In some sentences in Part B of the structure and written expression, you will be asked to identify errors in introductory verbal modifiers and the subjects that they modify.
Introductory verbal modifiers are ing-form, participles (ed-form) and infinitives. A phrase with an introductory verbal modifier occurs at the beginning of a sentence and is followed by a comma. The subject modified by an introductory verbal modifier must followed by a comma. Misplaced modifiers is a participle phrase of other modifier that comes before the subject, but doesn’t refer to the subject.
1. Present participle:
Ex: walking along the beach, the ship was spotted by the men Correction: walking along the beach, the men spotted the ship 2. Past participle:
Ex: based on this study, the scientist could make several conclusions Correction: based on this study, several conclusions could be made 3. Appositive:
Ex: a resort city in Arkansas, the population of Hot Spring is about 35,ooo
Correction: a resort city in Arkansas. Hot Spring has a population of about 35,ooo 4. Reduced adjective clause:
Ex: while peeling onions, his eyes began to water
Correction: while he was peeling onions, his eyes began to water 5. Adjective phrases:
Ex: warm and mild, everyone enjoys the climate of the Virgin Islands
Corrected: everyone enjoys the warm and mild climate of the Virgin Islands 6. Expressions with like or unlike:
Ex: like most cities, parking is a problem in San Francisco Corrected: like most cities, San Francisco has a parking problem Exercise:
1. Fearing economic hardship. . .
a. many New Englanders emigrated to the Midwest in the 1820s
b. emigration from New England to the Midwest took place in the 1820s c. it was in the 1820s that many New Englanders emigrated to the Midwest d. and emigration took place in the 1820s from New England to the Midwest 2. rich and distinctive in flave. . .
a. there is in the United States a very important nut crop, the pecan b. the most important nut crop in the United States, the pecan c. farmers in the United States raise pecans, a very important crop d. pecans are the most important nut crop in the United States 3. orbiting from 2.7 to 3.6 billion miles from the sun. . . a. the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930
b. pluto was discovered by the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930
c. it was in 1930 that the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto d. the discovery of Pluto was made by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930
4. a popular instrument. . .
a. only a limited role has been available to the accordion in classical music b. there is only a limited role for the accordion in popular music
c. classical music provieds only a limited role for the accordion d. the accordion has played only a limited role in classical music 5. unlike most birds. . .
Correction: everyone enjoys the warm and mild elimate of the Virgin Islands a. the heads and necks of vultures lack feathers
b. beathers are not found on the heads and necks of vultures c. vultures don’t have feathers on their heads and necks
d. the accordion has played only a limited role in classial music 6. widely reproduced in magezines and books . . . . 7. expressions with like or unlike:
Correction: like most cities. SanFancisco has a parking problem a. Ansel Adams depicted the Western wilderness in his photographs b. The Western wilderness was depicted the Western wilderness c. Ansel Adams’s photographs depicted the Western wilderness
d. It was through his photographs that Ansel Adams depicted the Western wilderness 8. Smaller and flatter than an orange. . .
a. a tanerine is easy to peel and its sections separate readily
b. the peel of a tangerine is easily removed and its sections are readily separated c. it’s easy to peel a tangerine and to separate its sections
d. to peel a tangerine is easy, and its section can be readily separated 9. like the federal government. . .
a. taxation provieds most of the funds for state and local government as well b. state and local governments obtain most of their funds through taxation c. through taxation i how state and local goverments obtain most of their funds d. funds are provided from taxation for state and local goverments
10. orginally settle by Polynesians around 700 AD. . .
a. Hawaii received its first European visitor in 1778, when Captain James Cook landed there b. Hawaii’s first European visitor, Captain James Cook, landed in 1778
c. In 1778 the first European visitor. Captain James Cook, visited Hawaii
d. The first European to visit Hawaii was Captain James Cook, landing there in 1778 11. Unlike most modernist poets. . . base on ordinary speech
a. Robert Frost’s poems were b. The words of Robert Frost were c. Robert Frost wrote poems that were d. The poetry written by Frost was
12. Named for its founder. . . in Ithaca, New York a. in 1865 Ezra Cornell established Cornell University
b. Cornell University was established in 1865 by Ezra Cornell c. It was in 1865 that cornell University in 1865
d. Ezra Cornell established Cornell University in 1865
13. While living in New Orleans. . . the Creole people of Louisiana a. a book of folklore, Bayou Folk, was written by Kate Chapin about
b. bayou Folk, a book of folklore, was written by Kate Chapin about c. the subject of Kate Chapin’s book Bayou Folk was the folklore of
d. Kate Chaplin wrote Bayou Folk, a book about the folklore of
14. After finishing Roots, the one-hundred-year history of an African family. . . a. the Nobel Prize Committee awarded author Alex Haley a special citation for literary excellence
b. the supertanker hauled toward the open seas by firefighters c. firefighters hauled the supertanker toward the open seas d. firefighters had hauled the supertanker toward the open seas
15. according to the conditions of their scholarships,. . . the university will employ them for three years
a. after finishing their degrees
b. after students finishing their degrees c. after students finished them degrees d. after students finish their degrees
16. written by Neil Simon. . . at the world premiere Saturday evening a. New York audiences received the new play enthusiastically
b. New York audiences received enthusiatically the new play
c. The new play was received enthusiatically by New York audiences d. The new play were enthusiatically received by New York audiences
17. Saddebed by the actor’s student death. . . they can make donations in his name to the American Cancer Society
a. a memorial fund will be established so that
b. family and friends will established a memorial fund so that c. family and friends established a memorial fund so that d. a memorial funds established so that
18. while searching the problem of violent crime. . . were used to commit 64 percent of all murders in the United States
a. the Senate committee’s discovery that handguns b. the Senate committee discovering that handguns
c. handguns were discovered by the Senate committee that d. the Senate committeee discovered that handguns
19. after reviewing the curriculum. . . in traditional business programs at Harvard University
a. several significant changes were made by the faculty b. the faculty had made several significantly changes c. the faculty made several significant changes
d. several significant changes had been made by the faculty
20. having hit more home runs than any other player in the history of baseball. . . a. Hank Aaron’s record is famous
b. The record of Hank Aaron makes him famous c. Hank Aaron is famous for record
d. Hank Aaron’s fame is his rocord
21. Traditionally named for women. . . a. Bob, the first male name, was chosen for a hurricane b. Bob was chosen as the first male name for a hurricane c. A hurricane was named Bob, the first male name d. A hurricane was chosen the first male name, Bob
22. Attempting to smuggle drugs into the country. . .
a. The criminals were apprehended and taken to police headquarters for questioning by customs officials
b. Customs officials apprehended the criminals and took them to police headquarters for questioning
c. The criminals were apprehended and took them to police headquarters for questioning by customs official
d. Customs officials apprehended the criminals and taken them to police headquarters for questioning
23. While trying to buil a tunnel through the Blue Ridge Mountains, . . . a. Coal was discovered by workmen at the construction site
b. Coal was being discovered by workmen at the construction site c. Workmen had discovered coal at the construction site
d. Workmen discovered coal at the construction site
1. After finishing Roots. The one-hundred-year history of an African America family. The Nobel Prize Committee awarded author Alex Haley a special citation for literary excellence.
2. A cometitive sport. Gymnasts perform before officials who must use their judgment along with their knowledge of the rules to determine the relative skill of each participant 3. To remove stains from permanent press clothing, carefully soaking in cold water before
washing with a regular detergent
4. Found in Tanzania by Mary Leakey, some archeologists estimated that the three-million-year-old fossils were the oldest humans to be discovered
5. After fighting the blaze for three days, the supertanker was hauled toward open seas by firefighters in an effort to save the southern Caribbean from the worst oil spill in history 6. According to the conditions of their scholarships, after finishing their degrees. The
university will employ students for three years
7. Originally having been buried in Spain, and later moved to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Columbus’s final resting place is in Andalucia, Spain
8. Written by Neil Simon, New York audiences received the new play enthusiastically at the world premiere Sartuday evening
9. By migrating to a warmer climate every fall, survival is assured for another year
10. Saddened by the actor’s sudden death, a memorial fund will be established so that family and friends can make donations in his name to the American Cancer Society
11. To prevent cavities, dental floss should be used daily after brushing one’s teeth
12. While researching the problem of violent crime, the Senate committee’s discovery that handguns were used to commit 64 percent of all murders in the United States
13. Trying to purchase with cash, salespersons often asked customers for credit cards instead 14. After reviewing the curriculum, several significant changes were made by the faculty in
traditional business programs at Harvard University
15. Having hit more home runs that any other player in the history of base ball, Hank Aaron’s record is famous
16. Banned in the U.S. the effect of fluorocarbons continues at a level that could eventually damage the ozone layer, and bring about such serious results as high rish of skins cancer and global climate changes
17. To avoid jet lag, many doctors record recommend that their patiens begin adjusting one week before departure time by shifting one hour each day toward the new time schedule 18. After cooking in the microwave oven for five minutes, one should put most meat dishes
on a platter to cool
19. Traditionally named for women, Bob was chosen as the first male name for a hurricane
20. Before testifying, their answers were sworn in by the court
21. By reading the instructions carefully, mistakes on the examinations can be avoided 22. Having been divorced, her credit could not be established in spite of her high income 23. Attempting to smuggle drugs in to the country, customs officials apprehended the
criminals and took them to police headquarters for questioning
24. While trying to build a tunnel through the Blue Ridge Mountains, coal was discovered by workmen at the construction site
25. Founded in 1919, students and teachers who are interested in spending several months abroad may benefit from educational programs administered by the Institute for International Education
26. Being too young to understand death, my mother gave me a simple explanation of where my father had gone
27. While working in my office last night, someone suddenly knocked loudly at my door and nearly scared me to death
28. Strickly carnivorous, large animals such as elk and deer, as well as their mainstay such as mice and rabbits are hunted by wolves
29. Relentlessly poisoned, trapped, and shot, hunters eradicated the timber wolf, a subspecies of gray wolf, in the lower states by the 1940s
30. In 1970s, after realizing a mistake had been made, laws to protect wolves were passed by U.S. lawmakers