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CC0040CC0040

academic Englishacademic English

workshopsworkshops2009-20102009-2010

Session 8Session 8Dangling ModifiersDangling Modifiers

Wience Laiccwience@hkcc-polyu.edu.hk

3746-0170

HHB 1630

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Who swing through thetrees?

Swinging through

the trees, thechildren watching the

monkeys burst intogiggles.

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What is a Dangling Modifier?

A modifier that opens a sentencemust be followed immediately bythe word it is meant to describe;

otherwise it is dangling.

A dangling modifier does not

describe what the author intendsto describe, thus resulting in anunintended meaning.

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How to correct danglingmodifiers?

1. Add/Place the subject right after the opening wordgroup .

Swinging through the trees, the monkeys make thechildren burst into giggles.

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Part A: Diagnostic Test

Identify and underline thedangling modifiers in thepassage.

Revise these sentences toeliminate errors of danglingmodifiers in the space between

the lines.

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Part B:Grammatical principles -

Review

Varying your Sentences withan Opening Phrase

Avoiding Dangling Modifiers

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Varying your Sentenceswith an Opening Phrase

You can make your essay more interestingby varying your sentences.

One method is to open your sentences

with introductory phrases, e.g. -ed words (past participle phrases),

-ing words (present participle phrases),

prepositional phrases,

to word groups (infinitives), etc.

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ing words (Present ParticiplePhrases)

Example:

Sentence 1: Katie had put extra effortsand time in her study this semester.

Sentence 2: She received straight As inall subjects.

Having put extra efforts and time in herstudy this semester, Katie receivedstraight As in all subjects.

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Opening sentences withprepositional phrases

Example:

Sentence 1: We were in the discussionroom.

Sentence 2: We reviewed the paragraphswritten by our team members.

In the discussion room, we reviewedthe paragraphs written by our teammembers.

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to word groups(infinitives)Example:

Sentence 1: The students want to get five bonusmarks for the research essay.

Sentence 2: They will complete all projectpreparation steps before the deadlines.

To get five bonus marks for the research essay,the students will complete all project

preparation steps before the deadlines.

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Avoiding Dangling Modifiers Dangling Modifiers - A modifier that describes or

identifies another word or group of words which is NOTSTATED in the same sentence.

The writers intended meaning is distorted as the reader

attaches the modifier to another word or group of wordswhich appears in the sentence.

Dangling modifiers take several forms: Opening sentences with -ed words (past participle phrases),

Opening sentences with -ing words (present participle phrases),

Opening sentences with prepositional phrases,

Opening sentences with to word groups (infinitives)

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word (Past ParticiplePhrases)

Dangling Modifier:Dangling Modifier: Awarded the OutstandingPostgraduate Student Award, Mikessupervisor congratulated him.

[It was Mike but not his supervisor who was

awarded the Outstanding PostgraduateStudent Award.]

Revision:Revision: As Mike was awarded the Outstanding

Postgraduate Student Award, Mikessupervisor congratulated him.

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ing word (Present ParticiplePhrases)

Dangling Modifier:Dangling Modifier: Having obtainedstraight As in all subjects, a $10,000scholarship was received.

[It was not a $10,000 scholarship butKatie who has obtained straight As inall subjects.]

Revision:Revision: Having obtained straight As inall subjects, Katie received a $10,000scholarship.

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Opening sentences withprepositional phrases

Dangling Modifier:Dangling Modifier: In the discussionroom, the paragraphs written by ourgroup members were reviewed.

[It was not the paragraphs but we whowere in the discussion room reviewingthe paragraphs.]

RevisionRevision: In the discussion room, wereviewed the paragraphs written byeach other.

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Opening sentences withto word group (infinitives)

Dangling Modifier:Dangling Modifier: To get five bonus marks forthe research essay, all project preparationsteps should be completed before thedeadlines.

[It was not the project preparation steps but thestudents who want to get five bonus marks.]

Revision:Revision: To get five bonus marks for the

research essay, we need to complete allproject preparation steps before thedeadlines.

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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises

Exercise C1: Combine the following pairs ofsentences by using the opener shown in thebracket.

1. (Opening with an ed word)

(a) Most of the music recording companies in HongKong are concerned about the appearance ratherthan the voice of a potential singer.

(b) They give preference to candidates who are good-looking.

Suggested answer: Concerned about theappearance rather than the voice of a potential singer,most of the music recording companies in Hong Konggive preference to candidates who are good-looking.

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2. (Opening with an ing word)(a) Many Hong Kong people know that having babies incurs

a large sum of expenses.

(b) Many married couples do not plan to have babies.

Suggested answer: Knowing that having babies incurs a large sumof expenses, many married couples do not plan to have babies.

3. (Opening with a to word group)

(a) Our group wants to finish the project on time.

(b) Regular meetings have been scheduled every week.

Suggested answer: To finish the project on time, our group hasscheduled regular meetings every week.

Part C: Concept BoostingExercises

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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises Exercise C2: Make sentences using

the modifiers given to you. Then,circle the word(s) being modified.

1. Having grown up in the 21st century, 2. To receive an outstanding result in this

academic English course,

3. Upon graduating from the associatedegree programme,

4. Tired and exhausted,

i

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Part C: Concept BoostingExercises

Exercise C3: Identify and underline thedangling modifiers in the passage.Then, revise these sentences to

eliminate errors of dangling modifiersin the space between the lines.

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References

Langan, J. (2008). English skills for academicstudies. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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End