Lessons · Grammar/Writing
CLT Grammar/Writing · Lesson
Modifiers
A describing phrase must sit next to the thing it describes. When it does not, the sentence says something absurd.
- Find the opening phrase, often an "-ing" or "-ed" phrase followed by a comma.
- Ask who is doing that action. That person or thing must be the first noun after the comma.
- Move single words such as "only," "almost" and "nearly" next to the word they limit.
Wrong Walking along the corridor, the house seemed silent to Jane.
Right Walking along the corridor, Jane found the house silent.
The house was not walking. The walker, Jane, must follow the comma.
- A choice that fixes the modifier by adding many words may still be the answer; meaning comes before length here.
- "Having finished," "Born in," "Known for": every one of these needs its person right after the comma.
Every practice question comes with a full explanation, including why each wrong choice is wrong. Free, with no account.