Mangling Modifiers 1.Misplaced Modifiers 2.Dangling Modifiers.
Dangling Modifiers -English Speaking Course Lucknow -
Transcript of 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