Misplaced Modifiers and Dangling Participles Exercise (227)
Each of the following sentences contains a participle phrase or other modifier. Decide if the sentence contains a dangling participle, a misplaced modifier, or is correct.
Answers and Explanations
1. Mother was delighted when Charlie brought back the car with a triumphant smile.
Correct: misplaced modifier
"with a triumphant smile" refers to the noun "Charlie" and should be closer to it.
EDITED: Mother was delighted when Charlie, with a triumphant smile, brought back the car.
2. Attached to the dog’s collar, the veterinarian added another tag.
Correct: misplaced modifier
"Attached to the dog’s collar" refers to unnamed tags.
EDITED: The veterinarian attached another tag to the dog’s collar.
3. Shaking violently, the washing machine rattled the cleaning products on the shelf above Adam’s head.
Correct: no error
"Shaking violently" properly applies to "the washing machine."
4. Sneezing from the high pollen count, the school field trip to the woods was a noisy event.
Correct: dangling participle
"Sneezing from the high pollen count" refers to some unnamed agent.
EDITED: Sneezing from the high pollen count, students with allergies made the field trip to the woods a noisy event.
5. Lying on the beach towel in the sun, the rippling water reached as far as my toes.
Correct: dangling participle
"Lying on the beach towel" refers to the speaker.
EDITED: Lying on the beach towel in the sun, I felt the rippling water touch my toes.
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