Modifiers

One of comedian Groucho Marx's most famous jokes involves a pachyderm and some
sleepwear.
"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas," he says. "How he got in my pajamas I don't
know!"

This joke is a play on a grammatical error called a misplaced modifier, where a descriptive
phrase or word is placed in the wrong part of the sentence.

The modifier errors on the SAT Writing may not be quite as funny as Groucho's, but it's still
important that you understand how they work.

The most important concept to remember when dealing with modifiers is that they need to
be next to the word they're describing.

Sometimes these types of mistakes are obvious:

Bird for sale by flightless woman.

You have to figure that the bird is flightless, not the woman. The sentence should be:

Flightless bird for sale by woman.

Despite having finished her test, the teacher wouldn't let Jenna leave until the class was
over.

It starts with the modifier "despite having finished her test." Logically, that phrase would
seem to be describing Jenna, but since it's located next to "the teacher," the sentence is
actually saying that the teacher has finished her test.

The teacher wouldn't let Jenna leave until the class was over, despite the fact that she had
finished her test.

There are two main types of faulty modifiers: dangling modifiers, which involve phrases at
the beginning of sentences (e.g. the example about Jenna), and misplaced modifiers, which
involve the order of words and phrases within sentences (e.g. the example about the bird).
Dangling Modifiers: Modifying Phrases at the Beginning of Sentences

When a sentence begins with a modifying phrase, the intro must be immediately
followed by a comma and then the noun it's describing. Incorrect sentences of this type
start with modifying phrases that describe something other than the noun immediately
following the comma. For example:

Swimming toward the shore, a little girl was building a sand castle.

The "little girl" can't be "swimming toward the shore" and "building a sand castle" at the
same time—something's missing.

There are two ways to correct this kind of error:

Fix 1: Swimming toward the shore, I saw a little girl building a sandcastle.

Fix 2: As I swam toward the shore, a little girl was building a sand castle.

Keep in mind that some sentences will use this construction without asking about it (there
will be an unrelated error instead), but look out for sentences that begin with verb
participles (verbs ending in "ing," "ed," or "en") or prepositional phrases followed by a
comma, especially if the underlined portion begins immediately after the comma.

Misplaced Modifiers: Modifier Placement in Sentences

The key rule for modifier placement—a modifier must be next to whatever it's
modifying—remains the same. A misplaced modifier occurs when a modifier is separated
from the word it's meant to describe:

The werewolf mailed a package to the vampire full of garlic.

Despite what the sentence says, it's clear that the "package" and not the "vampire" is meant to
be full of garlic. In order to correct this error, we need to switch around the order of the
phrases:

The werewolf mailed a package full of garlic to the vampire.

Because the exact nature of this kind of error can vary so widely, there's no single best way
to approach the questions.
Applying Modifier Rules on SAT Writing Questions

Now that we've gone over all the rules you need to know, let's review some of the key points
about how to spot and answer faulty modifier questions on the SAT Writing section.
What to watch for:

● Prepositional phrases at the beginning of sentences where the clause after the
comma is underlined
● Verb participles (verbs ending in "ing," "ed," or "en") at the beginning of sentences
● In ISE questions, underlined gerunds

Rules to keep in mind:

● A modifier must be next to what it's modifying

Questions
1. Spread by rat fleas, ________________________________________.
A. millions of people in medieval Europe were killed by bubonic plague
B. and millions of medieval Europeans killed by bubonic plague
C. this led to the killing of millions of medieval Europeans by bubonic plague
D. bubonic plague killed millions of people in medieval Europe

2. To illustrate the profound impact women have had in the field of science, renowned for her
innovative contributions to biochemistry, particularly in the field of enzyme research,
______________work has significantly advanced our understanding of cellular processes.
A. British scientist Rosalind Franklin's
B. it was British scientist Rosalind Franklin whose
C. British scientist Rosalind Franklin, whose
D. the work of British scientist Rosalind Franklin, and her

3. To gain a deeper understanding of the company's current financial status, after reviewing the
annual report in great detail, __________________________, revealing insights that were not
immediately apparent in the executive summary.
A. the findings were surprising to the manager
B. the manager was surprised by the findings
C. the report seemed more informative to the manager
D. the manager found the report to be surprisingly informative

4. As urban areas continue to grow, the need for efficient public transportation becomes
increasingly critical. Facing the challenge of reducing traffic congestion and pollution,
_________________________, offering a sustainable and practical solution for city
 commuters.
A. the development of extensive metro and bus systems is seen by many city planners as
B. many city planners are seeing the development of extensive metro and bus systems as
C. extensive metro and bus systems development, which many city planners see as
D. it is the development of extensive metro and bus systems that many city planners are seeing as

5. Deeply revered as a master of the written word, her verses resonate with timeless
themes and emotions. Celebrated for her lyrical poetry and powerful use of imagery,
______________works have become a staple in the study of American literature. This enduring
legacy cements her position as one of the most influential poets in American history.
A. poet Emily Dickinson, whose
B. it was poet Emily Dickinson whose
C. poet Emily Dickinson's
D. the poetry of poet Emily Dickinson, and her

6. On September 18th, Emily embarked on a journey to cycle around the continent. With a map in
hand and determination in her heart, _________________setting off on a path that would challenge
her limits and inspire her spirit.
A. she began her adventure from the city's historic square.
B. the city's historic square marked the starting point of her quest.
C. her quest started at the city's historic square.
D. and starting from the city's historic square.

7. The students eagerly prepared their gear and reviewed their itinerary. Full of
anticipation for the adventure ahead, excited about the camping trip, ________________.This
meticulous preparation was a clear indicator of their readiness for the outdoor experience.
A. the tent was packed by Jake with all the necessary supplies.
B. Jake packed the tent with all the necessary supplies.
C. with all the necessary supplies, the tent was packed by Jake.
D. the tent, with all the necessary supplies, was packed by Jake.

8. A pioneer in the field of renewable energy, particularly in the development of solar power
technologies, ______________efforts have been instrumental in shaping the future of sustainable
energy sources.
A. American engineer Maria Telkes's
B. it was American engineer Maria Telkes whose
C. American engineer Maria Telkes, whose
D. the efforts of American engineer Maria Telkes, and her

9. The film industry has seen significant changes with the advent of digital technology, altering the
way movies are produced and viewed. In response to these changes,
__________________________, enabling filmmakers to create more visually stunning and
complex scenes.
A. the use of advanced computer-generated imagery (CGI) has been adopted by many directors as
B. many directors have adopted the use of advanced computer-generated imagery (CGI) as
C. advanced computer-generated imagery (CGI) use, which many directors have adopted as
D. it is the use of advanced computer-generated imagery (CGI) that many directors are adopting as
 10. Having delved into the detailed findings of the research, after reading the original
manuscript, __________________________, which was considerably more extensive than
the concise summary had suggested..
A) the editor was surprised by the length of the book.
B) the book's length surprised the editor.
C) the manuscript seemed longer to the editor than expected.
D) the book, after being read by the editor, was surprisingly long.