The following questions will test you on what you have just learned about sentence-level writing including dangling modifiers, independent and dependent clauses, and parallelism. Identify the dangling modifier in the sentence, and choose the best revision.
When beginning the meeting, the fire alarm went off.
1. The fire alarm went off when beginning the meeting.
2. When we were beginning the meeting, the fire alarm went off
Katie reviewed the meeting minutes taking the train into Boston.
1. Katie reviewed the meeting minutes taking the train into Boston.
2. Taking the train into Boston, Katie reviewed the meeting minutes.
Identify the dependent clauses in the list below. Check all that apply
1. Unless he responds to my request in the next 24 hours
2. Therefore, she is able to reprogram the system
3. When he opened the e-mail message
Identify the independent clauses in the list below. Check all that apply.
1. During the opening speaker's presentation.
2. Meanwhile, the executive assistant printed the agenda.
3. Even though fourth quarter numbers improved.
Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure.
1. The systems analyst found that we needed to upgrade our equipment, revise our backup process, and implement better security measures.
2. The systems analyst found that we needed upgraded equipment, revised backup processes, and to implement better security measures.
Choose the best option to complete the sentence.
If you , you will do well in this corporation.
1. write well, speak well, and use good interpersonal skills
2. write well, speak well, and are using good interpersonal skills

a. Dangling Modifier:

1.

Dangling Modifier:  When beginning the meeting

Best Revision:  2. When we were beginning the meeting, the fire alarm went off

2.

Dangling Modifier :  taking the train into Boston

Best Revision: Taking the train into Boston, Katie reviewed the meeting minutes.

b. Identifying the dependent clauses:

1. Unless he responds to my request in the next 24 hours

3. When he opened the e-mail message

c. Identifying the independent clauses:

2. Meanwhile, the executive assistant printed the agenda.

d. Identifying the sentence with the correct parallel structure:

1. The systems analyst found that we needed to upgrade our equipment, revise our backup process, and implement better security measures.

e. Best option to complete the sentence:

If you , you will do well in this corporation.

1. write well, speak well, and use good interpersonal skills

Explanation:

a. A phrase or clause that is not directly related to the word or words it modifies is called a dangling modifier.  Usually, the word a dangling modifier modifies may be absent from the sentence.  An example is "when beginning the meeting."  The word it modifies may be "we" as in "When we were beginning the meeting, the fire alarm went off."

b. A clause which cannot make a complete sense or sentence is called a dependent clause.  It requires another clause to make a complete sense.  The clause that makes a complete a complete sentence and can stand alone without another clause is an independent clause.

c. A sentence that has grammatical structure which is balanced is said to have parallelism.  This can also be called parallel structure or construction.  This means that the items listed follow similar pattern that rhyme with one another.  Let us revise the sentence with the wrong parallel structure in this case so as to make it become a parallelism:  "The systems analyst found that we needed upgraded equipment, revised backup processes, and better implemented security measures."  By this revision, the wrong parallel sentence now has a well-structured parallelism.