Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 50%

Which one of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier?

Rationale

My brother had an old truck that sat by the garage that needed paint.

This sentence contains a dangling modifier because the phrase "that needed paint" appears to modify "garage" instead of the intended subject "truck," creating confusion about which noun is being described.

A (My brother had an old truck that sat by the garage that needed paint.) CORRECT

The phrase "that needed paint" incorrectly modifies "garage," implying that it is the garage that needs paint rather than the truck. This misplacement of the modifier leads to ambiguity in the sentence and makes it an example of a dangling modifier.

B (Adequate lighting is important for anyone who is studying or reading.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence is clear and properly structured, as "Adequate lighting" is the subject that relates directly to "anyone who is studying or reading." There are no misplaced modifiers, and the meaning is straightforward.

C (Drivers in our state are confused by the outdated driving law.) YOUR ANSWER

This option clearly states that "drivers" are confused by the "outdated driving law." The sentence effectively communicates its intended meaning without any grammatical ambiguity or dangling modifiers.

D (The contented puppy sat by the sleeping young child.) YOUR ANSWER

In this sentence, the structure is clear, and there is no dangling modifier present. It specifically describes the location of the "contented puppy" in relation to the "sleeping young child," making the meaning unambiguous.

Conclusion

Dangling modifiers can create confusion by failing to clearly modify the intended noun. In this case, choice A exemplifies this grammatical error, as the intended subject—the truck—becomes obscured by the misplaced modifier. The other options maintain clarity and coherence, highlighting the importance of precise modifier placement in effective writing.

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