Modifiers

Question 1

Spot the wrong modifier?

We had an arrangement where he cooked and I cleaned

OR

We had an arrangement in which he cooked and I cleaned

Answer 1

Where is incorrect - where can be used to modify a noun place such as area, site, country etc. where cannot modify a “metaphorical” place, such as conditions, situation, circumstances or arrangement. In these cases, use in which rather than where.

Question 2

Which of the options below is better?

Jim biked along an old dirt road to get to his house, which cut through the woods.

OR

To get to his house, Jim biked along an old dirt road, which cut through the woods.

Answer 2

What cut through the woods? The road. Modifiers should be close to he joins as possible to the mound they modify, so the second options is preferable

Question 3

Can you spot the error in the sentence below?

Happy about his raise, Bill’s celebration included taking his friends out to dinner.

OR

Happy about his raise, Bill celebrated by taking his friends out to dinner

Answer 3

Possessive nouns are actually adjectives, not nouns, and a noun modifier has to point to a noun. The first sentence technically and illogically says that “Bill’s celebration is happy about his raise” this is incorrect.

Question 4

Spot the errors?

Although I need to relax, yet I have so many things to do!

She is not interested in playing sports, and she likes watching them on TV

Citizens of many countries are expressing concern about the environmental damage caused by the widespread release of greenhouse gases may be impossible to reverse

Answer 4

1. Yet is incorrect
2. And is incorrect; but could be a good replacement
3. May be impossible is incorrect; damage that maybe impossible to reverse could work

Question 5

Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, which has led to a rise in property values

Answer 5

Rule – use which only to refer to a noun –never to refer to an entire clause

Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, leading to a rise in property values.

Question 6

Angola, which was ravaged by civil war for many years after it gained independence from Portugal, which is now one of Africa’s success stories, has an economy that grew by 21% last year, where parliamentary elections are to be held later this week.

Spot the errors?

Answer 6

Ravaged by civil war for many years after it gained independence from Portugal, Angola is now one of Africa’s success stories: it’s economy grew by 21% last year and parliamentary elections are to be held later this week.

Question 7

People that are well-informed know that Boudreaux is a French region whose most famous export is the wine which bears it’s name.

Answer 7

Well-informed people know that Boudreaux is a French region whose most famous export is the wine that bears it’s name.