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Self-Test: dm/mm

Think you understand dangling and misplaced modifiers?

Dangling modifiers

From the following pairs of sentences, select the one which is correct.


Piled up next to the washer, I began doing the laundry.
 I began doing the laundry piled up next to the washer.

While John was talking on the phone, the doorbell rang.
 While talking on the phone, the doorbell rang.

Standing on the balcony, the ocean view was magnificent.
 Standing on the balcony, we had a magnificent ocean view.

As I was running across the floor, the rug slipped and I lost my balance,
 Running across the floor, the rug slipped and I lost my balance.

While taking out the trash, the sack broke.
 While Jamie was taking out the trash, the sack broke.

Misplaced modifiers


I almost listened to the whole album.
 I listened to almost the whole album.

He was staring at the girl wearing dark glasses by the vending machine.
 He was staring at the girl by the vending machine wearing dark glasses.

We read that Janet was married in her last letter.
 In her last letter, we read that Janet was married.

The faulty alarm nearly sounded five times yesterday.
 The faulty alram system sounded nearly five times yesterday.

On the evening news, I heard that there was a revolution.
 I heard that there was a revolution on the evening news.

So how did you do? Use your incorrect responses to guide you through another review.

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