Modifiers Quiz With Answers

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Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 32,492

| Attempts: 32,492 | Questions: 10

Quiz Lesson

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Question 1 / 10

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1. A pilot experiences a close call when a flock of birds crosses his path. He manages to steer the plane away from the birds at the last second. Choose the sentence that correctly describes the situation.

The plane hit nearly all the birds.

The plane nearly hit all the birds.

Nearly all the birds were hit by the plane.

The second option correctly uses the adverb "nearly" to describe the situation. This option implies that no birds were hit, but it was close. The other two options imply that several birds collided with the plane. They are examples of misplaced modifiers.

Explanation

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About This Quiz

Are you ready to put your English grammar skills to the test? Our Modifiers Quiz is designed to challenge your knowledge of sentence modifiers, offering a comprehensive assessment... see moreof your ability to construct sentences with precision.
Modifiers play a crucial role in English grammar by adding clarity and specificity to sentences. They can be adjectives, adverbs, phrases, or clauses that provide additional information and details to convey the intended meaning effectively.
In this quiz, you'll encounter various trivia questions that will evaluate your proficiency in constructing sentences with modifiers. Whether you're enhancing the description of nouns with adjectives or adding depth to verbs with adverbs, understanding how to use modifiers is essential for effective communication.
So, are you up for the challenge? Dive into the quiz, tackle the questions, and see how well you can manipulate modifiers to craft precise and meaningful sentences. Best of luck, and enjoy the opportunity to refine your grammar skills! Feel free to take the quiz as many times as you like to further enhance your understanding of modifiers in English.
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2. Pick the appropriate location for this modifier: eating banana pancakes.

The couple _______ watched the rain falling from the sky.

The couple watched the rain _______ falling from the sky.

The couple watched the rain falling from the sky ________.

Since the couple is eating banana pancakes, the modifier should be placed next to the noun "couple" in the sentence as it is in the first option.

Explanation

Since the couple is eating banana pancakes, the modifier should be placed next to the noun "couple" in the sentence as it is in the first option.

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3. A dangling modifier is a word or clause that appropriately relates to the word it modifies.

True

False

A modifier is dangling when it does NOT logically relate to the word it modifies. It should also be noted that a misplaced modifier is a word, clause, or phrase that is separated from the word it modifies. Try to spot the differences between these two grammar errors through this quiz.

Explanation

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4. Choose the option that corrects the following sentence: Having finished applications, the celebration began.

There is no error in the original sentence.

Having finished applications, Hugo began the celebration.

Having finished applications, it was time to begin the celebrations.

To correct a dangling modifier, it is necessary to include the subject that the modifier refers to. Option two adds Hugo as the subject while no other option adds the necessary, missing subject.

Explanation

To correct a dangling modifier, it is necessary to include the subject that the modifier refers to. Option two adds Hugo as the subject while no other option adds the necessary, missing subject.

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5. Being open to the sun, the window sill is the proper place for an indoor man's plants. Based on the previous sentence, select the correct response.

This sentence contains a dangling modifier. The correct subject need to be inserted after this dangling modifier to correct it.

There is no error and the sentence should remain unchanged.

The sentence contains a misplaced modifier. Consider reorganizing the phrase: "indoor man's plants."

The subject that the initial modifier refers to immediately follows, as in the window sill is what is open to the sun. The third option is correct. Instead of implying the plant is the man's and is of the indoor variety, this sentence suggests that the plant belongs to an indoor man.

Explanation

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6. Choose the answer that corrects the misplaced phrase in this sentence: Wearing a tutu, Bill Bates gave pet rats to the little girl and her brother.

Bill Bates gave pet rats wearing a tutu to the little girl and her brother.

Bill Bates gave pet rats to the little girl and her brother while wearing a tutu.

Bill Bates gave pet rats to the little girl wearing a tutu and her brother.

The modifier is placed correctly in the original sentence.

The corrected sentence, "Bill Bates gave pet rats to the little girl and her brother while wearing a tutu," clarifies the meaning. It indicates that Bill Bates is wearing a tutu at the same time he is giving pet rats to the children. The modifier "while wearing a tutu" is appropriately placed to avoid any confusion and provide a clear description of the action.

Explanation

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7. Jack wants to tell Jill that he loves her and no one else. What sentence should Jack use to convey the correct meaning to Jill? Careful attention should be given to the modifier "just."

"I have chosen to love just you."

Jack should say nothing, since words usually complicate things.

"I have just chosen to love you."

"I just love you."

The first option is correct, since it implies that Jack loves Jill and no one else, due to the placement of the modifier "just." The second option is incorrect, since keeping feelings bottled up can lead to missed opportunities. The third option is incorrect since it implies that Jack chose recently to love Jill. It does not refer to how many people he loves. The fourth option is incorrect, since it is vague. It seems to imply that Jack loves Jill but has no other feelings for her. It does not address how many people he loves.

Explanation

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8. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a modifier to avoid ambiguity?

Running to catch the bus, the rain started pouring down.

The student handed in a paper written poorly.

She almost spent $100 on a pair of shoes.

Covered in dust, the old book was found on the shelf.

In sentence D, the modifier "Covered in dust" is correctly placed next to the noun it describes, "the old book," ensuring that the meaning is clear. The other sentences contain misplaced or ambiguous modifiers, leading to potential confusion.

Explanation

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9. Choose the sentence that does NOT include a dangling modifier.

Being a sit-down comedian, it was hard to make ends meet.

Biking to class, the sun shined upon the student.

Having been used to clean the floor, Gregory was unwilling to use his toothbrush.

Devouring ample amounts of Cook-Out, the engineer felt joy seeping back into his soul.

The final option involving the engineer eating a Cook-Out is the only option without a dangling modifier. All other options contain modifiers that are not logically related to the words they modify. In option one, the subject being referred to is not even in the sentence, which can confuse the reader, even with context. In option two, it is falsely suggested that the sun bikes to class. In option three, Gregory is implied to have been used as a floor-cleaning device, which is highly illogical.

Explanation

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10. Choose the sentences that do NOT contain a misplaced clause.

The mother claimed during dinner she would shout gibberish.

During dinner, the mother claimed she would shout gibberish.

The mother claimed she would shout gibberish during dinner.

"During dinner" is the modifying clause in question. Option one is incorrect, because the misplaced modifier could have multiple meanings. The two meanings are clearly shown by the two correct options. The mother could claim that she was going to shout during dinner, so this claim would precede the meal. She could also be at the dinner table claiming that she was going to shout.

Explanation

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