Correcting Modifier Placement Errors

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SAT Writing › Correcting Modifier Placement Errors

Questions 1 - 10
1

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.

An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings is described in great detail in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings being lengthy described in the autobiography of his former student.

The professor's student, in his autobiography, lengthy describes an account of the Professor's teachings and research.

The professor's student, whose autobiography describes at length an account of the professor's research and teachings.

Explanation

"An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student." - As it is presented in the question stem, the sentence is incomplete. It contains only a subject and is missing a predicate; "which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student" is a participial phrase describing "an account of the professor's research and teachings." The "account" doesn't do anything in this sentence or have anything done to it.

"An account of the professor's research and teachings being lengthy described in the autobiography of his former student." - This sentence contains two errors. One error is its use of the adjective "lengthy." "Lengthy" is used like an adverb to modify "described," but adjectives can't modify verbs, so this sentence is incorrect. The sentence's other error is in its use of the word "being," which does not make sense. To be read as a present progressive verb, "being" would need to be preceded by "is." Even if "being" were read as beginning a participial phrase, the sentence would remain incomplete.

"The professor's student, in his autobiography, lengthy describes an account of the professor's teachings and research. " - This sentence reproduces the "lengthy" error discussed in the previous answer choice, and it also contains an ambiguous pronoun. "His" could refer to either the professor or the professor's student.

"The professor's student, whose autobiography describes at length an account of the professor's research and teachings." - This sentence is also an incomplete sentence; it consists of a subject and lacks a predicate. The participial phrase "whose autobiography describes at length an account of the Professor's research and teachings" describes "The professor's student," but the sentence lacks a verb to tell us what "the professor's student" does in the sentence.

"An account of the professor's research and teachings is described in great detail in the autobiography of his former student." - This sentence has no errors.

2

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.

An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings is described in great detail in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings being lengthy described in the autobiography of his former student.

The professor's student, in his autobiography, lengthy describes an account of the Professor's teachings and research.

The professor's student, whose autobiography describes at length an account of the professor's research and teachings.

Explanation

"An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student." - As it is presented in the question stem, the sentence is incomplete. It contains only a subject and is missing a predicate; "which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student" is a participial phrase describing "an account of the professor's research and teachings." The "account" doesn't do anything in this sentence or have anything done to it.

"An account of the professor's research and teachings being lengthy described in the autobiography of his former student." - This sentence contains two errors. One error is its use of the adjective "lengthy." "Lengthy" is used like an adverb to modify "described," but adjectives can't modify verbs, so this sentence is incorrect. The sentence's other error is in its use of the word "being," which does not make sense. To be read as a present progressive verb, "being" would need to be preceded by "is." Even if "being" were read as beginning a participial phrase, the sentence would remain incomplete.

"The professor's student, in his autobiography, lengthy describes an account of the professor's teachings and research. " - This sentence reproduces the "lengthy" error discussed in the previous answer choice, and it also contains an ambiguous pronoun. "His" could refer to either the professor or the professor's student.

"The professor's student, whose autobiography describes at length an account of the professor's research and teachings." - This sentence is also an incomplete sentence; it consists of a subject and lacks a predicate. The participial phrase "whose autobiography describes at length an account of the Professor's research and teachings" describes "The professor's student," but the sentence lacks a verb to tell us what "the professor's student" does in the sentence.

"An account of the professor's research and teachings is described in great detail in the autobiography of his former student." - This sentence has no errors.

3

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.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project was taken away from the young associate.

The project was taken away from the young associate because he was making plenty of mistakes.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project was taken away from the young associate.

Making plenty of mistakes so the project was taken away from the young associate.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project being taken away from the young associate.

The project was taken away from the young associate because it made plenty of mistakes.

Explanation

The sentence is written in such a way to make it seem like the "project" was "making plenty of mistakes." The sentence needs to be reworded and restructured to show that it was "the young associate" who was "making plenty of mistakes." The correct answer choice is the only answer choice that makes this clear, "The project was taken away from the young associate because he was making plenty of mistakes."

4

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.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.

Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.

Caring for a pet responsibility is something children can learn.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is learned by children.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children learn.

Explanation

With the sentence phrased the way it is, the thing that is "caring for a pet" appears to be "responsibility." This dangling modifier needs to be changed to make it clear that "children" are "caring for a pet." The correct answer choice is "Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet."

5

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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.

Coming upon the hills, the sun began setting behind the travelers.

As the travelers came upon the hill, the sun began setting behind them.

Coming upon the hills, the sun began setting behind the travelers.

Coming upon the hills as the sun began setting begind the travelers.

As the sun began setting, travelers coming upon the hills.

Coming upon the hills, the sun set behind the travelers.

Explanation

The sentence as written contains a dangling modifier, in that "the sun" is not what is "coming upon the hills." The sentence needs to be rewritten to show that the travelers were the ones "coming upon the hills." "As the travelers came upon the hill, the sun began setting behind them," is the correct answer choice.

6

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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.

Passing by the waterfront, the ducks and geese floated around as spectators strolled.

spectators strolled as the ducks and geese floated around.

the ducks and geese were floating around as spectators strolled.

the ducks and geese and spectators floated around and strolled.

spectators strolled but the ducks and geese floated around.

the ducks and geese floated around as spectators strolled.

Explanation

The best answer fixes the dangling participle that starts the sentence (the subject of the main clause should be the one doing the action described in the opening phrase), and uses a logical coordinator.

7

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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.

Coming upon the hills, the sun began setting behind the travelers.

As the travelers came upon the hill, the sun began setting behind them.

Coming upon the hills, the sun began setting behind the travelers.

Coming upon the hills as the sun began setting begind the travelers.

As the sun began setting, travelers coming upon the hills.

Coming upon the hills, the sun set behind the travelers.

Explanation

The sentence as written contains a dangling modifier, in that "the sun" is not what is "coming upon the hills." The sentence needs to be rewritten to show that the travelers were the ones "coming upon the hills." "As the travelers came upon the hill, the sun began setting behind them," is the correct answer choice.

8

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.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.

Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.

Caring for a pet responsibility is something children can learn.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is learned by children.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children learn.

Explanation

With the sentence phrased the way it is, the thing that is "caring for a pet" appears to be "responsibility." This dangling modifier needs to be changed to make it clear that "children" are "caring for a pet." The correct answer choice is "Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet."

9

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.

Waiting for the crucial trial to begin, the anxiety Neil felt was almost overwhelming.

Neil felt almost overwhelmed with anxiety.

the anxiety Neil felt was almost overwhelming.

the anxiety almost overwhelmed Neil.

the anxiety being felt by Neil was almost overwhelming.

Neil's anxiety felt almost overwhelming.

Explanation

When a sentence begins with a dangling participle or descriptive phrase, the person or thing described in that phrase (in this case, "Neil") must immediately follow it. Only one answer choice does this correctly. The answer choice that begins "Neil's anxiety" may appear to do so, but it does not, because the possessive "Neil's" is no longer the subject, but is describing the anxiety.

10

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.

Moving into his new house, the wallpaper was completely renovated by the homeowner.

the homeowner completely renovated the wallpaper.

the wallpaper were completely renovated by the homeowner.

the wallpaper was completely renovated by the homeowner.

the wallpaper were completely renovation by the homeowner.

the wallpaper completely renovated by the homeowner.

Explanation

The sentence is written in such a way that it makes it seem like "the wallpaper" was "moving into his new house." The sentence needs to be rearranged to show that the "homeowner" is actually the one doing the moving. The only answer choice that does this is "the homeowner completely renovated the wallpaper."

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