Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumMisplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Having spent decades in the archives of the university library, the professor's research on the Gutenberg Bible was finally complete.

Which of the following choices best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    the professor's research on the Gutenberg Bible was finally complete.
  2. the professor finally completed his research on the Gutenberg Bible.Answer
  3. C
    the completion of the professor's research on the Gutenberg Bible was achieved.
  4. D
    the professor, who finally completed his research on the Gutenberg Bible.

Answer

the professor finally completed his research on the Gutenberg Bible.
The correct answer resolves the dangling modifier by ensuring the noun immediately following the comma is the professor, who is the logical subject performing the action in the introductory phrase.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory modifying phrase and determine what it logically describes.
The phrase 'Having spent decades in the archives of the university library' must describe a person or people capable of working in archives.
An introductory participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause that immediately follows it.
2
Check the subject of the main clause in the original sentence.
The subject is 'the professor's research', which is an inanimate project and cannot spend decades in the archives.
This mismatch creates a dangling modifier, meaning the sentence must be revised to make the person ('the professor') the subject.
3
Evaluate the choices to find a grammatically correct revision that places the logical subject after the comma.
The revision that begins with 'the professor' and uses the active verb 'completed' resolves the dangling modifier and forms a complete sentence.
This correction correctly aligns the modifier with the noun it modifies while avoiding fragment errors.

Key Concept

Introductory modifiers must logically modify the subject of the clause that immediately follows them.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

More questions from this topic