Misplaced Modifier Challenge: Spot the Error Quiz

Sharpen your grammar skills by identifying sentences with misplaced modifiers. This quiz helps you spot modifier mistakes that can cause confusion and teaches you how to rewrite sentences for clarity.

1. Question 1

   Identify the sentence with a misplaced modifier: 'Running quickly, the book fell off the table.'

   1. The book fell off the table while running quickly.
   2. The book quickly fell off the table.
   3. Running quickly, Sarah grabbed her book.
   4. Sarah ran quickly to grab her book.

   Explanation: The sentence 'The book fell off the table while running quickly.' incorrectly suggests that the book was running, which does not make sense. The correct subject performing the action (running) should be clear. 'The book quickly fell off the table.' and 'Running quickly, Sarah grabbed her book.' both use modifiers correctly. 'Sarah ran quickly to grab her book.' is also clear and logical. Only the first option has the misplaced modifier.

2. Question 2

   Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier: 'She almost drove her kids to school every day.'?

   1. She drove her kids almost to school every day.
   2. She drove her kids to school almost every day.
   3. Almost every day, she drove her kids to school.
   4. She almost drove her kids to school every day.

   Explanation: In 'She almost drove her kids to school every day.', the word 'almost' is misplaced, implying she didn't actually drive them. 'She drove her kids almost to school every day.' suggests she didn't reach the school. 'Almost every day, she drove her kids to school.' correctly modifies the frequency, and 'She drove her kids to school almost every day.' properly places the modifier. Only the first has a misplaced modifier.

3. Question 3

   Choose the sentence with the misplaced modifier: 'Covered in syrup, Tom ate the pancakes.'

   1. Tom, covered in syrup, ate the pancakes.
   2. Tom ate pancakes that were covered in syrup.
   3. Tom ate the pancakes covered in syrup.
   4. Covered in syrup, Tom ate the pancakes.

   Explanation: The sentence 'Covered in syrup, Tom ate the pancakes.' wrongly suggests Tom was covered in syrup, not the pancakes. 'Tom ate the pancakes covered in syrup.' and 'Tom ate pancakes that were covered in syrup.' both clarify that the pancakes were covered. 'Tom, covered in syrup, ate the pancakes.' still misplaces the modifier, but the original structure is most clearly incorrect.

4. Question 4

   Find the sentence with a misplaced modifier: 'I only gave John five dollars.'

   1. Only I gave John five dollars.
   2. I only gave John five dollars.
   3. I gave only John five dollars.
   4. I gave John only five dollars.

   Explanation: 'I only gave John five dollars.' is ambiguous because 'only' seems to modify the verb rather than modifying 'five dollars'. 'I gave only John five dollars.' suggests John alone got the money. 'Only I gave John five dollars.' means no one else did. 'I gave John only five dollars.' clarifies that five dollars is the amount John received. The original placement of 'only' is the misplaced modifier.

5. Question 5

   Which sentence misplaces its modifier: 'While eating, the phone rang loudly.'

   1. While eating, the phone rang loudly.
   2. The phone rang loudly while we were eating.
   3. While we were eating, the phone rang loudly.
   4. We were eating when the phone rang loudly.

   Explanation: The sentence 'While eating, the phone rang loudly.' accidentally implies that the phone was eating. The correct subject should immediately follow the modifier. The other sentences correctly make it clear the people were eating when the phone rang. Only the first option suffers from a misplaced modifier.

6. Question 6

   Identify which option has a misplaced modifier: 'Barking loudly, the mailman was startled by the dog.'

   1. The mailman was startled by the loud, barking dog.
   2. The dog barked loudly and startled the mailman.
   3. Startled by the dog barking loudly, the mailman dropped the mail.
   4. Barking loudly, the mailman was startled by the dog.

   Explanation: 'Barking loudly, the mailman was startled by the dog.' mistakenly suggests the mailman was barking. The other sentences clarify that the dog was barking, which makes logical sense. The misplaced modifier in the first example creates confusion about who is performing the action.

7. Question 7

   Choose the sentence with a misplaced modifier: 'Nearly drove all the way home, Sarah remembered her bag.'

   1. After nearly driving all the way home, Sarah remembered her bag.
   2. Sarah remembered her bag after nearly driving home.
   3. Nearly drove all the way home, Sarah remembered her bag.
   4. Sarah nearly drove all the way home before remembering her bag.

   Explanation: The sentence 'Nearly drove all the way home, Sarah remembered her bag.' lacks a clear subject and misplaces the modifier, causing confusion. The other options properly connect Sarah with the action of nearly driving home. Only the first creates an unclear relationship between the modifier and subject.

8. Question 8

   Spot the sentence with a misplaced modifier: 'Swinging from the tree, the wind knocked down the branch.'

   1. The branch swinging from the tree was knocked down by the wind.
   2. The wind knocked the swinging branch from the tree.
   3. The wind knocked down the branch that was swinging from the tree.
   4. Swinging from the tree, the wind knocked down the branch.

   Explanation: In 'Swinging from the tree, the wind knocked down the branch.', it sounds as if the wind was swinging. The other sentences clearly indicate that the branch was swinging, not the wind. Only the first option misplaces the modifier and causes confusion.

9. Question 9

   Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier: 'Walking home at night, the streetlights lit Maria’s path.'?

   1. Maria’s path was lit by the streetlights as she walked home at night.
   2. Walking home at night, the streetlights lit Maria’s path.
   3. While Maria walked home at night, the streetlights lit her path.
   4. The streetlights lit Maria’s path as she walked home at night.

   Explanation: 'Walking home at night, the streetlights lit Maria’s path.' suggests the streetlights were walking, which is illogical. The other options appropriately connect Maria with walking, and the streetlights with lighting. Only the first option contains the misplaced modifier error.

10. Question 10

    Find the misplaced modifier in this example: 'Torn in half, Mary threw away the old homework.'

    1. Mary threw away her old, torn homework.
    2. The old homework, torn in half, was thrown away by Mary.
    3. Mary threw away the old homework torn in half.
    4. Torn in half, Mary threw away the old homework.

    Explanation: The sentence 'Torn in half, Mary threw away the old homework.' wrongly implies Mary was torn in half, rather than the homework. The second, third, and fourth choices all clarify that it was the homework that was torn, making them properly constructed. The misplaced modifier is present only in the first sentence.