Grammar Practice
MISPLACED MODIFIERS PRACTICE
Directions: Rewrite the following sentences, which contain misplaced modifiers, so that each modifier clearly refers
to the word it logically modifiers.
1.
The cat broke the vase frightened by a noise.
_Frightened by a noise, the cat broke the vase.____
2.
Running across my bathroom ceiling, I saw two large, hairy bugs.
__I saw two large, hairy bugs, running across my bathroom ceiling.____
3.
With their deadly venom, people are sometimes killed by snakes.
__With their deadly venom, snakes sometimes kill people.______
4.
I ran outside and saw eight tiny reindeer in my bathrobe.
__I ran outside in my bathrobe and saw eight tiny reindeer._____________
5.
Barking all night, I listened to my neighbor’s dog.
_I listened to my neighbor’s dog barking all night.________________
6.
With a mysterious smile, Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
___Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa with a mysterious smile.__________
Directions: One sentence in each pair contains a dangling modifier. Circle the letter that identifies the
correct sentence.
1. a. Following the instructions I wrote, there should be no problem in assembling that toy for your
daughter.
b. Following the instructions I wrote, you should have no problem in assembling that toy for your
daughter.
2. a. Hiding under the blanket, I found the kitten peacefully asleep.
b. I found the kitten hiding under a blanket, peacefully asleep.
3. a. Reaching far back under the bed, I found my running shoes, which had been missing for several
days.
b. Reaching far back under the bed, my running shoes, which had been missing for several days,
mysteriously re-appeared.
Directions: Rewrite each of the following sentences twice.
a. Identify and change the dangling modifier to a complete clause with a main noun and a main verb.
b. Retain the phrase but begin the main clause with a word it can logically modify.
1.
Looking everywhere in the library, no books necessary for my paper were on the shelves.
a. I looked everywhere in the library, but there were no books necessary for my paper on the shelves.
b. Looking everywhere in the library, I could not find any of the books necessary for my paper on the
shelves.
2.
Before buying that used car, its history should be checked through a computerized service.
a. Before you buy that used car, its history should be checked through a computerized service.
b. Before buying that used car, you should check its history through a computerized service.
3.
Spraining my ankle severely, the trainer gave me an ice pack to put on it.
a. After I sprained my ankle severely, the trainer gave me an ice pack to put on it.
b. Spraining my ankle severely, I put an ice pack from my trainer on it.