Which of these sentences contains a misplaced modifier?

Study for the TEAS English and Language Usage Test. Master English skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Get exam-ready today!

The sentence "She nearly drove her kids to school every day" contains a misplaced modifier because the adverb "nearly" is positioned in a way that creates ambiguity about what it modifies. The phrase suggests that she almost drove them to school but does not clarify whether she completed the action of driving or if her efforts were incomplete. This confusion arises from the placement of "nearly," which could imply she almost drove them but instead suggests uncertainty regarding whether she actually did so.

In contrast, the other sentences present their modifiers clearly. "He quickly finished his assignment" clearly indicates the speed at which he completed the task. "The dog chased the ball eagerly" effectively describes how the dog performed the action of chasing, and "I painted the fence red yesterday" unambiguously communicates both the action and its specifics without any ambiguities regarding modifiers. Each of these sentences works cohesively without causing confusion for the reader.

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