Dangling Modifiers

Dangling Modifiers

Poll

How confident do you feel about dangling modifiers?

• I have absolutely no clue.

• I'm okay with them, but I could still use some clarification.

• I hate to brag, but I'm pretty good at dangling modifiers.

• I AM A GENIUS when it comes to dangling modifiers.

A dangling modifier

is a modifier that isn't clearly attached to another part of the sentence.​

• ​Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence

  ​

• In most cases, a dangling modifier appears at the beginning of the sentence, although it can also come at the end.​

While driving on Abbeville Avenue yesterday afternoon, a tree began to fall toward the car.​

EXAMPLE:​

​As it is written, it sounds like the tree is driving. By simply adding in a subject (noun or pronoun), the meaning is no longer "dangling" and becomes clear.

Corrected: While Jenny was driving on Abbeville Avenue yesterday afternoon, a tree began to fall toward her car.

Strolling through the park, the fox peered out from behind the tree.

EXAMPLE:​

​As it is written, it sounds like a fox is strolling through the park and peering out from behind a tree. Let's add in a subject to fix it.

Corrected: Strolling through the park, I saw a fox peering at me from behind the tree.

Multiple Choice

While chatting on the phone, the doorbell rang.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Boiling in hot water, Kerri stirred the rice.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Studying for weeks, the test was easy.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Heaped up next to the hamper, I began doing the laundry.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Poll

The meal was forgotten welcoming the visitors.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Running across the dining room floor, I lost my balance after slipping on a rug.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Caught in the net, I examined the lovely sand dollar.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Nervously straightening his tie and smoothing his hair, the time to pick up his date for the dance had arrived.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Feeling nervous, nails were bitten.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Chasing his sister, Billy fell and bruised his knee.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Multiple Choice

Running scared, the cat climbed up the tree.

• Dangling

• Misplaced

• Correct

Open Ended

Correct the dangling modifier:

Playing around, the lamps got broken.

Open Ended

Correct the dangling modifier:

Driving home, our car got a flat tire.

Open Ended

Correct the dangling modifier:

Waiting for my friend, the weather turned bad.

Open Ended

Correct the dangling modifier:

Taking out the garbage, snow started to fall.

Open Ended

Correct the dangling modifier:

Dashing through the snow, a stone upset the sleigh.