Dangling Modifiers -English Speaking Course Lucknow -

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DanglingDangling

ModifiersModifiers


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Consider this sentence:Consider this sentence:

Having finished the assignmentHaving finished the assignment,, JillJill

turned on the TV.turned on the TV.


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"Having finished""Having finished"states an action butstates an action but

does not name the doerdoes not name the doerof that action.of that action.

In English sentences, the doer must be theIn English sentences, the doer must be the

subject of the main clause that follows.subject of the main clause that follows.

In this sentence, it is Jill. She seemsIn this sentence, it is Jill. She seems

logically to be the one doing the actionlogically to be the one doing the action

("having finished"), and this sentence("having finished"), and this sentencethereforetherefore does not have a danglingdoes not have a dangling

modifier.modifier.


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Now consider this sentence:Now consider this sentence:

Having finished the assignmentHaving finished the assignment,, the TVthe TV

was turned on.was turned on.


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Having finishedHaving finished is a participle expressingis a participle expressing

action, but the doer is not the TV set (theaction, but the doer is not the TV set (thesubject of the main clause):subject of the main clause):

TV sets don't finish assignments. SinceTV sets don't finish assignments. Sincethe doer of the action expressed in thethe doer of the action expressed in the

participle has not been clearly stated, theparticiple has not been clearly stated, the

participial phrase is said to be aparticipial phrase is said to be a danglingdangling

modifier.modifier.


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Examples of dangling modifiersExamples of dangling modifiers

and revisions:and revisions:with dangling modifier:with dangling modifier:

After reading the original studyAfter reading the original study,, the articlethe article

remains convincing.remains convincing.


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possible revisions:possible revisions:

After reading the original studyAfter reading the original study,, II find thefind thearticle unconvincing.article unconvincing.


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with dangling modifier:with dangling modifier:

Relieved of our responsibilities at your jobRelieved of our responsibilities at your job,,your homeyour home should be a place to relax.should be a place to relax.


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possible revision:possible revision:

Relieved of your responsibilities at your jobRelieved of your responsibilities at your job,, youyou

should be able to relax at home.should be able to relax at home.


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Characteristics of danglingCharacteristics of dangling

modifiers:modifiers:They most frequently occur at theThey most frequently occur at the beginningbeginning ofofsentences (often as introductory clauses orsentences (often as introductory clauses orphrases) but can alsophrases) but can also appear at the endappear at the end..

Example of dangling modifier:Example of dangling modifier:

The experiment was a failure,The experiment was a failure, not having studiednot having studiedthe lab manual carefully.the lab manual carefully.

(The experiment(The experiment----the subject of the main clausethe subject of the main clause----is not supposed tois not supposed tostudy the lab manual.)study the lab manual.)


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possible revision:possible revision:

TheyTheyfailed the experiment,failed the experiment, not having studiednot having studied

the lab manual carefully.the lab manual carefully.

[They often have an[They often have an --ing word (gerund) or a to+verb (infinitive) phraseing word (gerund) or a to+verb (infinitive) phrase

near the start of the sentence.]near the start of the sentence.]


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Strategies for revising danglingStrategies for revising dangling

modifiers:modifiers:1. Name the appropriate or logical doer of1. Name the appropriate or logical doer of

the action as the subject of the main clause:the action as the subject of the main clause:

Having arrived late for practiceHaving arrived late for practice,, a written excusea written excuse

was needed.was needed.

(Who arrived late? This sentence says that the written excuse(Who arrived late? This sentence says that the written excuse

arrived late. To revise, decide who actually arrived late.arrived late. To revise, decide who actually arrived late. ))


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2. Change the phrase that dangles into a2. Change the phrase that dangles into a

complete introductory clause by namingcomplete introductory clause by namingthe doer of the actionthe doer of the action in that clausein that clause::

Without knowing his nameWithout knowing his name,, itit was difficult towas difficult to

introduce him.introduce him.

(Who didn't know his name? This sentence says that "it" didn't know his(Who didn't know his name? This sentence says that "it" didn't know his

name. To revise, decide who was trying to introduce him.name. To revise, decide who was trying to introduce him. ))


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possible revisionpossible revision

Because Maria did not know his name,Because Maria did not know his name,it was difficult to introduce him.it was difficult to introduce him.

(The phrase is now a complete introductory clause; it does(The phrase is now a complete introductory clause; it doesnot modify any other part of the sentence, so is notnot modify any other part of the sentence, so is not

considered "dangling."considered "dangling."))


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3. Combine the phrase and main clause into3. Combine the phrase and main clause into

one:one:

With dangling modifier:With dangling modifier:

To improve his resultsTo improve his results,, the experimentthe experimentwaswas

done again.done again.(Who wanted to improve results? This sentence says that(Who wanted to improve results? This sentence says that

the experiment was trying to improve its own results. Tothe experiment was trying to improve its own results. Torevise, combine the phrase and the main clause into onerevise, combine the phrase and the main clause into one

sentence.)sentence.)

He improved his results by doing theHe improved his results by doing the

experiment again.experiment again.


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Basic Principle:Basic Principle:

Modifiers are like teenagers:Modifiers are like teenagers:

they fall in love with whateverthey fall in love with whatever

they're next to. Make surethey're next to. Make sure

they're next to something theythey're next to something they

ought to modify!ought to modify!


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DANGLING MODIFIERDANGLING MODIFIER

When we begin a sentence with aWhen we begin a sentence with amodifying word, phrase, or clause, wemodifying word, phrase, or clause, wemust make sure the next thing that comesmust make sure the next thing that comes

along can, in fact, be modified by thatalong can, in fact, be modified by thatmodifier. When a modifier improperlymodifier. When a modifier improperlymodifies something, it is called a "danglingmodifies something, it is called a "danglingmodifier." This often happens withmodifier." This often happens with

beginningbeginning participial phrasesparticipial phrases, making, making"dangling participles" an all too common"dangling participles" an all too commonphenomenon. In the sentence below, wephenomenon. In the sentence below, wecan't have a car changing its own oil.can't have a car changing its own oil.


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ConfusionConfusion

Changing the oil every 3,000Changing the oil every 3,000miles, the car seemed to runmiles, the car seemed to run

better.better.

Repair WorkRepair Work

Changing the oil every 3,000Changing the oil every 3,000

miles, Fred found he could getmiles, Fred found he could get

much better gas mileage.much better gas mileage.


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Another example..Another example..

ConfusionConfusion

Changing the oil every 3,000 miles,Changing the oil every 3,000 miles,

there is an easy way to keep your carthere is an easy way to keep your carrunning smoothly.running smoothly.

Repair WorkRepair WorkIf we change the oil every 3,000If we change the oil every 3,000

miles, we can keep our car runningmiles, we can keep our car running

smoothly.smoothly.


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What to do?What to do?

This faulty sentence can beThis faulty sentence can be

remedied by changing theremedied by changing the

participial phrase into a fullparticipial phrase into a full--

fledged clause with a subjectfledged clause with a subject

and verb.and verb.


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But wait theres moreBut wait theres more

A participial phrase followedA participial phrase followed

by aby a Passive VerbPassive Verb is also aptis also apt

to be a dangler because theto be a dangler because thereal actor of the sentence willreal actor of the sentence will

be disguised.be disguised.


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ConfusionConfusion

Changing the oil every 3,000 miles,Changing the oil every 3,000 miles,

the car was kept in excellentthe car was kept in excellentcondition.condition.

Repair WorkRepair WorkChanging the oil every 3,000 miles,Changing the oil every 3,000 miles,

we kept the car in excellent condition.we kept the car in excellent condition.


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And moreAnd more

An infinitive phrase can alsoAn infinitive phrase can also

"dangle." The infinitive phrase"dangle." The infinitive phrase

below should probably modifybelow should probably modifythe person(s) who set up thethe person(s) who set up the

exercise program.exercise program.


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An infinitive phrase can alsoAn infinitive phrase can also

"dangle." The infinitive phrase"dangle." The infinitive phrase

below should probably modify thebelow should probably modify theperson(s) who set up the exerciseperson(s) who set up the exercise

program.program.


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ConfusionConfusion

To keep the young recruits interestedTo keep the young recruits interestedin getting in shape, an exercisein getting in shape, an exercise

program was set up for the summerprogram was set up for the summer

months.months.

Repair WorkRepair Work

To keep the young recruits interestedTo keep the young recruits interestedin getting in shape, the coaching staffin getting in shape, the coaching staff

set up an exercise program for theset up an exercise program for the

summer months.summer months.


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What aboutWhat aboutMISPLACEDMISPLACED

MODIFIER?MODIFIER?

Some modifiers, especially simpleSome modifiers, especially simple

modifiersmodifiers only, just, nearly,only, just, nearly,

barelybarely have a bad habit ofhave a bad habit ofslipping into the wrong place in aslipping into the wrong place in a

sentence. (In the sentence below,sentence. (In the sentence below,

what does it mean to "barely kick"what does it mean to "barely kick"

something?)something?)


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Take a look at these examplesTake a look at these examples

ConfusionConfusion

He barely kicked that ball twentyHe barely kicked that ball twenty

yards.yards.

Repair WorkRepair WorkHe kicked that ball barely twentyHe kicked that ball barely twenty

yards.yards.


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Ready for drills?Ready for drills?


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Application / DrillsApplication / Drills

http://net2.valenciacc.edu/mwhissel/CPT/Enhttp://net2.valenciacc.edu/mwhissel/CPT/En

glish/modifier_quiz01.htmglish/modifier_quiz01.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/qhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/q

uizzes/niu/niu9.htmuizzes/niu/niu9.htm

http://aliscot.com/bigdog/dmmm_exercise.hthttp://aliscot.com/bigdog/dmmm_exercise.ht

mm


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GeneralizationGeneralization

A DANGLING MODIFIER is a word orA DANGLING MODIFIER is a word or

phrase that modifies a word NOTphrase that modifies a word NOT

CLEARLY STATED in the sentence. ACLEARLY STATED in the sentence. A

modifier describes, clarifies, or gives moremodifier describes, clarifies, or gives moredetail about a concept.detail about a concept.


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I hope you learn something newI hope you learn something new

Dangling Modifiers -English Speaking Course Lucknow -

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