Dangling Modifiers

​Digital SAT

Grammar Section

Lesson 9

​Dangling Modifiers

​Dangling modifiers are words or phrases that do not clearly and logically refer to the word or words they are intended to modify. They often appear at the beginning of a sentence and can create confusion because they seem to be referring to something that isn't actually in the sentence. This can make the meaning of the sentence unclear or awkward.

Example of a Dangling Modifier:

Incorrect: Running to catch the bus, the book fell out of my bag.

(It sounds like the book was running to catch the bus.)

Correct: Running to catch the bus, I dropped the book out of my bag.

(Now it's clear that I was the one running to catch the bus, not the book.)

​Another Example:

Incorrect: After reading the book, the movie was a disappointment.

(It sounds like the movie read the book.)

Correct: After reading the book, I found the movie to be a disappointment.

(Now it's clear that I read the book and found the movie disappointing.)

To avoid dangling modifiers, make sure the modifier clearly and logically refers to a word or phrase that is actually in the sentence.

​Practice

​1. After finishing the book, the movie was disappointing
2. Driving to the store, the rain started pouring down.
3. While walking in the park, the birds chirped loudly.
4. Having worked all day, dinner was a welcome break.
5. To improve her skills, the computer was used daily.
6. Upon entering the room, the smell of cookies was overwhelming.
7. While taking a shower, the phone rang.
8. Jogging through the neighborhood, the new houses looked impressive.
9. Waiting for the bus, a car splashed mud on my shoes.
10. Hiking the trail, the birds chirped cheerfully.
11. To reach the top shelf, a ladder was needed.
12. After eating too much cake, the gym was necessary.

​1. After finishing the book, I found the movie disappointing.
2. While I was driving to the store, the rain started pouring down.
3. While I was walking in the park, the birds chirped loudly.
4. Having worked all day, I found dinner to be a welcome break.
5. To improve her skills, she used the computer daily.
6. Upon entering the room, I found the smell of cookies overwhelming.
7. While I was taking a shower, the phone rang.

8. Jogging through the neighborhood, I thought the new houses looked impressive.
9. While I was waiting for the bus, a car splashed mud on my shoes.
10. While I was hiking the trail, the birds chirped cheerfully.
11. To reach the top shelf, she needed a ladder.
12. After eating too much cake, I found going to the gym necessary.