Final Review Part I
I. Grammar Review
A. Proper Placement of Modifiers
The most common modifier placement errors are dangling modifiers, misplaced modifiers, and
mistakes in comparison. Here are some examples.
1) Dangling Modifiers
A modifying word, phrase, or clause that does not clearly and sensibly modify a word or word
group in a sentence is a dangling modifier.
Dangling: Jogging in the park, a rabbit peered at me from the underbrush.
[Was the rabbit jogging?]
How to Correct a Dangling Modifier
When a modifying participial or infinitive phrase comes at the beginning of a sentence, the
phrase is followed by a comma. Immediately after the comma should be the word or word group
that the phrase modifies.
Correct: Jogging in the park, I saw a rabbit peering at me from the underbrush.
2) Misplaced Modifiers
A word, phrase, or clause that seems to modify the wrong word or word group in a sentence is a
misplaced modifier.
Misplaced: My cousin’s dog was chasing the geese, yapping and barking.
Misplaced: I read about the bank robbers who were captured this morning in the library.
How to Correct a Misplaced Modifier
Place modifying words, phrases, and clauses as close as possible to the words they modify.
Correct: Yapping and barking, my cousin’s dog was chasing the geese.
Correct: This morning in the library, I read about the bank robbers that were captured.
3) Comparisons
If a comparison is incomplete, misunderstandings can occur.
Unclear Comparison: Weeds in the lawn are harder to get rid of than the garden.
Unclear Comparison: Theresa called Greg more than Maria.
How to Correct Unclear Comparisons
Both parts of an incomplete comparison should be stated if there is any chance of
misunderstanding.
Correct: Weeds in the lawn are harder to get rid of than weeds in the garden.
Correct: Theresa called Greg more than Maria did.
Correct: Theresa called Greg more than she called Maria.
Practice
Rewrite each sentence so that the modifiers are clear, sensible, and unambiguous.
Hot and tired after his run, the pool looked inviting.
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
I like chocolate ice cream more than my cousin.
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
I read about the accident in line at the grocery store.
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
I could see the scouts marching over the hill with my binoculars.
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
I saw a huge boulder taking a shortcut through the woods.
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
B. Subordination and Complex Sentences
In the subordination of ideas, one idea is less important than the other. The more important
idea goes into an independent clause (which could stand alone) while the less important idea
goes into a subordinate or dependent clause (which cannot stand alone).
Certain conjunctions or relative pronouns are placed in front of a clause to make it subordinate.
The following list of conjunctions subordinate one idea to another:
after
although
as
as if
as long as
as though
because
before
how
if
once
in order that
since
so that
provided
than
that
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
which
while
who
whom
whose
Combining a subordinate clause with an independent clause creates a complex sentence. In a
complex sentence the main idea and the subordinate idea are linked by a logical conjunction.
The subordinate clause can come either before or after the main clause. If the subordinate clause
comes before the main clause, you must place a comma after it. A comma is not used if the
subordinate clause comes after the main clause.
Examples of Complex Sentences
[Note: The subordinate conjunction is in italics, the subordinate clause is in brackets, and the
main clause is underlined.]
Examples of a Subordinate Clause Appearing First
[Although he was poor,] he was a happy man.
[Because she got home late, ]she missed her dinner.
[Whenever he hears that special song,] he thinks of his old girlfriend.
Examples of a Main Clause Appearing First
The waiter will clean up the milk [that he spilled on the floor.]
She will not plant the garden [until the rains come.]
A mouse ate the cheese [while our cat slept.]
Practice
Place brackets around the portion of each complex sentence that is the subordinate clause.
Circle the subordinate conjunction or relative pronoun.
1. Theresa found the bone that her dog had buried in the sand.
2. Jane finished the novel although she was exhausted.
3. She left because she was angry.
4. I’ll see you before the night is over.
5. Although we should have left, we ended up staying.
6. Since you have the time, you can proofread my paper.
7. We surveyed the damage after the storm had passed.
8. While he was gone, they hired someone to replace him.
9. All of my children support themselves now since they are grown.
Notes on Types of Subordinate Clauses
General Notes: