What are Dangling Modifiers? Definition and Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

🔍 A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. 📝 To fix a dangling modifier, rewrite the sentence so that the modifier clearly refers to the intended word. 💡 Common types include participial phrases, prepositional phrases, and elliptical clauses. ✍️ Always ensure the subject of the modifying phrase is clear and logically connected to the main clause.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier?
   1. Having finished the game, John went to bed.
   2. After eating dinner, the dishes were washed.
   3. Because she studied hard, Mary aced the test.
   4. While walking in the park, I saw a squirrel.
2. Which sentence correctly revises the dangling modifier: "Covered in mud, the car was difficult to clean."?
   1. Covered in mud, it was difficult to clean the car.
   2. Because the car was covered in mud, it was difficult to clean.
   3. Covered in mud, I found the car difficult to clean.
   4. The car, covered in mud, was difficult to clean it.
3. Identify the dangling modifier in the following sentence: "Walking down the street, the buildings looked impressive."
   1. Walking down the street
   2. the buildings
   3. looked impressive
   4. down the street
4. Which sentence is free of dangling modifiers?
   1. After being washed, the dog felt much better.
   2. After washing the dog, he felt much better.
   3. After being washed, I felt the dog felt better.
   4. After being washed, it felt much better.
5. What is the best way to correct the sentence: "To pass the exam, studying is essential."?
   1. To pass the exam, one must study.
   2. To pass the exam, it is essential to study.
   3. Passing the exam, studying is essential.
   4. For passing the exam, studying is essential.
6. Which of the following sentences uses a modifier correctly?
   1. Running quickly, the finish line was reached.
   2. Having been fed, my cat purred happily.
   3. While singing loudly, the birds chirped.
   4. After being fixed, the car drove smoothly.
7. Identify the sentence with a dangling modifier.
   1. To understand the topic, research is necessary.
   2. To understand the topic, you need to do research.
   3. Understanding the topic, research is necessary.
   4. Understanding the topic is necessary for research.