How to Answer Subject Modifier Placement Questions for Digital SAT Students
Home > digital SAT course > grammar modifiers & verbs > subject modifier placement
Subject modifier placement is important for writing clear sentences on the Digital SAT.
When you place modifiers (words or phrases that describe other parts of the sentence) in the right position, you help the reader understand the meaning of the sentence.
If you place modifiers incorrectly, your sentence can confuse the reader or make your meaning unclear.
This guide will show you how to place subject modifiers correctly so you can avoid modifier errors like dangling modifiers or misplaced modifiers. With the right strategy, you can improve your SAT writing and communicate your ideas clearly.
Subject Modifier Placement Questions with Answers
Born in 2015, the Staten Island Zoo welcomed Earl, a baby lamb with panda-like markings.
Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B a warm welcome from tourists was extended to Earl, a baby lamb with panda-like markings at the Staten Island Zoo.
- C tourists flocked to the Staten Island Zoo to meet Earl, a baby lamb with panda-like markings.
- D Earl, a baby lamb with panda-like markings, was a welcome addition to the Staten Island Zoo.
How to answer this question:
- Was the zoo born in 2015 no, not A
- Was a warm welcome born in 2015, no, not B
- Were the tourist born in 2015, no, not C
- Was Earl born in 2015, yes, so Earl is the subject so the subject is paced by the modifying phrase ‘born in 2015’.
Primarily famous for Steppenwolf and Siddhartha, the novel Demian was Hermann Hesse’s contribution to the literary genre Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel.
Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B Demian by Hermann Hesse is an influential contribution to the literary genre Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel.
- C the contribution to the literary genre Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age, with his novel Demian was another one of Hermann Hesse’s accomplishments.
- D Hermann Hesse also contributed to the literary genre Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age, with his novel Demian.
How to answer this question:
- What was famous for Steppenwolf and Siddhartha:
- the novel, no, not A
- Demian (the novel), no, not B
- the contribution, no, not C
- Hermann Hesse (the author), yes, so D is correct.
Among the world’s grandest tourist attractions, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Shilin Stone Forest are all located in China.
Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B the location of the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Shilin Stone Forest is China.
- C you will find the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Shilin Stone Forest in China.
- D visitors and locals alike can enjoy the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Shilin Stone Forest in China.
How to answer this question:
- Are the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Shilin Stone Forest among the world’s grandest tourist attractions, yes, so looking good for A
- is the location – among the world’s grandest tourist attractions, no
- are you – among the world’s grandest tourist attractions, no
- are visitors and locals – among the world’s grandest tourist attractions, no
- So, A was correct
After becoming the first squirrel monkey to survive a space expedition, Mrs. Baker lived for twenty-seven years and was “married” twice.
Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B the life of Mrs. Baker lasted for twenty-seven years and included two “marriages.”
- C two “marriages” occurred over Mrs. Baker’s twenty-seven year life.
- D the twenty-seven year life-span of Mrs. Baker included two “marriages.”
How to answer this question:
- was Mrs Baker – the first squirrel monkey to survive a space expedition, if Mrs Baker was the nickname of the monkey, but generally monkeys don’t get married twice
- was the life of Mrs. Baker – the first squirrel monkey to survive a space expedition, no, not B
- were two “marriages” – the first squirrel monkey to survive a space expedition, no, not C
- was the twenty-seven year life-span of Mrs. Baker – the first squirrel monkey to survive a space expedition, no
- so A is the only option that makes grammatical sense, so, although strange, it is the correct answer.
LESSON 4
Digital SAT Grammar
9 steps to go from beginner to understanding the digital SAT questions, improving your knowledge, skills and ability to do your best in the SAT text.
The first SAT grammar lesson focused on subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement. Here we move on to subject modifier placement and verb form.
SAT Practice Questions
- A process that increases frost resistance in the winter, starch hydrolysis, meaning the conversion of starch stores to sugar, also gives carrots a sweeter taste.
Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B sugar, after being converted from starch stores via starch hydrolysis, also gives carrots a sweeter taste.
- C carrots also have a sweeter taste due to starch hydrolysis, the conversion of starch stores to sugar.
- D the sweeter taste of carrots also results from starch hydrolysis, the conversion of starch stores to sugar.
- Attempting to control ownership of seeds, the global food supply is in jeopardy of becoming the intellectual property of a few agricultural corporations.
Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B altering the global food supply seems to have been an aim of agricultural corporations invoking intellectual property rights.
- C agricultural corporations have invoked intellectual property rights and thereby altered the global food supply.
- D possessing intellectual property rights over the global food supply seems to be the aim of some agricultural corporations.
- Writing to soothe his dark and troubled soul, Edgar Allan Poe crafted The Raven as both a metaphysical poem and an ode to his deceased wife, Lenore.
Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B “The Raven” was crafted by Edgar Allan Poe as both a metaphysical poem and an ode to his deceased wife.
- C both a metaphysical poem and an ode to his deceased wife were combined in “The Raven,” crafted by Edgar Allan Poe.
- D a metaphysical poem titled “The Raven” was crafted by Edgar Allan Poe as an ode to his deceased wife.
- Known by many people as the writer of Pygmalion, the career of George Bernard Shaw began in theater criticism.
Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B the beginning of George Bernard’s professional career was in theater criticism.
- C being a theater critic was the beginning of George Bernard Shaw’s professional career.
- D George Bernard Shaw began his professional career as a theater critic.
Return to the Course Home page
SAT Practice Answers
1
- (Choice A, Checked, Correct) This is the best choice. The subject “starch hydrolysis” is correctly placed right after the introductory modifier “a process…winter”.
- (Choice B, Incorrect) This choice results in a subject-modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that “sugar” is a “process”.
- (Choice C, Incorrect) This choice results in a subject-modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that “carrots” are a “process”.
- (Choice D, Incorrect) This choice results in a subject-modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that “the sweeter taste” is a “process”.
2
- (Choice A, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that “the global food supply” is (“attempting to control ownership of seeds”). We can infer that the sentence means corporations are trying to take control.
- (Choice B, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that (“altering the global food supply”) is (“attempting to control ownership of seeds”). We can infer that the sentence means corporations are trying to take control.
- (Choice C, Checked, Correct) This is the best choice. The noun phrase “agricultural corporations” is effectively placed so that the introductory phrase (“Attempting . . . seeds”) logically describes the corporations.
- (Choice D, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that (“possessing intellectual property rights”) is (“attempting to control ownership of seeds”). We can infer that the sentence means corporations are trying to take control.
3
- (Choice A, Checked, Correct) This is the best choice. “Edgar Allan Poe” is correctly placed so that the introductory phrase (“Writing . . . soul”) logically describes Poe.
- (Choice B, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that The Raven was “writing”, not Edgar Allan Poe.
- (Choice C, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that (“both a metaphysical poem and an ode to his wife)” were “writing”, not Edgar Allan Poe.
- Choice D, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that “a metaphysical poem” was “writing”, not Edgar Allan Poe.
4
- (Choice A, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that “the career” was known by many as a writer. Instead, the sentence means to convey that George Bernard Shaw was the writer of Pygmalion.
- (Choice B, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that “the beginning” was known by many as a writer. Instead, the sentence means to convey that George Bernard Shaw was the writer of Pygmalion.
- (Choice C, Incorrect) This choice results in a modifier placement error. The sentence illogically suggests that “being a critic” was known by many as a writer. Instead, the sentence means to convey that George Bernard Shaw was the writer of Pygmalion.
- (Choice D, Checked, Correct) This is the best choice. “George Bernard Shaw” is effectively placed so that the introductory phrase (“Known . . . Pygmalion”) logically describes him.
FAQ Example Sentences and Phrases
How to do subject modifier placement?
To do subject modifier placement correctly, place the modifier close to the subject of the sentence it describes. This helps avoid confusion and ensures the meaning of the sentence is clear.
What is an example of a subject modifier?
An example of a subject modifier is a participial phrase like Running down the street, as in the sentence Running down the street, the boy waved to his friend. The phrase Running down the street describes the subject the boy.
What is an example of a modifier placement?
A correct example of modifier placement is: Excited about the trip, she packed her bag. A misplaced modifier example is: She packed her bag excited about the trip, which can confuse the reader.
Where do you place modifiers correctly?
Place modifiers directly before or after the word or phrase they modify. This helps the reader understand which word the modifier describes and avoids creating dangling or squinting modifiers.
A Guide to Correctly Place Modifiers in SAT Writing
In SAT writing, it is important to place modifiers correctly so your sentences are clear. A modifier is a word or phrase that gives more detail about the subject of the sentence, or about another word such as a verb, noun, or pronoun. When you place modifiers wrongly, it can change the meaning of the sentence or confuse the reader.
To place modifiers correctly, put the modifier next to the word or phrase it describes. This helps the reader understand what the modifier is changing or explaining. A misplaced modifier happens when the modifier is too far from the word it modifies. A dangling modifier happens when the sentence is missing the word that the modifier should describe.
For example:
Misplaced modifier: She almost watched every video before the exam.
Correct: She watched almost every video before the exam.
Dangling modifier: Running through the park, the flowers looked beautiful.
Correct: Running through the park, she admired the beautiful flowers.
In grammar, modifiers can describe a noun, pronoun, or object. A modifier can also change the meaning of a verb or clause. Modifiers include adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, and participial phrases. Some modifiers may even take the form of a gerund or a dependent phrase. Always check that your modifiers clearly match the subject of the sentence to avoid confusion.
How to Avoid a Dangling Modifier or Misplaced Modifier
If you want to avoid modifier mistakes in SAT writing, follow these steps:
- Identify the subject of the sentence or clause.
- Make sure the modifier is next to the word or phrase it is meant to modify.
- Check if your sentence has a comma that separates the modifier from the subject. If so, consider rewriting the sentence.
- Look for modifiers that could modify a verb, object, or pronoun incorrectly. Rewrite the sentence for clarity.
By following these steps, you will place modifiers correctly and improve the clarity of your writing.