Dangling Modifier Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.7.1.c and L.7.3.a

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When a word is present in a sentence and it functions to depict or describe another of the sentence, we call this word a modifier. On occasion you will come across some sentences where the intended subject is absent from the sentence. Instead, a different subject appears in its place. In those situations, we refer to those modifiers as dangling. Funny word, huh? You will find this often in opening phrases where the modifier is just linked to the wrong thing. You can spot these in sentences by following a simple thought process and strategy. Just locate the subject of the sentence. The modifier should be found immediately before the comma and the subject. This series of worksheets and lesson will help students not only be able to recognize these dangling modifiers, but also make adjustments to sentences to create grammatically correct sentences.

Dangling Modifier Worksheets:

Correct That - They are usually found in an introductory word or phrase (a participle, gerund, infinitive, or elliptical clause) that doesn't refer logically to the noun or pronoun that immediately follows it.

Locate and Keep Them - Rewrite each sentence to correct them?

Sentence Correction - There are some broken sentences here that you will need to really rework.

Revision Decision - They do not seem right or do they?

Editing Practice - You are given single sentences that you will need to proofread and rewrite.

Which One? - Select the sentence in each pair that has a dangling modifier.

Avoiding This - The goal here is to properly complete each of these sentences.

D or C? - Indicate whether the modifier in each sentence is dangling (D) or correct (C).

Recognize and Rewrite - You will spot bad language uses and then rework them.

Take II - Where in the foxhole of writing powerful we will want to master this skill.

Clarify Them - These are bad, make them better.

Writing For Yourself - Write a sentence to satisfy each prompt.

Edit Me - You will put all these skills into practice.

More Practice - The more time that spend working on this skill, the easier it will become for you.

The Last Go - One more chance to get your skills heightened.

Spicy Sentences - You will be given a series of sentences that we would like you to rewrite using the techniques we have discussed.

Be the Teacher - Get your red pens ready. Tell us if these are written properly.

Clarify It - These sentences are a mess, give them a good cleaning.

Good Form - Write a properly composed sentence for each prompt that you are given.

Loud Thoughts - You might find some statements in various things that you may read.

A Little Absurd - Some of this writing is a real mess. Rework them properly.

Brillant Thoughts - Correct the dangling modifiers as you read.

At the End - What do you think you did right along the way here?

A Bit Distracting - All of these statements will send you in a different direction than expected.

Working with Quotes - The first problem is a good example of this.

Which One? - Select the sentence in each pair that has a dangling modifier.

Commas Galore - The over use of commas is a real get away here.

Get It Write - You are given the beginning of a sentence and asked to finish it off.

Evaluation Time - All you have to do is mark them as correct or incorrect.

Review Sheet - This puts all the skills we have learned into practice.

How Do You Fix a Dangling Modifier?

There are many different ways in which modifiers can be misplaced. Adjectives can often be found in the wrong part of the sentence. This is one of the most common errors that I see in my classroom. Adverb placement often give novice writers a bit of trouble. Entire phrases can be placed incorrectly as well. Phrases should be placed next to the nouns that they modify. Lastly, the placement of clauses often comes into play here. Though these are much more obvious to detect.


Once you get a solid stance on being able to spot dangling modifiers, it is time to learn how to make adjustments to those sentences. There are two simple methods for doing this. One form focuses on reworking the modifier phrase and the other has you amend the main clause altogether. If you locate a sentence that is lacking a subject in the introductory phrase, just revise it by adding the subject to it and leaving the main clause intact. Here is an example:


Walking to school, the rainclouds soaked Sarah.

dangling modifier

This can be corrected by just moving the subject Sarah.

Walking to school, Sarah was soaked by the rainclouds.

The second method that we can use here is to rework the main clause and just leave the modifier alone. This is usually only a subtle adjustment and does not require a complete sentence rewrite. Here is an example of this:


When a teenager, my dad worked at a car dealership.

dangling modifier

This can be corrected by adding a subject (he) and verb (was).

When he was a teenager, my dad worked at a car dealership.

You can normally get away with applying one method more regularly, but you should work on getting comfortable with both methods to help yourself become well rounded. The best strategy to use when identifying these miscues in sentences is to read slowly and make sure that they follow a logical progression.