Answers for Messed-Up Modifiers
There is more than one correct way to write most of these sentences. The important thing is that the modifier indicates specifically which word or words it is meant to describe.
1. We watched the horror movie lying on the couch.
Unless the movie was a tape or DVD, it wasn't lying on the couch (It would be laying anyway). We were the ones lying on the couch. "While lying on the couch, we watched the horror movie." OR "We watched the horror movie while we were lying on the couch."
2. Knocking at the door, Cecil was disturbed by a pushy salesmen.
If Cecil was the one knocking at the door, and the salesman came up behind him, then this sentence is correct. Otherwise, "Cecil was disturbed by a pushy salesman who knocked at the door." OR "A pushy salesman knocked at the door and disturbed Cecil." OR "Knocking at the door, a pushy salesman disturbed Cecil."
3. Lily found a fossil in the forest that is millions of years old.
Was the forest millions of years old? "Lily found a fossil millions of years old in the forest."
4. The detective heard the suspect confess while he was outside the door.
Who is outside the door? The detective? or the suspect? If it is the detective, the sentence should read: "While the detective was outside the door, he heard the suspect confess."
5. Earl declared to, no matter what the obstacles, fight for what you believe is important.
A split infinitive to. . . . .fight. In this sentence using the split infinitive adds neither emphasis or drama, only confusion. "Earl declared to fight for what you believe is important, no matter what the obstacles."
6. The crowd cheered as the parade went by loudly.
It is true that parades are loud, but the sentence probably means "The crowd cheered loudly as the parade went by." OR "As the parade went by, the crowd cheered loudly."
7. Wordsworth wrote of daffodils in rhythmic verse.
Daffodils are not in verse. "Wordsworth wrote in rhythmic verse about daffodils."
8. Belinda has learned to grill hotdogs filled with pride.
Hmmmm. I have heard of hotdogs filled with cheese, but never with pride. "Belinda, filled with pride, learned how to grill hotdogs." OR "Belinda was filled with pride when she learned how to grill hotdogs."
9. Barking at the cat, Clara admonished her dog Ambrosia.
Was Clara barking? It should be: "Clara admonished her dog Ambrosia for barking at the cat."
10. The reception was a huge success wearing my new dinner gown.
This is a bit trickier because there is a word missing that would help the sentence make sense. "The reception to which I (or she, or a woman's name) wore my (her) new dinner gown was a big success." OR "The reception was a big success. I (She, or a woman's name) wore my (her) new dinner gown."
11. Jana asked the lawyer after much hesitating about suing the restaurant.
Was Jana hesitant about asking the lawyer or about suing the restaurant? The sentence can mean either. "After much hesitating, Jana asked the lawyer about suing the restaurant." OR "After hesitating about suing the restaurant, Jana asked her lawyer." You can see why you need to be careful to not confuse your reader/listener.
13. Scared by our anger, Vanessa's knees shook.
It was Vanessa who scared, not her knees. "Our anger scared Vanessa so much, that her knees shook." OR "Vanessa was so scared by our anger, that her knees shook." OR "Vanessa's knees shook because she was scared by our anger."
14. While looking for a bakery, the car ran a stoplight.
Was the car wanting a do-nut? "While looking for a bakery, I ran the car through a stoplight."
15. Perry saw the accident eating lunch.
Perry was eating lunch, the accident wasn't. "While eating lunch, Perry saw the accident."
16. Having eaten Tokyo, we watched Godzilla head for Nagano.
If you ate Tokyo, you have a bigger appetite than Godzilla! "We watched as Godzilla, having eaten Tokyo, headed for Nagano." OR "Having eaten Tokyo, Godzilla headed for Nagano as we watched."
17. Roy balanced his checkbook taking a bath.
That's what I call liquid assets! Roy was the one taking a bath, not the checkbook. "While taking a bath, Roy balanced his checkbook." OR "Roy balanced his checkbook while he was taking a bath."
18. Sophie needed to, as soon as she could, leave for the party.
Another split infinitive (to . . .leave) that just confuses. "Sophie needed to leave for the party as soon as she could."
19. Laying crushed on the sidewalk, Ian found a candy bar.
Good trick for Ian, but he wasn't crushed, the candy was. "Ian found a candy bar laying crushed on the sidewalk."
20. Oscar began to gracefully and emotionally sing a love song to his lady.
Another split infinitive (to . . .sing). Actually, this one could be left as it is, but other options are: "Oscar began gracefully and emotionally to sing a love song to his lady." OR "Oscar sang a love song gracefully and emotionally to his lady."
21. We clapped when he started to play loudly.
If the loud playing was the reason you clapped, this is correct; otherwise, "We clapped loudly when he started to play."