Choose the sentence with properly placed introductory participial phrase.

Choose the sentence with properly placed introductory participial phrase.

• A. After finishing the assignment, the TV was turned on.
• B. After finishing the assignment, she turned on the TV.
• C. Finishing the assignment, the TV was turned on.
• D. The TV was turned on finishing the assignment.

Answer: (B)

An introductory participial phrase should attach to the subject of the main clause and be set off with a comma. In the sentence “After finishing the assignment, she turned on the TV,” the phrase “After finishing the assignment” describes what the subject “she” did, and the comma after the introductory phrase correctly separates it from the main clause. This avoids any confusion about who did the action and keeps the sentence clear and logical.

The other options create problems with modifiers. “After finishing the assignment, the TV was turned on” makes it sound as if the TV finished the assignment, which is illogical and creates a dangling modifier. “Finishing the assignment, the TV was turned on” similarly attaches the introductory phrase to the TV, not to the person performing the action, producing a dangling modifier. “The TV was turned on finishing the assignment” lacks the needed comma after the introductory idea and reads awkwardly, with the modifier placed in a confusing, end-position.

So the sentence with the introductory phrase correctly linked to the subject and properly punctuated is the best choice.