Question

Which revision fixes the misplaced modifier in the sentence?

Being disruptive and unruly, Mother asked Freddie to sit down and listen up.

1) Mother asked Freddie, who was being disruptive and unruly, to sit down and listen up.
2) Being unruly and disruptive, Mother asked Freddie to sit down and listen up.
3) Mother asked Freddie to sit down and listen up, being disruptive and unruly.
4) Mother, being disruptive and unruly, asked Freddie to sit down and listen up.

Answer 1

The revision that fixes the misplaced modifier is option 1, where the modifier 'who was being disruptive and unruly' clearly refers to Freddie.

Step-by-step explanation:

The revision that fixes the misplaced modifier in the sentence 'Being disruptive and unruly, Mother asked Freddie to sit down and listen up.' is option 1. The correct sentence should be: 'Mother asked Freddie, who was being disruptive and unruly, to sit down and listen up.' In this corrected version, the phrase 'who was being disruptive and unruly' correctly modifies Freddie, making it clear that it is Freddie who is disruptive and unruly, not the mother.

It's important to place modifiers next to the word or words they are meant to modify to avoid confusion. A misplaced modifier can lead to a sentence that is awkward or even unintentionally humorous because it appears to describe the wrong element of the sentence.