IXL | Select the misplaced or dangling modifier

Select the misplaced or dangling modifier.

The curtains had already begun to close when, after taking a perfunctory bow, deafening applause brought the symphony conductor back to the stage for a final encore.

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question

Select the misplaced or dangling modifier.

Seated outside the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Eiffel Tower, with its pinnacle swathed in fog, could be seen in the distance.

key idea

A modifier is a word or phrase that modifies, or describes, another word or phrase.

A misplaced modifier is a modifier that appears to modify the wrong word or phrase because it is too far from the word or phrase that it should modify.

Winston saw monkeys and peacocks on vacation in India.

This sentence has a misplaced modifier. It wrongly suggests that the monkeys and peacocks were on vacation.

On vacation in India, Winston saw monkeys and peacocks.

This sentence correctly suggests that Winston was on vacation.

A dangling modifier is a modifier that appears to modify the wrong word or phrase because the word or phrase that it should modify is missing from the sentence.

Trying to fall asleep, the sheets felt uncomfortably hot.

This sentence has a dangling modifier. It wrongly suggests that the sheets were trying to fall asleep.

Trying to fall asleep, I felt uncomfortably hot in the sheets.

This sentence correctly suggests that I was trying to fall asleep.

solution

Seated outside the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is a dangling modifier because it appears to modify the Eiffel Tower. The sentence wrongly suggests that the Eiffel Tower was seated outside the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

Seated outside the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Eiffel Tower, with its pinnacle swathed in fog, could be seen in the distance.

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