LoginDangling Modifiers
In this lesson we learn about dangling modifiers, which are words or phrases that modify a word not clearly stated in the sentence. Simple explanations and easy examples to understand their use.
What Is A Dangling Modifier?
A dangling modifier happens when the modifying word or phrase is not clearly associated with the word or phrase it is intended to modify. This can result in ambiguity or confusion in a sentence. A dangling modifier often occurs at the beginning of a sentence, where the modifying word or phrase is separated from the word or phrase it is intended to modify.
Why Do Dangling Modifiers Happen?
There are two reasons that can lead to the occurrence of dangling modifiers:
Misplaced modifiers (also called 'distant modifiers')
Modifiers Without Subjects
Misplaced Modifiers
Although adverbs can appear in different positions within a sentence, usually one of these positions is the natural one. However, when the adverb appears in a position that is not its natural position in the sentence, a misplaced modifier occurs which can cause confusion or ambiguity.
The boy saw a dog on the way to the store.
Is "on the way to the store" modifying the boy or the dog?
She heard that there was a robbery on the evening news.
To avoid ambiguity, we can rewrite the sentence as 'She heard on the evening news that there was a robbery'.
Modifiers Without Subjects
When the subject of a sentence is forgotten, unexpressed, or omitted, the modifier can become dangling, causing confusion and making the intended meaning unclear. Take a look at the example:
Wanting to take a nap, the light was so irritating.
It is not clear who wants to take a nap and 'the light' might be mistaken for the subject of the sentence.
Tip!
Sometimes writers place simple modifiers such as 'only,' 'just,' 'almost,' 'nearly,' and 'barely' in the wrong position in a sentence.
Luke nearly found 10 dollars in the street.
Luke found nearly 10 dollars in the street.
Here, 'nearly' modifies the amount of money that Luke found. So it must be placed before '10 dollars'.
Types Of Dangling Modifiers
Dangling modifiers can be classified into different types, and recognizing the type of dangling modifier can help you correct it.
Dangling Participle Clause
Dangling Adjective Phrase and Coordinated Adjectives
Dangling Reduced Adverbial Clauses
Dangling Infinitive Clause
Dangling Participle Clause
Dangling participle clauses can be further subdivided as the following:
Present Participle Clause
Present participles are formed by adding '-ing' to the base form of the verb. The examples below show how these structures can form dangling modifiers:
✘ Wanting to take a nap, the light was so irritating.
The subject of the second clause indicates that 'the light' wants to take a nap, which is not correct.
✔ Wanting to take a nap, I found the light so irritating.
✘ Walking in the dark, the dog was barking.
Again, the sentence indicates that 'the dog', the subject of the second clause, is walking in the dark.
✔ Walking in the dark, he heard the dog barking.
Past Participle Clause
Past participles are formed by adding '-ed,' '-d,' or '-t' to the base form of a regular verb, but irregular verbs have unique past participle forms. Here are some examples of how these structures can be dangling modifiers:
✘ Tired of all the work, the bed was made.
The subject is not clear.
✔ Tired of all the work, she made the bed.
✘ Piled up next to the bookshelf, I chose a romance novel.
It is not clear what is piled up next to the bookshelf.
✔ The books were piled up next to the bookshelf, I chose a romance novel.
Perfect Participle
A perfect participle is formed by adding 'having' to the past participle form. Let's see some examples:
✘ Having gone to the wrong house, a call to the police was made.
✔ Having gone to the wrong house, the owner made a call to the police.
✘ Having been so unlucky, the plane was missed.
✔ Having been so unlucky, she missed the plane.
Adjective Phrases and Coordinated Adjectives
An adjective phrase consists of an adjective and its modifiers, such as intensifiers or complements, which collectively function as an adjective and modify a noun or pronoun in a sentence. Coordinated adjectives are two or more adjectives which modify the same noun or pronoun and are connected together using a coordinating conjunction. Let's see how they form dangling modifiers:
✘ Confident in her abilities, the exam was completed quickly.
"Confident in her abilities" is an adjective phrase, but it cannot describe "the exam".
✔ Confident in her abilities, she completed the exam quickly.
✘ Young and stupid, the money was spent.
As you can see, 'young and stupid' is an example of coordinated adjectives, but it is no clear who it is referring to.
✔ Young and stupid, I spent the money.
✘ Old yet energetic, the sport clothes were bought.
✔ Old yet energetic, he bought the sport clothes.
Reduced Adverbial Clause
Adverbial clauses modify the main verb of the independent clause by answering one of four questions: where, when, how, and why. A reduced adverb clause is an adverb(ial) clause that has been shortened to a phrase, usually by omitting its subject and a form of 'be'. Pay attention to the examples:
✘ While running down the stairs, the water was spilled.
✔ While running down the stairs, I spilled the water.
✘ While looking in the mirror, the towel swayed in the breeze.
It is not clear who is looking in the mirror.
✔ While I was looking in the mirror, the towel swayed in the breeze.
Dangling Infinitive Clause
Infinitive clauses are clauses that consist of the particle 'to' and the base form of a verb. Check out the examples to see how they can create dangling modifiers:
✘ To go to school, a bus better be taken.
✔ To go to school, you should take the bus.
✘ To take the plane, the tickets were purchased.
✔ To take the plane, he purchased the tickets.
How To Correct Dangling Modifiers
There are a few ways to fix a sentence with a dangling modifier:
Leave the modifier as it is and rewrite the main clause so that it begins with the subject being modified.
✘ Having broken his leg, it was difficult to run.
In the above sentence, it is not clear whose leg was injured, so we can revise the main clause.
✔ Having broken his leg, Jason had difficulty to run.
✘ While running down the stairs, the water was spilled.
✔ While running down the stairs, he spilled the water.
Leave the main clause as it is and revise the modifier to include the subject.
✘ Having broken his leg, it was difficult to run
✔ Because Jason had broken his leg, it was difficult to run.
✘ While running down the stairs, the water was spilled.
✔ While he was running down the stairs, the water was spilled.
Combine the modifier clause and the main clause into one sentence.
✘ To pass the exams, the teacher was paid.
✔ She passed the exam by paying the teacher.
✘ To go to school, a bus better be taken.
✔ It's better to take the bus to go to school
Quiz:
Which of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier?
While I was running in the hallway, the door opened by itself.
After finishing the book, I gave it to my friend.
I found the book under the table while searching for my keys.
Listening to the radio, the breaking story was announced.
Arrange the words below to form a clear and correct sentence.
Match the sentence with the type of dangling modifier it contains:
Which sentence correctly fixes the dangling modifier in this sentence: "While studying for the exam, the music was distracting."?
While the music was distracting studying for the exam.
While I was studying for the exam, the music was distracting.
While studying for the exam, the music played in the background.
The music was distracting while studying for the exam.
Correcting a dangling modifier in each sentence using the subject specified in parentheses.
Tired after the long hike, the tent was set up quickly. (We) → Tired after the long hike,
quickly.
Having found her keys, the door was locked. (She) → Having found her keys,
.
While cooking dinner, the phone rang loudly. (I) →
, the phone rang loudly.
While arranging the room, the lamp fell and broke into pieces. (They) →
, the lamp fell and broke into pieces.
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