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Question

Difficulty: EasyModifier Placement

Arrange the following segments to construct a grammatically correct sentence that avoids any misplaced or dangling modifiers.

  1. 1Cluttered with old magazines,
  2. 2the desk
  3. 3was finally cleaned
  4. 4by Sarah.

Answer

The correct order of segments is 'Cluttered with old magazines,' followed by 'the desk', then 'was finally cleaned', and ending with 'by Sarah.'
The correct order places the introductory modifying phrase 'Cluttered with old magazines,' directly before 'the desk', which is the noun it logically modifies. This is followed by the verb phrase 'was finally cleaned' and the prepositional phrase 'by Sarah.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory modifying phrase.
'Cluttered with old magazines,' is a participial phrase that describes an object.
Recognizing the modifier helps determine what noun must follow it.
2
Identify the noun that is logically described by the modifier.
'the desk' is the object that can be cluttered with magazines, whereas Sarah cannot.
Placing the correct noun immediately after the introductory phrase avoids a dangling modifier.
3
Complete the predicate of the sentence.
Connect the subject 'the desk' to the verb phrase 'was finally cleaned' and the agent 'by Sarah.'
This establishes a grammatically complete, passive-voice sentence.

Key Concept

An introductory modifying phrase must be placed immediately next to the noun it logically modifies to avoid a dangling modifier.
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Topics

Modifier Placement

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