. This revision places the modifier correctly. .
What is a dangling modifier?
A modifier placed too far from the word it modifies.
A modifier that is placed at the beginning of the sentence.
A phrase that provides extra information about the subject.
A word or phrase that modifies a noun not present in the sentence.
A dangling modifier appears to modify a word that isnt actually in the sentence, leaving the modifier dangling without a logical attachment. It creates confusion because theres no clear subject. .
What distinguishes a misplaced modifier from a dangling modifier?
Misplaced modifiers are at the end, dangling at the beginning.
Misplaced modifiers only occur in clauses; dangling modifiers only in phrases.
Misplaced modifiers modify the wrong word; dangling modifiers have no word to modify.
Misplaced modifiers are adjectives; dangling modifiers are adverbs.
A misplaced modifier is attached to the wrong word, leading to ambiguity, whereas a dangling modifier lacks a clear subject or object to modify. Both create confusion but in different ways. .
Choose the best correction for: After consulting the article, the conclusions were clear.
After consulting the article, I found the conclusions were clear.
After consulting the article, one finds conclusions clear.
The conclusions were clear after consulting the article.
After the article was consulted, clear conclusions were reached.
By starting with the subject The conclusions, the introductory phrase after consulting the article clearly modifies that subject without leaving the clause dangling. .
Which sentence unambiguously indicates that Emily is the only person who will be helped?
I said I would only help Emily.
I only said I would help Emily.
I said I only would help Emily.
I said I would help only Emily.
Placing only immediately before help Emily makes it clear that Emily is the sole beneficiary of help. Other positions of only change or obscure the intended meaning. .
Choose the best revision for: She almost drove her kids to school every day.
She almost every day drove her kids to school.
She drove almost her kids to school every day.
She drove her kids to school almost every day.
Almost she drove her kids to school every day.
Moving almost to modify every day clarifies that she drove daily on most days, rather than nearly completing the drive itself. .
Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
He served steaks to guests on paper plates.
He grilled steaks for guests on a backyard grill.
He served steaks on paper plates to guests.
He served only steaks to guests at dinner.
In He served steaks to guests on paper plates, the modifier on paper plates appears to modify guests. It should be placed next to steaks to be clear. .
Identify the sentence that contains a dangling modifier.
To win the championship, the players used a new strategy.
To win the championship, they watched game tapes.
To win the championship, the players trained daily.
To win the championship, the coach was praised.
The introductory phrase To win the championship dangles because it doesnt modify the coach. It suggests the coach was trying to win rather than praising him. .
Choose the best revision for: Given his reputation, the job was a perfect fit.
He was a perfect fit for the job, given his reputation.
Given the job, his reputation was a perfect fit.
The job was a perfect fit given his reputation.
Given his reputation, he was a perfect fit for the job.
Placing the modifier next to he makes it clear who has the reputation. The original version leaves given his reputation unattached. .
Choose the best correction for: Having finished the assignment, the book was returned to the shelf.
Having finished the assignment, it was returned to the shelf.
Having finished the assignment, the student returned the book to the shelf.
After the assignment was finished, the book returned to the shelf.
The book, having finished the assignment, was returned to the shelf.
The participial phrase must modify the person doing the actionin this case, the student. Otherwise the modifier wrongly attaches to the book. .
Choose the best revision for: Reading the manuscript, the coffee was spilled.
While reading the manuscript, I spilled the coffee.
While I read, the coffee was spilled by me.
While reading the manuscript, the coffee spilled.
Reading the manuscript, the coffee was spilled.
The modifier While reading the manuscript must attach to the person doing the action, so I spilled the coffee is the clear, grammatical choice. .
Choose the best revision for: Walking down the street, the trees were beautiful.
Walking down the street, the trees that lined it were beautiful.
The trees were beautiful walking down the street.
Walking down the street, I found the trees beautiful.
The trees walking down the street were beautiful.
The modifier Walking down the street must modify the person doing the walking, not the trees. This revision clearly attaches it to I. .
Choose the best revision for: Reading only the first chapter, the book seemed dull.
After reading the first chapter only, the book seemed dull.
The book seemed dull after only the first chapter was read.
Only after reading the first chapter did I find the book dull.
Reading the first chapter only, I found the book dull.
Using an inverted construction with Only after reading the first chapter clearly links the action to the readers assessment, avoiding any dangling or misplaced phrasing. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers -

    Pinpoint misplaced or dangling modifier issues in sentences and recognize common error patterns.

  2. Differentiate Modifier Types -

    Distinguish between misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers using clear examples and explanations.

  3. Correct Modifier Errors -

    Revise sentences to eliminate confusion and ensure modifiers correctly attach to their intended targets.

  4. Apply Editing Strategies -

    Use proven techniques and a dangling modifier checker approach to streamline your proofreading process.

  5. Evaluate Real-World Sentences -

    Assess and improve sentences drawn from everyday writing to sharpen your misplaced modifier practice skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Distinguish Dangling vs. Misplaced Modifiers -

    Misplaced or dangling modifier errors occur when descriptive words or phrases don't clearly attach to the words they're meant to describe. According to Purdue OWL guidelines, a dangling modifier usually has no logical subject in the sentence ("After running the marathon, the medal lay on the table."), while a misplaced modifier simply sits too far from its target ("She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.").

  2. Apply the Proximity Principle -

    Always place your modifier as close as possible to the word or phrase it's modifying to avoid ambiguity. Cambridge University Press stresses that "The girl nearly drove the car for six hours" vs. "The girl drove the car for nearly six hours" changes the meaning completely.

  3. Fix Dangling Modifiers with Clear Subjects -

    Ensure every introductory phrase has a clear subject: "After finishing the test, Sarah turned in her paper" rather than "After finishing the test, the paper was turned in." The University of Manchester's writing center recommends rereading each sentence to confirm who's performing the action.

  4. Master Comma Usage for Clarity -

    Use commas to set off introductory modifiers, but don't overuse them; a misplaced comma can introduce a dangling modifier. The MLA Handbook advises: "Shocked by the news, Maria sat down" is correct, whereas "Shocked, Maria by the news sat down" is confusing.

  5. Use Mnemonics and Self-Check Tools -

    Try the "What, Who, Where" test: identify what's being described, who is doing it, and where it appears in the sentence. Pair this with a dangling modifier checker or a quick peer review - practice from University of Oxford resources shows regular review drastically cuts down errors.

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