Dangling Dangling ModifiersModifiers

Consider this sentence:Consider this sentence:

Having finished the assignmentHaving finished the assignment, , JillJill turned on the TV.turned on the TV.

"Having finished""Having finished" states an action but states an action but does not name the doerdoes not name the doer of that action. of that action.

In English sentences, the doer must be the In 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 seems In this sentence, it is Jill. She seems logically to be the one doing the action logically to be the one doing the action ("having finished"), and this sentence ("having finished"), and this sentence therefore therefore does not have a dangling does not have a dangling modifier.modifier.

Now consider this sentence:Now consider this sentence:

Having finished the assignmentHaving finished the assignment, , the TVthe TV was turned on.was turned on.

Having finishedHaving finished is a participle expressing is a participle expressing action, but the doer is not the TV set (the action, but the doer is not the TV set (the subject of the main clause): subject of the main clause):

TV sets don't finish assignments. Since TV sets don't finish assignments. Since the doer of the action expressed in the the doer of the action expressed in the participle has not been clearly stated, the participle has not been clearly stated, the participial phrase is said to be a participial phrase is said to be a dangling dangling modifier.modifier.

Examples of dangling modifiers Examples 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.

possible revisions:possible revisions:

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

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.

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.

Characteristics of dangling Characteristics of dangling modifiers:modifiers:

They most frequently occur at the They most frequently occur at the beginningbeginning of of sentences (often as introductory clauses or sentences (often as introductory clauses or phrases) but can also phrases) 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 studied the lab manual carefully.the lab manual carefully.

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

possible revision:possible revision:

They They failed the experiment, failed the experiment, not having studiednot having studied the lab manual carefully.the lab manual carefully.

[They often have an -ing word (gerund) or a to+verb (infinitive) phrase [They often have an -ing word (gerund) or a to+verb (infinitive) phrase near the start of the sentence.]near the start of the sentence.]

Strategies for revising dangling Strategies for revising dangling modifiers:modifiers:

1. Name the appropriate or logical doer of 1. 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. ) )

2. Change the phrase that dangles into a 2. Change the phrase that dangles into a complete introductory clause by naming complete introductory clause by naming the doer of the action the doer of the action in that clausein that clause::

Without knowing his nameWithout knowing his name, , itit was difficult to was 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. ) )

possible revision…possible 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 does not modify any other part of the sentence, so is not not modify any other part of the sentence, so is not considered "dangling."considered "dangling." ) )

3. Combine the phrase and main clause into 3. Combine the phrase and main clause into one:one:

With dangling modifier:With dangling modifier:

To improve his resultsTo improve his results, , the experimentthe experiment was was 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. To the experiment was trying to improve its own results. To revise, combine the phrase and the main clause into one revise, combine the phrase and the main clause into one sentence.)sentence.)

He improved his results by doing the He improved his results by doing the experiment again.experiment again.

Basic Principle:Basic Principle:

Modifiers are like teenagers: Modifiers are like teenagers: they fall in love with whatever they fall in love with whatever they're next to. Make sure they're next to. Make sure they're next to something they they're next to something they ought to modify!ought to modify!

DANGLING MODIFIERDANGLING MODIFIERWhen we begin a sentence with a When we begin a sentence with a modifying word, phrase, or clause, we modifying word, phrase, or clause, we must make sure the next thing that comes must make sure the next thing that comes along can, in fact, be modified by that along can, in fact, be modified by that modifier. When a modifier improperly modifier. When a modifier improperly modifies something, it is called a "dangling modifies something, it is called a "dangling modifier." This often happens with modifier." This often happens with beginning beginning participial phrasesparticipial phrases, making , making "dangling participles" an all too common "dangling participles" an all too common phenomenon. In the sentence below, we phenomenon. In the sentence below, we can't have a car changing its own oil. can't have a car changing its own oil.

ConfusionConfusion Changing the oil every 3,000 Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car seemed to run miles, the car seemed to run better. better.

Repair WorkRepair Work Changing the oil every 3,000 Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, Fred found he could get miles, Fred found he could get much better gas mileage.much better gas mileage.

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 car there is an easy way to keep your car running smoothly. running smoothly.

Repair WorkRepair Work If we change the oil every 3,000 miles, If we change the oil every 3,000 miles, we can keep our car running smoothly.we can keep our car running smoothly.

What to do?What to do?

This faulty sentence can be This faulty sentence can be remedied by changing the remedied by changing the participial phrase into a full-participial phrase into a full-fledged clause with a subject fledged clause with a subject and verb. and verb.

But wait… there’s more…But wait… there’s more…

A participial phrase followed A participial phrase followed by a by a Passive VerbPassive Verb is also apt is also apt to be a dangler because the to be a dangler because the real actor of the sentence will real actor of the sentence will be disguised. be disguised.

ConfusionConfusion Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, the car was kept in excellent the car was kept in excellent condition. condition.

Repair WorkRepair Work Changing 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.

And more…And more…

An infinitive phrase can also An infinitive phrase can also "dangle." The infinitive phrase "dangle." The infinitive phrase below should probably modify below should probably modify the person(s) who set up the the person(s) who set up the exercise program. exercise program.

An infinitive phrase can also An infinitive phrase can also "dangle." The infinitive phrase "dangle." The infinitive phrase below should probably modify the below should probably modify the person(s) who set up the exercise person(s) who set up the exercise program. program.

ConfusionConfusion To keep the young recruits interested To keep the young recruits interested in getting in shape, an exercise in getting in shape, an exercise program was set up for the summer program was set up for the summer months. months.

Repair WorkRepair Work To keep the young recruits interested To keep the young recruits interested in getting in shape, the coaching staff in getting in shape, the coaching staff set up an exercise program for the set up an exercise program for the summer months.summer months.

What about…What about…MISPLACED MISPLACED MODIFIER?MODIFIER?

Some modifiers, especially simple Some modifiers, especially simple modifiers — modifiers — only, just, nearly, only, just, nearly, barelybarely — have a bad habit of — have a bad habit of slipping into the wrong place in a slipping 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?)

Take a look at these examples…Take a look at these examples…

ConfusionConfusion He barely kicked that ball twenty He barely kicked that ball twenty yards.yards.

Repair WorkRepair Work He kicked that ball barely twenty He kicked that ball barely twenty yards.yards.

Ready for drills?Ready for drills?

Application / DrillsApplication / Drills

http://net2.valenciacc.edu/mwhissel/CPT/Enhttp://net2.valenciacc.edu/mwhissel/CPT/English/modifier_quiz01.htmglish/modifier_quiz01.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/niu/niu9.htmquizzes/niu/niu9.htm

http://aliscot.com/bigdog/http://aliscot.com/bigdog/dmmm_exercise.htmdmmm_exercise.htm

GeneralizationGeneralization

A DANGLING MODIFIER is a word or A DANGLING MODIFIER is a word or phrase that modifies a word NOT phrase that modifies a word NOT CLEARLY STATED in the sentence. A CLEARLY STATED in the sentence. A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept.detail about a concept.

I hope you learn something I hope you learn something new…new…