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Dangling Modifiers Definition & Examples Learn English

The document defines a dangling modifier as a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence, changing the intended meaning. Some examples of structures that commonly result in dangling modifiers are present participles, past participles, perfect participles, adjective phrases, and reduced adverbial clauses. The document provides numerous examples of dangling modifiers and how to correct the sentences by making the intended subject clear.

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186 views

Dangling Modifiers Definition & Examples Learn English

The document defines a dangling modifier as a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence, changing the intended meaning. Some examples of structures that commonly result in dangling modifiers are present participles, past participles, perfect participles, adjective phrases, and reduced adverbial clauses. The document provides numerous examples of dangling modifiers and how to correct the sentences by making the intended subject clear.

Uploaded by

Dard Tong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dangling Modifiers: Definition & Examples | Learn English https://www.learngrammar.

net/english-grammar/dangling-modifiers

Dangling Modifiers: Definition & Examples


The word "dangling" refers to hanging or swinging loosely. And "modifier" stands for a person or
thing that makes partial or minor changes to something. So a dangling modifier is a modifier (word or
phrase that modifies) which makes the meaning of a sentence to swing (incomplete).

According to English Grammar, a dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not
clearly stated in the sentence. In other words, if a modifier (word or phrase) modifies (changes the
meaning) different word rather than the targeted one, it will be called dangling modifier.

If the modifier of a sentence doesn’t modify the correct  Noun or Pronoun, then the meaning of the
sentence can be changed.

Example:

Incorrect: Hearing the good news, happiness was mine.


Or Hearing the good news, happy I was.

The modifier of this sentence should modify the word ‘I’ rather than ‘happy’ or ‘happiness’ as hearing
is done by the person (I).

Correct: Hearing the good news, I was happy.

There are some particular grammatical structures or phrases or clauses in which dangling modifiers
occur. Such as:

1. Present Participle or Participle Phrase


Incorrect: Entering the room, the light was off.

The subject of this sentence indicates that ‘the light’ is entering the room which is not correct.

Correct: Entering the room, I found the light off.

More Example:

Incorrect: Walking in the park, a snake bit him.


Correct: Walking in the park, he was bitten by a snake.

Incorrect: Walking through the forest, the moon appeared like a luminous ball.
Correct: Walking through the forest, the traveler saw the moon above the trees.

Incorrect: Crossing the street, a car almost struck us.


Correct: As we crossed the street, a car almost struck us.

Incorrect:  Flying out the window, he grabbed the papers.


Correct: Flying out the window, the papers were grabbed by him.

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Dangling Modifiers: Definition & Examples | Learn English https://www.learngrammar.net/english-grammar/dangling-modifiers

Incorrect:  Plunging into the water, the drowning child was rescued.
Correct: Plunging into the water, he rescued the drowning child.

Incorrect: Not looking where he was going, a car hit him.


Correct: Not looking where he was going, he was hit by a car.

Incorrect: Knowing little algebra, solving the problem was difficult.


Correct: Knowing little algebra, I found it difficult to solve the problem.

2. Past Participle or Past Participle Phrase


Incorrect: Tired and exhausted, a nap was taken by the passer-by.
Correct: Tired and exhausted, the passer-by took a nap.

Incorrect: Worn out by a long walk, she fainted.


Correct: As she worn out by a long walk, she fainted.

3. Perfect Participle (having+v3)/ (having been +v3)


Incorrect: Having arrived late for practice, a written excuse was needed.
Correct: Having arrived late for practice, the team captain needed a written excuse.

Incorrect: Having been served lunch, the problem was discussed by the members of the committee.
Correct: Having been served lunch, the committee members discussed the problem.

4. Adjective Phrase
Incorrect: Young and inexperienced, the task seemed easy to me.
Correct: Young and inexperienced, I thought the task easy.

Incorrect: Old and pervert, fourth marriage seemed not to criticize to him.
Correct: Old and pervert, he didn’t think the fourth marriage to be criticizing. 

5. Reduced Adverbial Clause:


Incorrect: While walking in the garden, her leg was broken.
Correct: While she was walking in the garden, she broke her leg.

Incorrect: While going to class, a dog bit me.


Correct: While going to class, I was bitten by a dog.

Incorrect: While biking home before the storm, an accident had occurred to Jahan.
Correct: While biking home before the storm, Jahan had an accident.

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Dangling Modifiers: Definition & Examples | Learn English https://www.learngrammar.net/english-grammar/dangling-modifiers

More examples:

Incorrect: After jumping off a boat, a shark bites the man.


Correct: After jumping off a boat, the man was bitten by a shark.

Incorrect: Unlike most birds, there are no feathers on vultures’ heads and necks.
Correct: Unlike most birds, vultures do not have feathers on their heads and necks.

Incorrect: Being in haste, the door was left open.


Correct: Being in haste, she left the door open.

Incorrect: Smaller and flatter than an orange, it’s easy to peel a tangerine and to separate its
sections.
Correct: Smaller and flatter than an orange, a tangerine is easy to peel and its sections separate
readily.

Incorrect: Similar to the floppy disk, data is stored in the hard disk in sectors.
Correct: Similar to the floppy disk, the hard disk stores data in sectors.

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