Modifiers 2
Directions: Revise each of the following sentences to avoid misplaced or dangling
modifiers. (The answer to each number immediately follows it.)
1. Leaping upstream, we fished most of the day for salmon.
We fished most of the day for salmon leaping upstream.
2. At the age of ten, my family took a trip to Canada.
When I was ten years old, my family took a trip to Canada.
3. Skimming every chapter, the biology textbook made more sense.
The biology textbook made more sense as I skimmed every chapter.
Or
As I skimmed every chapter, the biology textbook made more sense to me.
Or
Skimming every chapter, I found the biology book more comprehensible.
Or
Skimming every chapter, I better understood the biology book.
4. Making discoveries about new creatures, this is an interesting time to be a biologist.
Making discoveries about new creatures, I find it an interesting time to be a
biologist.
Or
I am making discoveries about new creatures, thereby finding it an interesting
time to be a biologist.
5. Walking in the dark, the picture fell off the wall.
As I was walking in the dark, the picture fell off the wall.
Or
Walking in the dark, I heard the picture fall off the wall.
6. A woodpecker was found in Cuba that had been considered extinct.
A woodpecker that had been considered extinct was found in Cuba.
7. Rolling down the mountain, the explorer stopped the boulder with his powerful foot.
With his powerful foot, the explorer stopped the boulder rolling down the
mountain.
8. The truck caused a traffic jam, which was broken down on the highway, for miles.
The truck which was broken down on the highway caused a traffic jam for miles.
9. While driving to the veterinarian’s office, the dog nervously whined.
While I was driving to the veterinarian’s office, the dog nervously whined.
10. While eating lunch outdoors, the picnic table collapsed.
While we were eating lunch outdoors, the picnic table collapsed.
11. Piled up next to the bookshelf, I chose a romance novel.
I chose a romance novel that was piled up next to the bookshelf.
Or
I chose a romance novel piled up next to the bookshelf." (This works if the
context makes it clear the novel is piled).
Or
The romance novel, piled up next to the bookshelf, was the one I chose.
12. The teacher served cookies to the children wrapped in aluminum foil.
The teacher served the children cookies wrapped in aluminum foil.
13. The mysterious woman walked toward the car holding an umbrella.
The mysterious woman holding an umbrella walked toward the car.
Or
Holding an umbrella, the mysterious woman walked toward the car.
14. We returned the wine to the waiter that was sour.
We returned the sour wine to the waiter.
15. Charlie spotted a stray puppy driving home from work.
Driving home from work, Charlie spotted a stray puppy.
Or
Charlie spotted a stray puppy as he was driving home from work.
16. Chewing furiously, the gum fell out of my mouth.
As I was chewing furiously, the gum fell out of my mouth.
Or
The gum fell out of my mouth when I was chewing furiously.
17. I ate nothing but a cold bowl of noodles for dinner.
I ate nothing for dinner but a cold bowl of noodles.
18. Playing a guitar in the bedroom, the cat was seen under the bed.
I was playing a guitar in the bedroom when I saw the cat under the bed.
Or
Playing the guitar in the bedroom, I saw the cat under the bed.
Or
I saw the cat under the bed when I was playing a guitar in the bedroom.
19. Bent over backward, the posture was very challenging.
The posture bent over backward was very challenging.
20. While looking in the mirror, the towel swayed in the breeze.
While I was looking in the mirror, the towel swayed in the breeze.
Or
While looking in the mirror, I saw the towel sway in the breeze.
Or
I was looking in the mirror when the towel swayed in the breeze.