Modifier and parallelism errors are frequently tested on ACT English. You must place modifiers next to what they modify and ensure consistent grammatical forms in lists and comparisons.
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
The Rule
An introductory modifying phrase must be followed by the noun it describes.
- ✗ "Running through the park, the flowers were beautiful." (Flowers weren't running!)
- ✓ "Running through the park, she noticed the beautiful flowers."
Fix
Change the subject to match the modifier, or rewrite the modifier.
Parallel Structure
The Rule
Items in a list, comparison, or pair must use the same grammatical form.
- ✗ "She enjoys swimming, hiking, and to bike."
- ✓ "She enjoys swimming, hiking, and biking."
Correlative Conjunctions
both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also — what follows each must match.
- ✗ "She not only sings but also is a dancer."
- ✓ "She not only sings but also dances."
Practice Problems
- Fix: "Exhausted from the hike, the hotel bed looked inviting."
- Fix: "The teacher asked us to read carefully, take notes, and we should summarize."
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Key Takeaways
Modifiers must be next to what they modify.
Parallel structure: match grammatical forms in lists and pairs.
Check correlative conjunctions for balance.