Abacus Educational
Services
Services
- *** NEW ***
- Homeschool Classes
Site Map
- AES Home
- Online Education
- Online Degrees
- Online College Campuses
- Accredited Degrees
- Homeschooling Classes
- AP exam preparaion
- SAT Resources Home
- About Us
- SAT Resources
- Playsheets
- Book: SAT Practice
- Online Courses
- Audio files
- Online English Course
- Featured Resource
- Vocabulary tips
- Vocabulary Quiz
- Software
- Online SAT Resources
- Books on the New SAT
- Vocabulary Books
- Vocabulary List
- Vocabulary Crosswords
- Homeschooling
- Homeschooling
- Homeschooling Classes
- Free Online Homeschooling Classroom
- AP exam preparaion
- Homeschooling Books
- Homeschool on the Web
- Homeschooler Central
- Children's books
- The Wind in the Willows
- The Golden Age
- Language Reference
- Common Errors
- Subject/Verb mismatch
- Number (singular/plural)
- Case, declension
- Misplaced Modifiers
- Metaphors
- Mixed Metaphors
- Confused Verbs
- Sentence Fragments
- Run-on Sentences
- Parts of Speech
- Verbs
- Nouns, Pronouns
- Prepositions
- Adjectives
- Recommended reading
- Unusual books
- Children's books
- Cat Flinging
- Motorscooter Solution
- Wistful Vistas
- Thailand Escape
- Info Clearinghouse
- Contact us
- Graded Links
Common Errors: modifiers
. . .
A pronoun must refer to a single noun, not a phrase or a collection of oddments and especially may not refer to nothing at all. Check your work to determine the reference for pronouns.
Wrong:
The accountant's wheelbarrow was full of eels, which irritated the fastidious spectator.
The which does not refer to a specific noun.
Better:
The presence of eels in the accountant's wheelbarrow irritated the fastidious spectator.
Modifying phrases must modify something appropriate. "Misplaced" modifiers dangle about untidily.
Here are some examples.
While climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is quite steep up to the very top and then slopes away rather sharply, Rupert's hair dryer required constant adjustment.
(Who is climbing the mountain? The hair drier?)
Ducking under a flock of pestilent soiled budgies, the handlebars struck the sandwich in my pocket doing irreparable harm to the avocado.
(Who or what is ducking?)
To Rupert's surprise, he was comfortably able to drive the tractor wearing swim fins and goggles.
(Is the tractor wearing swim fins and goggles?)
. . .
Excerpted with permission from SAT Practice: The New Verbal Section.
. . .
A pronoun must refer to a single noun, not a phrase or a collection of oddments and especially may not refer to nothing at all. Check your work to determine the reference for pronouns.
Wrong:
The accountant's wheelbarrow was full of eels, which irritated the fastidious spectator.
The which does not refer to a specific noun.
Better:
The presence of eels in the accountant's wheelbarrow irritated the fastidious spectator.
Modifying phrases must modify something appropriate. "Misplaced" modifiers dangle about untidily.
Here are some examples.
While climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is quite steep up to the very top and then slopes away rather sharply, Rupert's hair dryer required constant adjustment.
(Who is climbing the mountain? The hair drier?)
Ducking under a flock of pestilent soiled budgies, the handlebars struck the sandwich in my pocket doing irreparable harm to the avocado.
(Who or what is ducking?)
To Rupert's surprise, he was comfortably able to drive the tractor wearing swim fins and goggles.
(Is the tractor wearing swim fins and goggles?)
. . .
Bookmark this page to:
Featured Exercise
While trying ineffectually to retrieve the eggplant centerpiece from his neighbor's trout pond, Rupert's phone wouldn't stop playing Monteverdi's Orfeo and the chicken just kept dancing until Irmgard threw a yogurt-encrusted spatula at him.
Ambiguous and Missing Antecedents
Rewrite and interpret the following in as many ways as possible.While trying ineffectually to retrieve the eggplant centerpiece from his neighbor's trout pond, Rupert's phone wouldn't stop playing Monteverdi's Orfeo and the chicken just kept dancing until Irmgard threw a yogurt-encrusted spatula at him.
Copyright © Abacus Educational Services 2005
This work may be downloaded, copied,
and distributed for for personal use only.
It may not be posted elsewhere on the Net nor used for
commercial purposes without explicit permission.
This work may be downloaded, copied,
and distributed for for personal use only.
It may not be posted elsewhere on the Net nor used for
commercial purposes without explicit permission.