Modifiers: Misplaced, Dangling, Comparative, and Superlative

Question 0

Wait for the bus that stops at the corner.

Answer 0

correct

Question 1

Grinning happily, the prize for first place was accepted.

Answer 1

dangling modifier

Question 2

They planned to win before the game started.

Answer 2

misplaced modifier

Question 3

Hoping to succeed in the interview, long hours were spent in preparation.

Answer 3

dangling modifier

Question 4

She flew in a small aircraft trembling with fear.

Answer 4

misplaced modifier

Question 5

Jumping out of his seat, Milton shouted with surprise.

Answer 5

correct

Question 6

Reading the directions carefully, the test was quite easy.

Answer 6

dangling modifier

Question 7

This letter, which I found in the drawer, was written over a century.

Answer 7

correct

Question 8

She fearfully pointed to the spider over her head that hung from a transparent web.

Answer 8

misplaced modifier

Question 9

She served dessert to the children on blue paper plates.

Answer 9

misplaced modifier

Question 10

Complaining loudly, the broken toy was returned to the store.

Answer 10

dangling modifier

Question 11

The mayor was able to cut the ribbon because someone found scissors.

Answer 11

correct

Question 12

Phil opened the book given to her on her birthday by Charles Dickens.

Answer 12

misplaced modifier

Question 13

The bell is an antique that you hear chiming.

Answer 13

misplaced modifier

Question 14

Bill built the bookcase of oak that you see in the corner.

Answer 14

misplaced modifier

Question 15

Nodding politely, Aaron acknowledged the older man.

Answer 15

correct

Question 16

Quacking loudly, Sarah fed the ducks in the park.

Answer 16

misplaced modifier

Question 17

Tom fed the kitten that his aunt had given him.

Answer 17

correct

Question 18

Diving into the pool, Marion did not even make a splash.

Answer 18

correct

Question 19

I am the ___ speaker in the class.

better
best
bestest

Answer 19

best

Question 20

Our teacher writes very ___.

good
well
best

Answer 20

well

Question 21

Of all the people I know, you study the ___.

less
leastest
least

Answer 21

least

Question 22

We think John is ___ than Bill.

more nervous
nervouser
most nervous

Answer 22

more nervous

Question 23

Who is the ___ person you have ever spoken to?

intelligentest
more intelligent
most intelligent

Answer 23

most intelligent

Question 24

If I had to choose between Greg and Dan, Dan is ___

the funniest
funny
funnier

Answer 24

the funnier

Question 25

This is ___

harder
most harder
more harder

Answer 25

harder

Question 26

Of all three of you, she swims ___

worse
best
better

Answer 26

best

Question 27

Who is the ___ to succeed?

likely
more likely
most likely

Answer 27

most likely

Question 28

Now I understand English ___

the better
best
much better

Answer 28

much better

Question 29

The comparative form of an adjective is used when ___________.

A) more than two things are being compared with one another.

B) two things are being compared with each other.

C) -est or the word “most” is added.

D) Both A and C

Answer 29

B) two things are being compared with each other.

Question 30

The superlative form of an adjective is used when

A) two things are being compared with each other.

B) -est or the word “most” is added.

C) more than two things are being compared with one another.

D) Both B and C

Answer 30

D) Both B and C

More than two things are being compared with
                          one another

                                AND 

          -est or the word "most" is added.

Question 31

Adverbs that end in “ly” always use ____________.

A) “more” or “most”

B) -er

C) -est

D) Either -er or -est

Answer 31

A) “more” or “most”

Question 32

What is the participial phrase in the following sentence?

Having come out in the cool night air, Mr. Troy looked up at the sky.

A) Having

B) looked up at the sky

C) looked

D) Having come out in the cool night air

Answer 32

D) Having come out in the cool night air

Question 33

What is the participle in the following sentence?

The children, waiting for the play to begin, grew bored.

A) grew bored

B) waiting

C) waiting for the play to begin

D) The children

Answer 33

B) waiting

Question 34

What is the subject being modified by the participial phrase in the following sentence?

Working hard all day, the boys finished the job by dinner time.

A) working

B) Working hard all day

C) the boys

D) finished the job by dinner time

Answer 34

C) the boys

Question 35

Which is the PARTICIPLE and which is the MAIN verb in the following sentence?

Driven from their homelands, many people each year seek refuge in the United States.

A) P=seek, MV=driven

B) P=driven, MV=refuge

C) P=many, MV=seek

D) P=driven, MV=seek

Answer 35

D) P=driven, MV=seek

Question 36

What is the subject being modified by the participial phrase?

Jumping up and down, the cheerleaders urged the team on.

A) the cheerleaders

B) jumping

C) jumping up and down

D) the team

Answer 36

A) the cheerleaders

Question 37

ALL of the following sentences include participial phrases EXCEPT:

A) The basketball team, encouraged by its performance in the semifinals, went on to the finals.

B) Although we cannot afford to, we would like to go out to dinner.

C) We saw an old woman walking up the path.

D) Having recorded the results of the experiment, Kate closed her notebook.

Answer 37

B) Although we cannot afford to, we would like to go out to dinner.

This includes an adverb clause beginning with the adverb “Although”.

Question 38

What is the participial phrase in the following sentence, and what is the subject being modified?

Watching me closely, the dog came toward me.

A) the dog came toward me–modifying “watching”

B) Watching me closely–modifying “the dog”

C) toward me–modifying “the dog”

D) Watching me closely–modifying “me”

Answer 38

B) Watching me closely–modifying “the dog”

Question 39

We finished the job ______________ than the other team.

quicker
more quickly
most quickly

Answer 39

more quickly