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Dangling Constructions . Syntax of the English Language 2013.2. " Looking around the yard, dandelions sprouted in every corner." "Eating like a hungry hippo, the pancakes disappeared from my plate within seconds." "Running after the school bus, the backpack bounced from side to side.".
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Dangling Constructions Syntax of the English Language 2013.2
"Looking around the yard, dandelions sprouted in every corner." • "Eating like a hungry hippo, the pancakes disappeared from my plate within seconds." • "Running after the school bus, the backpack bounced from side to side." In order to understand the concept, take a look at some examples first:
The constructions at the beginning set up for a noun that doesn’t exist. They are called dangling constructions. The structures dangle because they hang out there loosely with nothing to support. Are there any problem(s) in the sentences above?
e.g. 1 LOOKING AROUND THE YARD, DANDELIONS SPROUTED IN EVERY CORNER. • Who is looking around the yard? • Not the dandelions! • We know that the participle "looking" really refers to someone that could be "I", for example. FIXED CONSTRUCTIONLOOKING AROUND THE YARD, I COULD SEE THAT DANEDLIONS SPROUTED IN EVERY CORNER.
e.g. 2 EATING LIKE A HIPPO, PANCAKES DISAPPEARED FROM MY PLATE WITHIN SECONDS. • Who is eating? • Not the pancakes! FIXED CONSTRUCTIONEATING LIKE A HUNGRY HIPPO, I MADE THE PANCAKES DISAPPEAR…
e.g.3 RUNNING AFTER THE SCHOOL BUS, BACKPACK BOUNCED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. • Who is running? • Not the backpack! FIXED CONSTRUCTIONRUNNING AFTER THE SCHOOL BUS, THE GIRL FELT HER BACKPACK BOUNCE…