You may love Beyonce, but did you know that before her solo career she was actually part of a chart-topping R&B group called Destiny’s Child? Fix the following modifier errors to learn about how one of today’s icons got her start:
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, [1] singing was something Beyoncé did from a young age. Her vocal talents were discovered almost accidentally: one day after dance class as a kid, Beyoncé’s instructor was humming a song, and Beyoncé chimed in with the lyrics, beautifully hitting all the high-pitched notes. Not long after, Beyoncé began competing in local singing competitions. Joined by childhood friends Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and three other young girls, [2] Girl’s Tyme formed as a group with Beyoncé. The group traveled from Texas to California to compete on Star Search, a national television show. Unfortunately, however, Girl’s Tyme did not win.
Motivated to succeed in the music world, [3] giving up was not an option. Eventually, their hard work payed off. In 1996, the group signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and became known as Destiny’s Child. With hits like “Say My Name,” “Bills, Bills, Bills,” and “Jumpin Jumpin,” [4] success came quickly to the group in the R&B world.
However, success didn’t come without setbacks. Unhappy with the group’s management, [5] quitting felt like the only option for two of the group’s members, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett. Destiny’s Child was thrust into the entertainment spotlight with Beyoncé largely at the center of the negative media attention. Consequently, Beyoncé fell into depression, and the group struggled for a brief period.
After regaining some stability and some shuffling in group members, Destiny’s Child was composed of three women: Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. As one of the most successful R&B groups of its time, [6] many chart-topping albums were made by Destiny’s Child, like Survivor, and the group went on to win multiple Grammy awards.
Finally in 2001, the group announced that they would be taking a hiatus so that the members could pursue individual singing careers.
Answers:
1. The modifier in this sentence is “Born and raised in Houston, Texas”, which describes, or modifies, Beyonce. Thus, “Beyonce” must immediately follow the modifier and the comma. A correct version of the bold portion could read Beyonce grew up singing and dancing.
2. Everything preceding the comma in this sentence describes a person. Our hint is the word ‘joined’. Someone must be joined by the names listed, and in this case that someone is Beyonce. Thus, again, her name must follow the comma. A correct version of the bold portion could read Beyonce became a member of the singing group Girls Tyme.
3. As it reads, this sentences gives the impression that “giving up” was motivated to succeed in the music world, which obviously doesn’t make sense. A better version of the sentence might read Motivated to succeed in the music world, the group didn’t give up.
4. The modifier in this sentence is describing Destiny’s Child, so Destiny’s Child must immediately follow the comma. The bold portion could instead read Destiny’s Child quickly became successful in the R&B world.
5. The bold portion should begin with whoever was upset with the group’s management. It should then read two of the group’s members, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett, quit the group.
6. The modifier here is clearly referring to Destiny’s Child, so the bold portion should read Destiny’s Child made many chart-topping albums, like Survivor,.