Review: Fixing Misplaced Modifiers
On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite each sentence to eliminate misplaced modifiers. Then compare your answer with the samples provided.
Question 1
Running quickly gives her a headache.
Answer
Running fast gives her a headache.
OR
Soon after she starts running, she gets a headache.
Question 2
Although tired, the sale was so good that we shopped until nine.
Answer
Although tired, we shopped at the sale until nine.
OR
Although we were tired, the sale was so good that we shopped until nine.
OR
The sale was so good that we shopped until nine, even though we were tired.
Question 3
Raging and blowing from the north, we had a terrible blizzard on Saturday.
Answer
Raging and blowing from the north, the blizzard on Saturday was terrible.
OR
On Saturday we had a terrible blizzard that raged and blew from the north.
Question 4
I gave my niece a photo of her golden retriever in a silver frame.
Answer
I gave my niece a silver-framed photo of her golden retriever.
Question 5
To be considered by the top firms, your resume must look professional.
Answer
To be considered by the top firms, you must have a professional-looking resume.
OR
You must have a professional-looking resume to be considered by the top firms.
NOTE: "Your resume must look professional to be considered by the top firms" still contains a dangling modifier. Placed at the end of the sentence, the phrase "to be considered by the top firms" still illogically modifies "resume."
Written by Frances Peck