Correcting Dangling Modifiers

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Correcting Dangling Modifiers
What is a dangling modifier? How to fix dangling
modifiers Participial phrases Infinitive
phrases Review A Review B
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What is a dangling modifier?
A modifier should clearly and sensibly modify
another word or word group.
But look at this sentence
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While wrapping the gifts, our cat kept trying to
play with the bows.
Who or what was wrapping the gifts?
The cat?
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What is a dangling modifier?
A dangling modifier is a modifier that doesnt
clearly and sensibly modify another word or word
group.
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Peering at the map, the streets looked unfamiliar.
Lost, the guide book was consulted.
To find the hotel, help would be needed.
Does help have to find the hotel?
Was the guide book lost?
Were the streets peering at the map?
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What is a dangling modifier?
Dangling modifiers often occur at the beginning
of a sentence. When a sentence begins with a
participial phrase or infinitive phrase, use
these steps to tell if the phrase is dangling.
Step 1 Look at the word or word group right
after the comma.
Participial phrase
Checking in the mirror, the makeup looked good.
Checking in the mirror, the makeup looked good.
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What is a dangling modifier? Participial phrases
A participial phrase is used as an adjective and
consists of a participle and any complements or
modifiers the participle has.
Participial phrase
Mimicking his owner, the parrot whistled.
Participial phrase
The parrot kept in that cage has been sold.
Both participial phrases modify the noun parrot.
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What is a dangling modifier? Infinitive phrases
An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive
and any complements or modifiers the infinitive
has. The entire phrase can be used as a noun, an
adjective, or an adverb.
Infinitive phrase
The teams desire to win the game was obvious.
The infinitive phrase to win the game is used as
an adjective to modify the noun desire.
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What is a dangling modifier?
Step 2 Ask yourself, Does it make sense for the
phrase to modify the word or word group after the
comma?
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Dangling modifier
Participial phrase
Checking in the mirror, the makeup looked good.
Was the makeup checking in the mirror?
No, it doesnt make sense for the participial
phrase to modify makeup.
If the phrase doesnt sensibly modify the word
after the comma, you probably have a dangling
modifier.
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What is a dangling modifier?
Try it out with this sentence
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Dangling modifier
Having selected a college, a trip to the campus
was planned.
Which word or word group follows the comma?
trip
Does it make sense that the trip has selected a
college?
The phrase is a dangling modifier.
NO.
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What is a dangling modifier?
Identify the dangling modifier in each of the
following sentences. Be prepared to explain why
it is a dangling modifier.
1. Living in New York City, noise has to be
tolerated.
2. To solve the problem, patience is necessary.
3. Trying to write a story on the computer, my
dog Buster kept pawing my arm.
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What is a dangling modifier?
Identify the dangling modifier in each of the
following sentences. Be prepared to explain why
it is a dangling modifier.
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1. Living in New York City, noise has to be
tolerated.
Which word or word group follows the comma?
noise
Does it make sense that noise lives in New York
City?
NO
The phrase is a dangling modifier.
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What is a dangling modifier?
Identify the dangling modifier in each of the
following sentences. Be prepared to explain why
it is a dangling modifier.
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2. To solve the problem, patience is necessary.
Which word or word group follows the comma?
patience
Does it make sense that patience is solving a
problem?
NO
The phrase is a dangling modifier.
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What is a dangling modifier?
Identify the dangling modifier in each of the
following sentences. Be prepared to explain why
it is a dangling modifier.
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3. Trying to write a story on the computer, my
dog Buster kept pawing my arm.
Which word or word group follows the comma?
dog
Does it make sense that the dog was trying to
write a story on the computer?
NO
The phrase is a dangling modifier.
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What is a dangling modifier?
On Your Own
Circle the word or word group that appears to be
modified by the boldfaced word or phrase. Then,
determine whether the boldfaced word or phrase is
a dangling modifier. Write D for a dangling
modifier or C if the modifier is correct. ___
1. Thirsty and weary, the stream was a welcome
sight. ___ 2. Convinced of the prisoners
innocence, the judge ruled that he should be set
free. ___ 3. Riding in the glass-bottomed boat,
hundreds of beautiful fish could be seen.

End of Section
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What is a dangling modifier?
Answers
Circle the word or word group that appears to be
modified by the boldfaced word or phrase. Then,
determine whether the boldfaced word or phrase is
a dangling modifier. Write D for a dangling
modifier or C if the modifier is correct. ___
1. Thirsty and weary, the stream was a welcome
sight. ___ 2. Convinced of the prisoners
innocence, the judge ruled that he should be set
free. ___ 3. Riding in the glass-bottomed boat,
hundreds of beautiful fish could be seen.
D

C
D
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How to fix dangling modifiers
To fix a dangling modifier, you will need to make
the meaning logical and clear.
Strategy 1 Revise the word group that follows
the dangling modifier.
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Dangling modifier
While sitting on the porch, we heard the rain
begin to fall.
While sitting on the porch, the rain began to
fall.
Now the modifier while sitting on the porch
logically and clearly modifies the subject we.
Was the rain sitting on the porch?
No. A logical subjectsuch as weneeds to follow
the comma.
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How to fix dangling modifiers
Strategy 2 Revise the dangling modifier itself.
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Dangling modifier
While we were sitting on the porch, the rain
began to fall.
While sitting on the porch, the rain began to
fall.
Adding we were to the dangling modifier makes the
meaning clear. Now the modifier clearly and
sensibly modifies the verb began.
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How to fix dangling modifiers
Dangling modifiers often occur when the verb in a
sentence is in the passive voice.
Grammar Guy Says...
Passive voice
A short drive was taken by us.
The action is done to the subject, drive.
Active voice
We took a short drive.
The action is done by the subject, we.
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How to fix dangling modifiers
Changing a sentence from the passive voice to the
active voice often eliminates a dangling modifier.
Grammar Guy Says...
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Passive voice
Having waxed the car, a short drive was taken by
us.
Active voice
Having waxed the car, we took a short drive.
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How to fix dangling modifiersParticipial phrases
Strategy 1 Revise the word group after the
participial phrase. Add a noun or pronoun that
the phrase can modify.
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Participial phrase
Adding some frosting, the cake was finished.
Participial phrase
Adding some frosting, I finished the cake.
Now the participial phrase clearly and sensibly
modifies the pronoun I.
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How to fix dangling modifiersParticipial phrases
Strategy 2 Change the participial phrase into a
clause.
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Participial phrase
Adding some frosting, the cake was finished.
Adverb clause
After I added some frosting, the cake was
finished.
Now the adverb clause modifies the verb was
finished, telling when the cake was finished.
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How to fix dangling modifiers
A clause is a word group that contains a verb and
its subject.
verb
subject
subject
verb
The train left the station
before they arrived
The train left the station.
The train left the station before they arrived.
Independent clause
Subordinate clause

• An independent clause expresses a complete
  thought and can stand by itself as a complete
  sentence.

• A subordinate clause does not express a complete
  thought and cannot be a sentence. It must be
  attached to an independent clause.

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How to fix dangling modifiersParticipial phrases
Participial phrases that seem to modify
possessive nouns or pronouns are dangling
modifiers. Reword the sentence to avoid using the
possessive form.
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Participial phrase
Washing them repeatedly, Lady Macbeths hands
still appear bloody.
Participial phrase
Washing her hands repeatedly, Lady Macbeth still
sees blood on them.
Now the phrase sensibly modifies the noun Lady
Macbeth.
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How to fix dangling modifiersInfinitive phrases
Strategy 1 Revise the word group after the
infinitive phrase. Add a noun or pronoun as the
subject.
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Infinitive phrase
To win this election, your support will be needed.
Infinitive phrase
To win this election, I will need your support.
Now the infinitive phrase clearly and sensibly
modifies will need, telling why I will need your
support.
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How to fix dangling modifiersInfinitive phrases
Strategy 2 Change the infinitive phrase into a
clause.
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Infinitive phrase
To win this election, your support will be needed.
Adverb clause
If I am to win this election, your support will
be needed.
Now the adverb clause modifies the verb will be
needed, telling why your support will be needed.
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How to fix dangling modifiers
Revise each sentence to correct the underlined
dangling modifier.

1. While walking on Spring Avenue, an accident
   occurred.

1. To improve the yard, a tree could be planted.

3. Puzzled by the speakers statement, a sea of
hands rose in the audience.
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How to fix dangling modifiers
Revise each sentence to correct the underlined
dangling modifier.
Possible Answers

1. While walking on Spring Avenue, I witnessed an
   accident.

While walking on Spring Avenue now modifies the
pronoun I.

1. While I was walking on Spring Avenue, an accident
   occurred.

While I was walking on Spring Avenue now modifies
occurred.
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How to fix dangling modifiers
Revise each sentence to correct the underlined
dangling modifier.
Possible Answers

1. To improve the yard, you could plant a tree.

1. To improve the yard, plant a tree.

In the original sentence the infinitive phrase
seemed to modify tree. In these revised sentences
a logical subjectyouhas been added. (You is the
understood subject in the second sentence.)
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How to fix dangling modifiers
Revise each sentence to correct the underlined
dangling modifier.
Possible Answers
3. Puzzled by the speakers statement, many
members of the audience raised their hands.
Now the participial phrase sensibly modifies the
noun members.
3. After the speaker made his statement, a sea of
hands rose in the audience.
The adverb clause that has been created sensibly
modifies rose.
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How to fix dangling modifiers
On Your Own
Revise each sentence to correct the dangling
modifier. 1. Alone in the house, every little
noise made her jump. 2. To win this game, hard
work will be necessary. 3. After cleaning the
bathroom, Matts next chore was to sweep the
floors. 4. Opening my umbrella, the rain stopped.
End of Section
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How to fix dangling modifiers
Possible Answers
Revise each sentence to correct the dangling
modifier. 1. Alone in the house, every little
noise made her jump. 2. To win this game, hard
work will be necessary. 3. After cleaning the
bathroom, Matts next chore was to sweep the
floors. 4. Opening my umbrella, the rain stopped.
1. Alone in the house, she jumped at every little
noise.
2. To win this game, our team will have to work
hard.
3. After he cleaned the bathroom, Matts next
chore was to sweep the floors.
4. As I opened my umbrella, the rain stopped.
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Review A
Identify each dangling modifier. If a sentence
does not have a dangling modifier, label it C.
1. To make a good grade, homework must be done on
time.
2. Foggy and rainy, the driver could barely see
the road.
3. While touring the ruins, good walking shoes
are essential.
4. Carrying the camping gear, we found the hike
up the mountain tiring.
5. The front door was a welcome sight, exhausted
after a long day.
End of Section
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Review A
Identify each dangling modifier. If a sentence
does not have a dangling modifier, label it C.
1. To make a good grade, homework must be done on
time.
2. Foggy and rainy, the driver could barely see
the road.
3. While touring the ruins, good walking shoes
are essential.
4. Carrying the camping gear, we found the hike
up the mountain tiring.
C
5. The front door was a welcome sight, exhausted
after a long day.
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Review B
Revise each sentence to correct the dangling
modifier.
1. To hang the picture on the wall, a nail will
be needed.
2. Disappointed, it was time to start the project
all over.
3. The kite soared into the air while running
across the field.
4. Finishing the chores early, there was time to
read before bed.
5. Considering the evidence carefully, the
defendant was found guilty.
End of Section
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Review B
Possible Answers
Revise each sentence to correct the dangling
modifier.
1. To hang the picture on the wall, a nail will
be needed.
1. To hang the picture on the wall, you will need
a nail.
2. Disappointed, it was time to start the project
all over.
2. Disappointed, he started the project all over.
3. The kite soared into the air while I was
running across the field.
3. The kite soared into the air while running
across the field.
4. Finishing the chores early, there was time to
read before bed.
4. Finishing the chores early, he had time to
read before bed.
5. Considering the evidence carefully, the
defendant was found guilty.
5. After the jury considered the evidence
carefully, the defendant was found guilty.
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The End