SAT Writing › 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.
Running late to class, Tom's backpack fell off as he sprinted down the hall. No error
Tom's backpack
down the hall
fell off
he sprinted
No error
The dangling modifier "Running late to class" must be immediately followed by the subject Tom. In the question, the modifier is followed by Tom's backpack, which incorrectly suggests that the backpack is running late to class.
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
Jumping up and down in joy,
sister,
who
nearly
No error
“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."
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
Shaking the rafters of the old gymnasium,
was overwhelmed
vigorous cheers
epic
No error
"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."
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
Barely hanging from the tree branch,
its owner
they were
the scared kitten
No error
"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."
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
were engrossed
how the Pilgrims
their first winter
No error
"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.
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
Smelling like old dirty socks
of
into the dumpster
end
No error
"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.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Staring out the window, the lengthy car ride to Nebraska seemed to take forever. No error
Staring out the window
to
take forever
No error
lengthy
The error in this sentence is the dangling modifier: "Staring out the window." A dangling modifier is one that is left without a noun to modify (or without one that it would make sense to modify). Since a car ride can't stare out a window, "staring out the window" does not have a logical noun to modify and is therefore a dangling modifier. A corrected sentence might look like this: "As Mia stared out the window, the lengthy car ride to Nebraska seemed to last forever" or "Staring out the window, Mia lamented that the lengthy car ride to Nebraska seemed to take forever."
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.
Rustling in the summer breeze, Sam was impressed by the oak trees on his walk.
Rustling in the summer breeze, the oak trees impressed Sam on his walk.
As they rustled in the summer breeze, Sam was impressed by the oak trees on his walk.
Rustling in the summer breeze, Sam admires the oak trees on his walk.
Rustling in the summer breeze, Sam is admiring the oak trees on his walk.
Rustles in the summer breeze, Sam admires the oak trees on his walk.
Since "rustling in the summer breeze" refers to the oak trees rather than Sam (since trees, not people, can rustle), "the oak trees" has to go directly after that modifying phrase. This construction only occurs in the answer choice of "Rustling in the summer breeze, the oak trees impressed Sam on his walk."
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.
Projecting a stately demeanor as he descended from the helicopter
immediately
to protect
smiling
No error
"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.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Shaking every building in the downtown area, Winona crouched in the corner of her bedroom when the massive earthquake hit. No error.
Shaking every building in the downtown area
in
when
hit
No error
"Shaking every building in the downtown area" is a dangling modifier that should correctly refer to "when the massive earthquake hit" and not to Winona.