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Difficulty: MediumMisplaced and Dangling Modifiers

The following sentence contains a modifier error in the underlined portion: 'By analyzing the chemical composition of the core sample, the age of the glacier was determined by the scientists.' To correct this error, what phrase should replace the underlined portion to ensure the sentence is grammatically correct?

Answer:By analyzing the chemical composition of the core sample, 【the scientists determined the age of the glacier】.

Answer

the scientists determined the age of the glacier
The correct answer provides the logical agent performing the action described in the introductory modifying phrase. Since 'the scientists' are the ones analyzing the core sample, they must serve as the subject immediately following the comma, expressed in the active voice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory modifying phrase and the action it describes.
The phrase 'By analyzing the chemical composition of the core sample' describes the action of performing an analysis.
An introductory modifying phrase must immediately precede the noun or pronoun that performs the action described.
2
Identify the logical subject of the action.
The ones performing the analysis are the scientists, not 'the age of the glacier'.
A dangling modifier is created when the subject following the comma cannot logically perform the action in the modifier.
3
Restructure the sentence to place the logical subject immediately after the modifier and change the passive construction to active voice.
The phrase 'the scientists determined the age of the glacier' correctly places the active subject next to the modifier.
This establishes clear, logical syntax and eliminates the dangling modifier.

Key Concept

A modifying phrase must be adjacent to the noun it logically modifies. For introductory participial or prepositional phrases, the logical subject must immediately follow the comma.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

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