SAT Reading and Writing skill page

SAT Modifiers Practice

Make sure descriptive phrases clearly point to the right noun in SAT grammar questions.

Practice modifiers in Dolphin SAT Practice questions

9-14 min practice time3 questions on pageStandard English Conventions

Practice time9-14 min

Question bank3 questions

Best forStandard English Conventions

What this tests

What to know for this SAT skill

Place modifiers next to the nouns they describe
Fix dangling introductory phrases
Avoid ambiguous descriptions
Keep sentence meaning clear after revision

Dolphin question bank

Practice your skill

Question 1 of 3Medium

A pioneer in the field of taphonomy (the study of how organic remains become fossils), may be just as prevalent in the fossil record as those of thick-shelled organisms.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

fossils of thin-shelled organisms, Anna Behrensmeyer demonstrated in a 2005 analysis,
Anna Behrensmeyer demonstrated in a 2005 analysis that fossils of thin-shelled organisms
it was demonstrated in a 2005 analysis by Anna Behrensmeyer that fossils of thin-shelled organisms
a 2005 analysis—by Anna Behrensmeyer—demonstrated that fossils of thin-shelled organisms

Show answer and solution

Correct answerB. Anna Behrensmeyer demonstrated in a 2005 analysis that fossils of thin-shelled organisms

Solution walkthrough

Choice B is the best answer.
The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement.
This choice makes the noun phrase “Anna Behrensmeyer” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “a pioneer…fossils.” In doing so, this choice clearly establishes that Anna Behrensmeyer—and not another noun in the sentence—is a pioneer in the field of taphonomy.

Why the other choices miss

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “fossils of thin-shelled organisms” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the “fossils” are a pioneer in the field of taphonomy. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the pronoun “it” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that “it” is a pioneer in the field of taphonomy. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “a 2005 analysis” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that “a 2005 analysis” is a pioneer in the field of taphonomy.

Question 2 of 3Hard

In 2015, a team led by materials scientists Anirudha Sumant and Diana Berman succeeded in reducing the coefficient of friction (COF) between two surfaces to the lowest possible level—superlubricity. A nearly frictionless (and, as its name suggests, extremely slippery) state,

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

when their COF drops below 0.01, two surfaces reach superlubricity.
two surfaces, when their COF drops below 0.01, reach superlubricity.
reaching superlubricity occurs when two surfaces’ COF drops below 0.01.
superlubricity is reached when two surfaces’ COF drops below 0.01.

Show answer and solution

Correct answerD. superlubricity is reached when two surfaces’ COF drops below 0.01.

Solution walkthrough

Choice D is the best answer.
The subject of the modifier “a nearly frictionless state” is “superlubricity.” Subject-modifier placement requires a modifier and its subject to be next to one another, so “superlubricity” must be the first word in the missing clause.

Why the other choices miss

Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a subject-modifier placement error. The subject of the modifier “a nearly frictionless state” is “superlubricity.” Subject-modifier placement requires a modifier and its subject to be next to one another, so “superlubricity” must be the first word in the missing clause. Choice B is incorrect. This choice creates a subject-modifier placement error. The subject of the modifier “a nearly frictionless state” is “superlubricity.” Subject-modifier placement requires a modifier and its subject to be next to one another, so “superlubricity” must be the first word in the missing clause. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a subject-modifier placement error. The subject of the modifier “a nearly frictionless state” is “superlubricity.” Subject-modifier placement requires a modifier and its subject to be next to one another, so “superlubricity” must be the first word in the missing clause.

Question 3 of 3Hard

In 2016, engineer Vanessa Galvez oversaw the installation of 164 bioswales, vegetated channels designed to absorb and divert stormwater, along the streets of Queens, New York. By reducing the runoff flowing into city sewers,

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

the mitigation of both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways has been achieved by bioswales.
the bioswales have mitigated both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways.
the bioswales’ mitigation of both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways has been achieved.
both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways have been mitigated by bioswales.

Show answer and solution

Correct answerB. the bioswales have mitigated both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways.

Solution walkthrough

Choice B is the best answer.
The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement.
This choice makes the noun phrase “the bioswales” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “By reducing…sewers.” In doing so, this choice clearly establishes that the bioswales—and not another noun in the sentence—are reducing runoff flowing into city sewers.

Why the other choices miss

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “the mitigation…waterways” immediately after the modifying phrase results in unclear modification. The resulting sentence makes it hard to determine what is responsible for “reducing the runoff”: the bioswales or some other noun in the sentence. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “the bioswales’ mitigation…waterways” immediately after the modifying phrase results in unclear modification. The resulting sentence makes it hard to determine what is responsible for “reducing the runoff”: the bioswales or some other noun in the sentence. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “street flooding and the resulting pollution” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the “flooding and pollution” are reducing runoff flowing into city sewers.

Avoid these traps

Common mistakes on this skill

Letting a modifier attach to the nearest wrong noun

A descriptive phrase should sit next to the word it logically modifies.

Leaving an introductory modifier without a subject

The noun immediately after an introductory modifying phrase must be the person or thing performing that phrase.

Study plan

How to practice this skill in Dolphin

Underline the modifying phrase and state exactly what it describes.
Place that noun directly beside the modifier whenever the sentence structure allows.
Read the complete sentence literally to check for an illogical or dangling description.

Practice modifiers in Dolphin SAT

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FAQ

Questions about SAT Modifiers Practice

What is a dangling modifier?

It is a modifying phrase whose intended subject is missing or is not the noun that follows the phrase.

How does the SAT test modifier placement?

It often changes the noun beside a descriptive phrase, creating choices that are grammatical but logically impossible.