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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Placement of Modifiers Quiz: Test Your Grammar Skills

Think you can ace the modifier placement rules? Challenge yourself now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art depiction of quiz on subject modifier placement set against sky blue background.

Ready to sharpen your subject-modifier placement skills? Our free quiz is designed for writers, students, and language lovers to master modifier placement rules and dive into placement of modifiers exercises. This engaging grammar modifier quiz and modifier placement test challenge you to spot and correct misplaced, dangling, or confusing modifiers with ease. You'll receive instant feedback, track your progress, and build stronger grammar chops. Curious how accurately you can place your modifiers? Take our misplaced modifier quiz or explore more insights with our dangling modifiers quiz . Start now and elevate your writing today!

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.
She served the children on paper plates sandwiches.
She served sandwiches on paper plates to the children.
She served the children sandwiches on paper plates.
In the first sentence, the modifier "on paper plates" incorrectly attaches to "children," suggesting the children are on plates rather than the sandwiches. The correct placement is immediately after the noun it modifies. For more on avoiding misplaced modifiers, see Purdue OWL: Modifiers.
Choose the sentence that correctly places the modifier "only" to convey that the friend is the sole person told.
She only told her friend she was leaving.
She told her friend only she was leaving.
Only she told her friend she was leaving.
She told only her friend she was leaving.
In the correct sentence, "only" immediately precedes "her friend," making clear that the friend is the sole person being told. Misplacing "only" can shift the intended emphasis. For more on placement of "only," consult Purdue OWL: Modifiers.
Which sentence correctly fixes the dangling participle in "Walking through the park, the flowers were beautiful."?
Walking through the park, the flowers were beautiful to see.
Walking through the park, beautiful flowers were seen.
Walking through the park, we found the flowers were beautiful.
The flowers were beautiful walking through the park.
The original phrase dangles because it describes an action not performed by the sentence's subject. By introducing "we," the participle "Walking through the park" correctly modifies the doer of the action. See more on dangling participles at Purdue OWL: Modifiers.
Which sentence correctly places the adverb "almost"?
I have finished almost my homework.
I almost have finished my homework.
I have almost finished my homework.
Almost I have finished my homework.
"Almost" should be placed immediately before the verb phrase it modifies. In this case, placing it before "finished" correctly indicates that the action of finishing is nearly complete. For further guidance, visit Purdue OWL: Modifiers.
Which sentence avoids a misplaced modifier in the phrase "Considering the weather"?
The picnic was postponed considering the weather.
Considering the weather, the picnic was postponed by us.
Considering the weather, the picnic looked disappointing.
We postponed the picnic considering the weather.
By placing "considering the weather" after the subject and verb, the phrase clearly modifies the act of postponing. Other options attach the phrase to a noun or use passive voice, creating ambiguity. Learn more about modifier placement at Purdue OWL: Modifiers.
In which sentence is the modifier phrase "full of toys" correctly placed?
The children, full of toys, played in the yard.
The children played in the yard, full of toys.
The children played in the yard full of toys.
The box full of toys was heavy.
Here, "full of toys" directly follows "box," the noun it modifies, making the sentence clear. Placing the phrase next to the wrong noun can create confusion about what is full of toys. For more examples, see Purdue OWL: Modifiers.
Which sentence correctly orders the modifiers "quickly" and "carefully" in relation to the verb "read"?
She read the instructions quickly carefully.
She carefully quickly read the instructions.
She quickly carefully read the instructions.
She quickly read the instructions carefully.
Placing "quickly" before the verb indicates manner, and positioning "carefully" at the end clarifies the manner in which the reading occurred. This ordering avoids stacking adverbs directly before the verb and reduces ambiguity. For advanced details, refer to Purdue OWL: Modifiers.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Subject-Modifier Placement Principles -

    Learn the core rules of subject-modifier placement and how modifiers should relate to the subjects they describe for clear, grammatically sound sentences.

  2. Identify Misplaced Modifiers -

    Pinpoint errors in the placement of modifiers within sentences, using placement of modifiers exercises to spot confusing or illogical modifier positions.

  3. Apply Modifier Placement Rules -

    Practice applying modifier placement rules to construct sentences correctly and ensure that each modifier clearly attaches to its intended subject.

  4. Correct Misplaced Modifiers -

    Revise and rewrite sentences with misplaced modifiers to improve readability and prevent ambiguity in your writing.

  5. Evaluate Your Skills with a Grammar Modifier Quiz -

    Test your mastery of subject-modifier placement through a targeted grammar modifier quiz and modifier placement test that offers instant feedback.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding Misplaced vs Dangling Modifiers -

    Grasping the difference between misplaced and dangling modifiers is the first step in subject-modifier placement mastery. A misplaced modifier sits too far from its target word, while a dangling modifier lacks a clear subject (e.g., "After eating lunch, the meeting began" leaves "eating" dangling). Recognizing these errors helps you apply modifier placement rules with confidence.

  2. Proximity Principle for Clear Modifiers -

    According to Purdue OWL's modifier placement rules, always position modifiers as close as possible to the words they describe to avoid confusion. Remember the mnemonic "near is clear, far is vague" to keep your adjectives and adverbs tight to their subjects. This approach forms the backbone of effective subject-modifier placement.

  3. Using Commas with Introductory Modifiers -

    Introductory phrases and clauses require commas to separate them from the main clause, ensuring readability (Chicago Manual of Style). For example, "Excited by the results, the student shared her findings" clearly links the modifier to the correct subject. Mastering this rule strengthens your overall modifier placement in sentences.

  4. Avoiding Ambiguity in Modifier Stacking -

    When you use multiple adjectives or adverbs, follow the conventional order (opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose) and use hyphens for compound modifiers. For instance, "a well-known author" is correct, while "a known well author" feels jumbled. Applying this structure keeps your subject-modifier placement precise and unambiguous.

  5. Practice with True/False Placement Drills -

    Reinforce your skills with placement of modifiers exercises in a quick grammar modifier quiz or modifier placement test format. Use simple sentences like "Only she gave the presentation" to determine if "only" correctly modifies "she." Regular drills from sources like the Harvard Writing Center solidify rules and boost your grammar confidence.

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