Question

avoiding misplaced modifiers in sentences

choose the participial phrase that best completes each sentence.
dropdown marcus began work on a giant snowman.
julia brushed her teeth dropdown:
after eating with toothpaste
with toothpaste after eating
before going to bed with toothpaste

Explanation:

Analyze the sentence structure and modifier placement

The sentence is: "Julia brushed her teeth [blank]."
We need to choose the phrase that avoids a misplaced modifier. A misplaced modifier occurs when a modifying word, phrase, or clause is improperly separated from the word it modifies, making the sentence sound awkward, confusing, or unintentionally funny.

Evaluate the options

1. "after eating with toothpaste": This suggests she was eating with toothpaste, which is incorrect.
2. "with toothpaste after eating": This correctly modifies "brushed her teeth" (she brushed her teeth with toothpaste) and specifies the time (after eating).
3. "before going to bed with toothpaste": This suggests she is going to bed with toothpaste, which is incorrect.

Determine the correct choice

The phrase "with toothpaste after eating" places the modifying prepositional phrase "with toothpaste" directly next to the action it modifies ("brushed her teeth"), creating a logical and grammatically correct sentence: "Julia brushed her teeth with toothpaste after eating."

Answer:

• after eating with toothpaste
• with toothpaste after eating (Correct answer)
• before going to bed with toothpaste