Which Family From Modern Family Do You Belong To?

First broadcast in 2009, Modern Family is an American sitcom in the style of a documentary. It follows three connected families that live in the suburbs of Los Angeles. BuddyTV called the show the second best of that year, adding: "Every actor is fantastic, every family is interesting, and unlike many shows, there isn't a weak link".

Modern Family has been compared to the 1970s series Soap because of its multiple-family treatment. The ensemble cast comprises Jay Pritchett, the 70-year-old father of grown-up children Claire, Mitchell, toddler Joe and stepson Manny. Claire is married to Phil Dunphy - an optimistic and fun-loving husband who has kept up with current technology and is devoted to his family - and Jay’s son Mitchell is married to a man called Cameron Tucker.

Thanks to sharp writing all three family units are unique in their approach to life and, despite the show meeting some criticism in recent years for running out of steam, it has won a total of 22 Emmy awards from 75 nominations and the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series (2011).

It is often said that a great sitcom character is a hard one to get right. But the way in which those found in Modern Family interact with each other and the outside world so realistically are telling of our own framework of values and attitudes. With that in mind, answer the next 25 questions and we’ll tell you which “Modern Family” family you’re best suited to.

Question 1

What’s your favorite Yankee Dime?

Phil Dunphy can be childlike and clumsy at times, perhaps even a little naïve. He has a habit of uttering double-entendres and is sometimes implied to suffer with Attention Deficit Disorder. Nevertheless, there is no more loyal person Claire could have as a husband. As a nod to Modern Family tradition, we want to know what your favorite evening distraction would be.

Question 2

How would you best resolve an argument?

With a voice that has been known to set off car alarms and sometimes sounds like a police siren, Gloria Pritchett tends to “win” arguments (we all know shouting isn’t the best way). But arguments within a family are hard to avoid, especially when there are forceful characters involved. The trick is bringing an end to a fight quickly and fairly. But how would you choose to do that?

Question 3

What are you going to do this weekend?

Aha! The weekend! You were definitely hypnotized these last five days. You remember nothing so it must have worked. And now here you are on Friday night wondering how best to make the most of two days of freedom. Warning: don’t fall into the same trap Phil fell into believing his day will be ruined with bad luck because he didn’t complete his daily superstition. Just enjoy it, and pick a watertight two-day plan.

Question 4

Would you tell a white lie?

She may have a temper which has been likened to a volcano but when Gloria Pritchett is confronted by husband Jay about a car accident she refuses to admit the truth. Sometimes, we need to tell a little trivial lie in an effort not to hurt someone's feelings. But how does that sit with you? Do you think absolute honesty is the key to a trusting and long-lived relationship? Or are you someone who likes to keep the peace?

Question 5

How would you deal with death?

Everyone deals with death differently: Claire smiles at inappropriate times, Luke heads for the TV or video games and Cam finds his dark place. Phil and Claire pondered about how best to deliver news to their children about the death of their neighbour Walt. When it comes to talking about someone dying especially with young people, the process has to be just right. How would you do it?

Question 6

What is your favorite sport?

Despite his age, Phil Dunphy is a fan of modern technology but then if you’re surrounded by it every day you get used to the way it works. On his last birthday Claire bought her techno-savvy husband an iPad, which took him out of action for the next few days. But in other corners of Pritchett-owned Los Angeles, there was time for the more traditional sports and board games. What is your favorite sport?

Question 7

What is your favorite hobby?

The families of Modern Family all have their particular interests. As we have just found out Phil is keen on technology but when he has been playing solo for too long he is told to join in with other family pursuits. And why not? After all, the degree of unity a family such as the Dunphys enjoys is caused by being involved with one another’s hobbies. What is your favorite hobby?

Question 8

What does Christmas mean to you?

Lovely drifts of snow line the streets of LA (not really). Children wake on Christmas morning, sit bolt upright and then run to presents beneath the tree. Despite Gloria promising the family a white Christmas, the only snow seen is on the peaks north of the city. But regardless of that, the festivities will be of their usual flamboyant style and everyone will be happy… she hopes. Tell us what Christmas means to you.

Question 9

You suspect an intruder is in your house…

Modern Family is about invisible rules and time-tested parenting. There are no rigid expectations in any of the three households. Neither are there any indications of how the adults would react to an intruder in their house… except on one occasion (which we won’t detail here) which showed us the difference in temperament between two of the characters. What we want to know is should you think you hear someone creeping around your house, how you would act.

Question 10

How would you best describe your dad?

Where Phil Dunphy provides love Jay Pritchett supplies money. As for Cam and Mitch, when Cam is insistent on videoing a family gathering (and hogging the recorder accordingly) Mitchell complains but does not interfere. Each has their own good and bad points but are still supportive parents. Our question is: how would you describe your own dad?

Question 11

You wrecked a car. What will you face when you get home?

Sometimes you will find yourself in trouble and it’s in these moments that you need a little extra help from those around you. Gloria fights her son’s corner well but on one or two occasions she has been known to be a little unorthodox. Tell us what sort of reaction you’d get if you wrecked your parent’s car.

Question 12

It is your birthday. What sort of party would you like?

Cameron enjoys being the center of attention. His sister Pam admits to the rest of the family that he is a fragile sort and emotionally sensitive. When our own birthday comes around we might be excused for wanting to be the center of attention… and if things don’t go our way, why shouldn’t we get upset? We have to wait a whole year for the next one. What sort of birthday would you like?

Question 13

How handy are you about the place?

Being handy around the house is a useful skill for any couple. And being as adept at car maintenance is equally beneficial to the dynamic of the place. When the Dunphys take a drive out in their wreck of a station wagon, their afternoon quickly descends into mishaps and arguments. But, really, were they ever going to enjoy a peaceful family picnic? How are you about the house?

Question 14

What would you prefer to do on Valentine’s Day?

We each have different wants in life. Not one of us is the same in that respect. If you’re living with someone as a couple the chances are you and he (or she) have either made compromises to keep the peace or you genuine share each other’s desires because you are in love. And regardless of the dynamic, what self-respecting couple wouldn’t do something together on Valentine’s Day? Question is: what?

Question 15

For adult fun, what are you thinking?

If you’re old enough, you get to enjoy extra adult things. If you’re too old, you can just sit back and remember. Jay, Gloria, Phil, Claire, Mitch and Cam all need time away from the kids and what sorts of things they get up to is only touched upon a handful of times. In an episode called “Las Vegas” we find the couples with time on their hands to enjoy some adult fun. But what would you prefer?

Question 16

What is your favorite comeback?

Modern Family is a wholesome take on normality. But it’s widely considered that the characters (upper-middle-class and tolerant people) do not represent a significant number of ordinary Americans. Swearing is not included, nor are some of the more stinging insults heard in everyday conversation. Nevertheless, it is not unknown for all three families to have a melt-down once in a while. What is your favorite insult from the show?

Question 17

What Halloween costume would you choose?

Claire Dunphy likes to decorate her house for Halloween. In fact, year on year, her choice of decoration becomes increasingly obsessive especially when new neighbors with a competitive edge move in next door. The extravagance of the Halloween costumes worn by the Dunphys mirrors the way in which the house is decked but in “Halloween 3: AwesomeLand” problems lurk around every corner. What would you wear?

Question 18

How much money do you have?

The episode titled “Connection Lost” splits the action on screen into windows and tabs. The director chose this path in an attempt to mirror the way people watch TV shows these days, that is, via a PC or tablet while browsing the internet. The middle-class nature of the show, as we have heard, doesn’t account for all levels of American wealth. Let’s get personal: what’s your simoleon count?

Question 19

What term of endearment would you choose?

We know that one of the best ways to make up after having an argument is with sweet talk. Those of us who have a knack for such a thing are able to manipulate, err sorry, ease a person from their hurt feelings. Cam Pritchett is very emotional and it takes some choice words from Mitch to dampen the dramatic flames. What we need to know is what sort of name from the show you might choose in an effort to diffuse a situation.

Question 20

What is your most embarrassing memory as a kid?

Most of us will have done something as a child that on occasion still knocks around our heads and makes us cringe. Phil and Mitch both admit to embarrassing moments in their lives and Phil even enters a boxing match with Jay after his father-in-law mocks him in front of friends. Using past life experiences of characters from the show, which of the following would relate to an embarrassing moment for you?

Question 21

How untidy is your house?

Claire Dunphy’s mother has always made her feel as though she is not a good enough mother or wife. Perhaps as a result of her upbringing, Claire is feverishly determined to be the best of the best. In an episode called “Spring Break”, Claire tries to clean the house and asks Phil for help. He refuses and instead begins to play the banjo. How tidy is your house?

Question 22

What is your favorite food?

Gloria Pritchett is proud of her cultural heritage and tries to support her son Manny when Jay tells him to hide his ethnicity. Besides, being Colombian is not easily hidden… the spirit of Ubuntu is fiery, loyal and forthright. Oh, and Colombians love their food which is something Jay will one day understand. Not that he has much choice in the matter. What’s your favorite food?

Question 23

Name an interest you have in something.

We’ve talked about hobbies but now we need to know about other interests. You know, subjects that you like to learn about from time to time but that aren’t necessarily your go-to pastime. We’ve listed three of the passions of the characters from which you can choose. If none of these piques your fancy just choose one that most closely relates to your own.

Question 24

What is the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery?

If winning the Lottery is one of your big dreams, then shame on you. Do you know how unlikely you are to win?! That said, at least you could put the winnings towards something solid, like a house. In Aunt Mommy, Manny finds a penny which he puts towards his 99 other pennies leaving him one short of the money needed for a lottery ticket.

Question 25

What is your biggest fear?

When we think about phobias, the majority of us will imagine a spider or crawling insect. Such a fear has been passed down through thousands of generations of human and originated in the days of the first forages around our ancestral African homeland, which hosted venomous spiders. Some of the characters of Modern Family have some ingrained fears. Which is yours?

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