Participial Phrases Dangling Modifiers Quiz: Avoid Confusion

1. What is a participial phrase?

A group of words that acts as a noun

A phrase that includes a participle and modifies a noun

A sentence that gives a command

A phrase that acts as a verb

A participial phrase includes a participle (ending in -ing or -ed) and describes a noun.

Explanation

A participial phrase includes a participle (ending in -ing or -ed) and describes a noun.

2. Which word is a participle?

Quickly

Running

Because

Tomorrow

Running is a present participle.

Explanation

Running is a present participle.

3. Which sentence contains a participial phrase?

She ran to school.

The girl was tired.

Laughing loudly, the students entered the room.

The students laughed.

Laughing loudly modifies students.

Explanation

Laughing loudly modifies students.

4. In the sentence “Covered in mud, the shoes were left outside,” the participial phrase modifies

Mud

Outside

Shoes

Left

The phrase covered in mud describes shoes.

Explanation

The phrase covered in mud describes shoes.

5. Which revision corrects the dangling participle?

Walking to the park, the trees seemed tall.

The trees were tall while walking to the park.

Walking to the park, I noticed the tall trees.

The park had tall trees.

The subject I correctly performs the action.

Explanation

The subject I correctly performs the action.

6. Which participial phrase uses a past participle?

Running quickly

Jumping high

Excited about the trip

Laughing loudly

Excited is a past participle.

Explanation

Excited is a past participle.

7. Participial phrases are most often used to

Replace verbs

Add description to nouns

Ask questions

Show dialogue

They provide descriptive detail.

Explanation

They provide descriptive detail.

8. What is wrong with this sentence? “Running down the street, the backpack bounced.”

Verb tense error

Missing punctuation

Dangling participle

Spelling error

The backpack cannot run.

Explanation

The backpack cannot run.

9. Which revision fixes the error?

Running down the street, the backpack bounced loudly.

The backpack bounced while running.

Running down the street, I felt my backpack bounce.

The street was running past the backpack.

The subject now correctly performs the action.

Explanation

The subject now correctly performs the action.

10. Where can participial phrases appear in a sentence?

Only at the beginning

Only at the end

At the beginning or after the noun

Only before verbs

They can appear in multiple positions.

Explanation

They can appear in multiple positions.

11. Which sentence contains a dangling participle?

Walking to the park, the trees were tall.

Walking to the park, I saw tall trees.

I walked to the park and saw trees.

The trees near the park were tall.

The phrase incorrectly modifies trees instead of the person walking.

Explanation

The phrase incorrectly modifies trees instead of the person walking.

12. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Smiling happily the child waved.

Smiling happily, the child waved.

The child, smiling happily waved.

The child smiled happily waved.

Introductory participial phrases need a comma.

Explanation

Introductory participial phrases need a comma.

13. Which sentence correctly uses a participial phrase?

The dog barking loudly scared us.

Barking loudly, the dog scared us.

Barking loudly scared us the dog.

Barking loudly the dog scared.

The phrase clearly modifies dog.

Explanation

The phrase clearly modifies dog.

14. Which sentence uses a participial phrase correctly without commas?

The boy running fast won the race.

Running fast the boy won the race.

Running fast, the boy won the race.

The boy running fast, won the race.

When the phrase comes directly after the noun, commas are not always needed.

Explanation

When the phrase comes directly after the noun, commas are not always needed.

15. Why should writers avoid dangling participles?

They make sentences longer

They confuse the meaning

They change verb tense

They add detail

Dangling participles cause unclear or illogical meaning.

Explanation

Dangling participles cause unclear or illogical meaning.

Editing Skills: Participial Phrases and Dangling Modifiers Quiz

1. What is a participial phrase?

2. Which word is a participle?

3. Which sentence contains a participial phrase?

4. In the sentence “Covered in mud, the shoes were left outside,” the participial phrase modifies

5. Which revision corrects the dangling participle?

6. Which participial phrase uses a past participle?

7. Participial phrases are most often used to

8. What is wrong with this sentence? “Running down the street, the backpack bounced.”

9. Which revision fixes the error?

10. Where can participial phrases appear in a sentence?

11. Which sentence contains a dangling participle?

12. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

13. Which sentence correctly uses a participial phrase?

14. Which sentence uses a participial phrase correctly without commas?

15. Why should writers avoid dangling participles?