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Test Your Skills with the Misplaced Modifiers Quiz!

Think you can spot misplaced modifier examples? Dive in!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style illustration of grammar elements and question marks on dark blue background for misplaced modifiers quiz

Hey there, grammar enthusiast! Ready to test your eye for tricky syntax? Our free misplaced modifiers quiz is designed to challenge you with misplaced modifier examples that will sharpen your skills and help you identify misplaced modifiers in any sentence. From spotting which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier to learning how to fix misplaced modifiers, you'll boost your clarity. Whether you're a student polishing essays or a professional striving for crisp copy, this challenge awaits. Try our misplaced modifier quiz and then explore a dangling modifiers quiz to master modifiers. Click start and transform your writing now!

Which sentence correctly places the modifier almost?
She drove her kids to school almost every day.
Almost she drove her kids to school every day.
She almost drove her kids to school every day.
She drove almost her kids to school every day.
In the correct sentence, the modifier almost directly precedes the element it modifies (every day), clarifying the frequency. Placing almost elsewhere can change or obscure the intended meaning. This placement ensures clarity and precision. Learn More
What is the misplaced modifier in the sentence: "The student wrote a term paper in the library on his laptop."?
wrote a term paper
on his laptop
in the library
The student
The phrase on his laptop appears to modify the library, creating confusion. It should clearly refer to how the student wrote the paper. Identifying this misplaced modifier helps correct the sentence structure. Learn More
Which revision best corrects the misplaced modifier in: "After reading all the papers, the TV was turned off."?
The TV was turned off after reading all the papers.
After reading all the papers, the TV was turned off by me.
After reading all the papers, I turned off the TV.
After reading all the papers, we turned off the TV.
By adding the subject I immediately after the introductory phrase, the sentence clearly links the action of reading to the actor. This removes the dangling modifier and clarifies who performed the action. A clear subject close to the modifier is key to correct structure. Learn More
Which sentence correctly positions the modifier in the original: "He served sandwiches to the children on paper plates."?
On paper plates to the children, he served sandwiches.
He served to the children sandwiches on paper plates.
To the children, he served sandwiches on paper plates.
He served sandwiches on paper plates to the children.
In the correct version, on paper plates immediately follows sandwiches, the noun it modifies, removing ambiguity about what is on the plates. Placing modifiers next to their target noun ensures clear meaning. This rearrangement resolves the misplaced modifier. Learn More
Identify the misplaced modifier in: "Only John scored 98% on the test."
Only John
on the test
scored 98%
98%
Placing only before John implies he was the sole test-taker rather than qualifying his score. The modifier should precede 98% to convey the intended meaning about the score. Identifying and moving only corrects the sentence. Learn More
Which correction fixes the misplaced modifier in: "The actress was almost eight years older than her co-star."?
The actress was eight years almost older than her co-star.
The actress was almost eight years older than her co-star.
The actress was older than her co-star by almost eight years.
Almost the actress was eight years older than her co-star.
By moving almost next to eight years, the sentence clearly modifies the time difference rather than the age comparison. This placement maintains the intended meaning and removes ambiguity. Proper modifier placement is crucial for clarity. Learn More
Identify which sentence correctly places the modifier hardly: "She hardly finished her assignment because of the interruptions."
Because of the interruptions, she hardly finished her assignment.
She finished her assignment hardly because of the interruptions.
Hardly she finished her assignment because of the interruptions.
She finished her assignment because of the interruptions hardly.
Starting with the prepositional phrase Because of the interruptions clearly ties it to the main clause. Hardly remains next to finished, the verb it modifies. This structure avoids ambiguity about what hardly refers to. Learn More
Which revision best corrects the misplaced modifier in: "I saw the man driving to work with binoculars."?
I saw with binoculars the man driving to work.
With binoculars, the man driving to work was seen by me.
I saw the man driving to work through binoculars.
Using binoculars, I saw the man driving to work.
Beginning with Using binoculars makes it clear that the speaker is employing binoculars to see the man. This eliminates confusion about who is driving or using the binoculars. Properly attaching the modifier to the speaker clarifies meaning. Learn More
Identify the misplaced modifier in: "Barking loudly, my dog was frightened by the stranger."
my dog
was frightened
Barking loudly
the stranger
The introductory phrase Barking loudly incorrectly appears to modify my dog was frightened, which reverses the intended actors. The dog should be the one barking, not the stranger. Identifying this misplaced modifier helps correct the sentence. Learn More
Choose the sentence that correctly fixes the misplaced modifier: "She served cookies to the children that were still warm."
She served cookies that were still warm to the children.
That were still warm, she served cookies to the children.
She served the children cookies that were still warm.
She served the children that were still warm cookies.
By placing that were still warm immediately after cookies, the clause clearly describes the cookies rather than the children. This corrects the misplaced modifier and clarifies meaning. Modifier proximity to its noun is essential. Learn More
Identify the misplaced modifier in the sentence: "Almost every student passed the exam completely without studying."
completely
without studying
passed the exam
Almost every student
The word completely is placed before without studying, implying that the exam was entirely without studying. It should modify passed, not the studying. Correct placement restores the intended meaning. Learn More
Which revision best corrects the misplaced modifiers in: "Covered in frosting, the birthday cake was eaten by the children in the corner who were laughing happily."?
Covered in frosting, the birthday cake was eaten by the children laughing happily in the corner.
The children ate the birthday cake in the corner covered in frosting while laughing happily.
The covered in frosting birthday cake, in the corner, was eaten by the children who were laughing happily.
The children who were laughing happily ate the birthday cake covered in frosting in the corner.
This revision places each modifier immediately after the noun it describes: who were laughing happily follows children, and covered in frosting follows birthday cake. It also maintains logical flow by placing location at the end. Clear modifier placement removes ambiguity. Learn More
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Misplaced Modifiers -

    Analyze sentences in the quiz to locate misplaced modifiers and dangling phrases, understanding how they distort meaning.

  2. Differentiate Modifier Placement -

    Distinguish correctly placed modifiers from errors by examining misplaced modifier examples and observing key placement rules.

  3. Correct Misplaced Modifiers -

    Apply rewriting strategies learned in the quiz to fix misplaced modifiers and ensure modifiers clearly modify the intended words.

  4. Evaluate Sentence Clarity -

    Assess sentences for ambiguity and determine which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier to enhance precision.

  5. Enhance Writing Accuracy -

    Implement best practices for placing modifiers, boosting overall clarity and style in your writing.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding Modifier Placement -

    Modifiers should sit as close as possible to the word or phrase they describe to avoid ambiguity, a best practice highlighted by Purdue OWL. When you're taking a misplaced modifiers quiz, ask "which word does this describe?" to identify misplaced modifiers quickly. Remember the mantra "place it near" to keep your sentences crystal clear.

  2. Spotting Misplaced vs. Dangling -

    While both errors confuse readers, a misplaced modifier attaches to the wrong word, whereas a dangling modifier lacks a clear subject (UNC Writing Center). In your quiz practice, look for modifiers that seem unmoored - ask "which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier?" to sharpen this skill. Use examples like "She almost drove her kids to school every day" vs. "She drove her kids to school almost every day" to see the difference.

  3. Analyzing Misplaced Modifier Examples -

    Review samples from Cambridge English or university writing guides showing common pitfalls, such as "Covered in salsa, John munched the chips," which wrongly implies John was covered. By studying these misplaced modifier examples, you'll better identify similar errors in your writing or quizzes. Recording these patterns in a cheat sheet can help during timed exercises.

  4. Techniques to Fix Misplaced Modifiers -

    To fix misplaced modifiers, move the modifier next to the intended word or reword the sentence entirely (Oxford Style Guide). A quick formula is: Original + Rearrange + Read Aloud = Corrected. Practicing this three-step approach will boost your confidence when you try to fix misplaced modifiers in any context.

  5. Reinforcing Skills with Quizzes -

    Regularly taking a misplaced modifiers quiz solidifies your understanding and helps you identify misplaced modifiers in real time. Use flashcards with sentences and self-check answers to track progress, as recommended by academic journals on language learning. Over time, you'll feel more at ease spotting and fixing these errors in both tests and everyday writing.

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