Which sentence includes a misplaced modifier?

Which sentence includes a misplaced modifier?

• A. The girl with the blue dress danced gracefully.
• B. She nearly drove her kids to school every day.
• C. Flying high, the view was stunning.
• D. He answered all the questions correctly.

Answer: (C)

A misplaced modifier occurs when a descriptive word or phrase is positioned in a sentence such that it seems to modify the wrong subject, leading to confusion or an unclear meaning. In the sentence "Flying high, the view was stunning," the phrase "Flying high" is intended to describe an action related to a subject; however, it appears to refer to "the view" instead of a more appropriate subject, such as a bird or an airplane. This creates a misunderstanding, as it suggests that the view itself is capable of flying, which doesn’t make sense. In contrast, the other sentences maintain clear relationships between their modifiers and the subjects they describe. For instance, in the first sentence, the girl is clearly identified as wearing a blue dress, and in the second, it is clear that the mother, and not her children, is the one doing the driving. The fourth sentence clearly states that he answered all questions correctly, without any ambiguity in meaning. Thus, the confusion in sentence C demonstrates the problem of a misplaced modifier effectively, as it fails to convey the intended action clearly.

A misplaced modifier occurs when a descriptive word or phrase is positioned in a sentence such that it seems to modify the wrong subject, leading to confusion or an unclear meaning. In the sentence "Flying high, the view was stunning," the phrase "Flying high" is intended to describe an action related to a subject; however, it appears to refer to "the view" instead of a more appropriate subject, such as a bird or an airplane. This creates a misunderstanding, as it suggests that the view itself is capable of flying, which doesn’t make sense.

In contrast, the other sentences maintain clear relationships between their modifiers and the subjects they describe. For instance, in the first sentence, the girl is clearly identified as wearing a blue dress, and in the second, it is clear that the mother, and not her children, is the one doing the driving. The fourth sentence clearly states that he answered all questions correctly, without any ambiguity in meaning. Thus, the confusion in sentence C demonstrates the problem of a misplaced modifier effectively, as it fails to convey the intended action clearly.