IELTS Misplaced Modifier Correction Exercises

Misplaced Modifiers

Rule Explanation

• Misplaced Modifiers occur when descriptive words or phrases are not placed next to the word they modify, leading to confusion.
• Why it matters: In IELTS writing and speaking, clarity in sentence structure can raise your band score.

Examples:

• Correct: Flying over the hills, the sunrise looked spectacular. (The phrase "Flying over the hills" clearly refers to the perspective of the sunrise.)
• Correct: She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates. (The modifier "on paper plates" directly follows "sandwiches".)
• Common mistake: He almost drove his kids to school every day. (The adverb "almost" mistakenly modifies "drove" instead of "every day".)

Practice Question

Choose the sentence that correctly places the modifier:

A) Barely visible, I could just make out the ship on the horizon.
B) I could just make out the ship on the horizon which was barely visible.
C) I could just make out the ship, which was barely visible, on the horizon.
D) I could just make out the ship on the horizon, which was barely visible.

Show Answer

Answer: C) I could just make out the ship, which was barely visible, on the horizon.
Explanation: The non-defining clause "which was barely visible" directly follows "the ship", clarifying what is barely visible.

Key Takeaways

• Place modifiers next to the words they describe to avoid confusion.
• Misplaced modifiers can lower clarity in IELTS responses.
• Practice grammar correction examples with Lingo Copilot