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Dangling Modifier
Phonetics:
dæŋɡl
mɒdɪfaɪə(r)
Pronunciation:
A Guide to Dangling Modifiers
Comprehensive Definition, Description, Examples & Rules
What is a dangling modifier
A dangling modifier is a grammatical error that occurs when a modifying phrase or clause is not clearly and logically connected to the word or phrase it is intended to modify. It “dangles” because it is left without a clear subject to modify, resulting in confusion or ambiguity in the sentence.
Dangling modifiers can cause confusion because they often create illogical or nonsensical meanings in sentences. They can also make it unclear which word or phrase the modifier is supposed to modify, leading to misinterpretation or misunderstanding.
Dangling Modifier Examples
The introductory phrase “Walking through the park” is not logically connected to the subject of the main clause. It is unclear who or what is walking through the park.
Therefore, to correct the dangling modifier, we need to make sure the subject of the main clause is the one doing the action described in the introductory phrase.
The participial phrase “Having finished the book” is not properly connected to the subject of the main clause. It suggests that the movie finished the book, rather than the intended meaning that someone finished the book and then watched the movie.
To rectify the dangling modifier, we should specify the subject who finished the book.
Lastly:
The absolute phrase “Their car broke down” does not have a clear subject to modify. It suggests that the car was broken down, rather than the intended meaning that the people experienced a broken-down car.
To resolve the dangling modifier, we need to provide a subject for the absolute phrase.
In each example, the dangling modifier can be identified by examining the introductory phrase, participial phrase, absolute phrase, or infinitive phrase and determining if it has a clear and logical connection to the subject of the main clause. To fix the dangling modifier, ensure that the subject of the main clause is the one performing the action described in the modifying phrase or clause. By clarifying the subject and their action, the sentence becomes grammatically correct and conveys the intended meaning accurately.
Types of Dangling Modifiers
Split Infinitive Modifiers
When an adverb or adverbial phrase is placed between the word “to” and the verb’s base form in an infinitive phrase, it creates a split infinitive. They can cause dangling modifiers if the adverb or adverbial phrase is intended to modify another word in the sentence but is mistakenly connected to the infinitive instead.
Example: “She decided to quickly run to the store.” The adverb “quickly” is placed between “to” and “run,” but it is unclear whether it modifies “decided” or “run.”
To identify a split infinitive modifier, look for a phrase or adverb that is placed between “to” and the base form of the verb. To fix a split infinitive, you can rearrange the sentence to place the adverb outside the infinitive or choose an alternative adverb placement.
Absolute Phrase Modifiers:
An absolute phrase is a phrase that modifies the entire sentence rather than a specific word, consisting of a noun or pronoun followed by a participle or participial phrase. They can become dangling modifiers if they are not clearly connected to the subject or main idea of the sentence.
Example: “Their voices raised in excitement, the news was announced.” The absolute phrase “Their voices raised in excitement” is not logically connected to the subject of the sentence, causing ambiguity.
To identify an absolute phrase modifier, look for a phrase that starts with a noun or pronoun followed by a participle. To fix a dangling absolute phrase, ensure that the subject of the sentence is the one taking the action described in the absolute phrase.
Gerund Modifiers:
A gerund is a verb form that functions as a noun, ending in “-ing.” Gerund modifiers can become dangling modifiers if they are not logically connected to the subject of the sentence or if it is unclear which noun the gerund is modifying.
Example: “Running down the street, his hat flew off.” The gerund phrase “Running down the street” does not clearly indicate who or what is running.
To identify a gerund modifier, look for a verb form that ends in “-ing” functioning as a noun. To fix a dangling gerund modifier, ensure that the subject of the sentence is the one performing the action described by the gerund.
Infinitive Modifiers:
An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by the word “to.” Infinitive modifiers can become dangling modifiers if they are not logically connected to the subject of the sentence or if it is unclear which noun the infinitive is modifying.
Example: “To pass the test, studying is necessary.” The infinitive phrase “To pass the test” is not properly connected to the subject of the sentence, causing confusion.
To identify an infinitive modifier, look for the base form of a verb preceded by “to.” To fix a dangling infinitive modifier, ensure that the subject of the sentence is the one performing the action described by the infinitive.
Participial Modifiers:
A participle is a verb form used as an adjective, ending in “-ing” (present participle) or “-ed” (past participle). Participial modifiers can become dangling modifiers if they are not logically connected to the noun they are intended to modify or if there is no clear noun for them to modify.
Dangling Participle Examples: “Driving down the street, the accident happened.” The participial phrase “Driving down the street” does not have a clear noun to modify and is not logically connected to “the accident happened.”
To identify a participial modifier, look for an “-ing” or “-ed” verb form that functions as an adjective. To fix a dangling participial modifier, ensure that the noun being modified is clear and placed correctly in relation to the participle. For example, you could say, “While driving down the street, they witnessed the accident.”
Common Dangling Modifier Errors
There are errors that are commonly made while using dangling modifiers. These include:
Incorrect Placement of Modifiers:
Dangling modifiers can occur when a modifying phrase or clause is placed in the wrong position in a sentence, resulting in a lack of clarity or incorrect modification.
Example: “After finishing my dinner, the TV was turned on.” The modifying phrase “After finishing my dinner” is incorrectly placed before the subject “the TV,” creating confusion about who finished the dinner.
Carefully analyze the placement of the modifying phrase or clause and ensure it is placed close to the word it intends to modify. In the given example, you could fix it by saying, “After finishing my dinner, I turned on the TV.”
Unclear Referent:
Dangling modifiers can arise when it is unclear which word or phrase in a sentence the modifying phrase is intended to modify, leading to confusion or misinterpretation.
Example: “While jogging, the scenery looked beautiful.” It is unclear whether “the scenery” or the person jogging is intended to find the scenery beautiful.
To clarify the unclear referent, review the sentence and identify the noun or phrase that the modifying phrase should logically modify. To clarify the referent, rephrase the sentence to make the connection clear. In this case, you could say, “While jogging, I noticed that the scenery looked beautiful.”
Incorrect Use of Participles:
Dangling modifiers can occur when participles are used incorrectly, resulting in unclear or illogical connections between the participle and the noun it modifies.
Example: “Exhausted from the long day, the bed was a welcome sight.” The participle “exhausted” should logically modify the person, not the bed.
To fix this ensure that the participle correctly modifies the intended noun or subject in the sentence. In this case, you could say, “Exhausted from the long day, I found the bed a welcome sight.”
Incorrect Use of Infinitives:
Dangling modifiers can arise when infinitives are used incorrectly, leading to unclear or illogical connections between the infinitive and the noun it modifies.
Example: “To solve the problem, teamwork is essential.” The phrase, “to solve the problem” should logically affect the participants, not cooperation as a concept.
To fix this, you have to verify that the infinitive correctly modifies the intended noun or subject in the sentence.
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Key Takeaways
- Dangling modifiers occur when a modifying phrase or clause is not logically connected to the word or phrase it is intended to modify.
- Dangling modifiers can cause confusion and ambiguity in sentences.
- Examples of dangling modifiers include phrases like “Walking through the park, the birds chirped happily,” “Having finished the book, the movie was watched,”
- To fix a dangling modifier, ensure that the subject of the main clause is the one performing the action described in the modifying phrase or clause.
- Split infinitive modifiers occur when an adverb or adverbial phrase is inserted between the “to” and the base form of the verb in an infinitive phrase.
- Absolute phrase modifiers modify the entire sentence and can become dangling modifiers if not properly connected to the subject or main idea.
- Gerund modifiers are verb forms that function as nouns, ending in “-ing.”
- Infinitive modifiers are the base form of a verb preceded by “to.”
- Participial modifiers are verb forms used as adjectives, ending in “-ing” or “-ed.”
- Common errors with dangling modifiers include incorrect placement of modifiers, unclear referents, incorrect use of participles, and incorrect use of infinitives.
Quiz
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Frequently Asked Questions
To correct a sentence with a dangling modifier, you need to ensure that the modifier is properly connected to the word it is intended to modify. This can be done by rephrasing the sentence, rearranging the words, or adding the necessary information to clarify the intended meaning. Pay attention to the placement of the modifier and make sure it is logically and grammatically connected to the intended word.
Yes, a sentence can have multiple dangling modifiers. Each dangling modifier should be addressed individually by clarifying its intended meaning and connection to the appropriate word or phrase in the sentence.
To avoid using dangling modifiers in your writing, consider the following tips:
- Clearly identify the word or phrase that the modifier is intended to modify.
- Place the modifier as close as possible to the word it is modifying.
- Read your sentences carefully to ensure that the intended meaning is clear and there is no confusion or ambiguity.
To ensure that your modifiers are correctly placed in a sentence, follow these guidelines:
- Place the modifier directly next to the word or phrase it is intended to modify.
- Read your sentence aloud and check if the placement of the modifier creates clarity and accurately conveys your intended meaning.
- If there is any ambiguity or confusion, rephrase the sentence or modify the placement of the modifier to achieve clarity.
Yes, a modifier can modify more than one word in a sentence if it is structured and placed appropriately. However, it is important to ensure that the modifier’s meaning is clear and that it grammatically fits with all the words it is modifying.
Yes, practicing exercises and activities can be helpful in understanding and identifying dangling modifiers. Edulyte is a good resource to help you understand the dangling modifier. Get yourself an Edulyte tutor today.
Common words or phrases that may indicate a dangling modifier include “after,” “while,” “being,” “having,” “without,” and “to.” When these words or phrases are followed by a verb or verb phrase, it is important to ensure that the intended subject of the verb is clear and properly connected.
Yes, in creative writing or literature, writers sometimes use dangling modifiers intentionally for stylistic purposes or to create a certain effect. However, in formal or academic writing, it is generally advisable to avoid using dangling modifiers as they can lead to confusion and ambiguity.
No, a misplaced modifier and a dangling modifier are not the same, although they both involve issues with the placement of modifiers. A misplaced modifier is one that is located in the wrong position in a sentence, leading to confusion or ambiguity. In contrast, a dangling modifier is a modifier that does not have a clear word or phrase to modify.
Dangling modifiers are considered grammatically incorrect because they result in unclear or illogical sentence structures. However, it is worth noting that there are instances in informal or creative writing where intentional use of a dangling modifier may be accepted for artistic or rhetorical purposes.
