Dangling Modifiers

1. Dangling Modifiers Dangling Participial Modifiers ---- flattened by the impact, Jane surveyed her wrecked bike. ---- running down the street, my nose felt frozen. 1) Jane surveyed her wrecked bike, which was flattened by the impact. 2) Running down the street, I felt as though my nose were frozen. Dangling Gerunds in Prepositional phrases After hiking all day, the mountain seemed no nearer. Before touching her toes, her muscles were already loose. After we hiked all day, the mountain seemed no nearer. Before touching her toes, she felt her muscles were already loose.

2. Dangling Modifiers Dangling Infinitive Modifiers ---- to be well-informed, reading widely is necessary. ---- to get up early, the clock was set at six. 1) If you want to be well-informed, reading widely is necessary. 2) To get up early, he set the clock at six. Dangling Abbreviated Clauses When full of gas, he found the car rode uncomfortably. While absorbed in reading, someone knocked at the door. When it was full of gas, he found the car rode uncomfortably. While absorbed in reading, he heard a knocking at the door.

3. Dangling Modifiers • Practice • Write a D in the blank to the left of the sentence if the italicized modifier in it dangles. • ___ To succeed in business, a responsible job must be held. • ___ A responsible job must be held to succeed in business. • ___ To succeed in business, one must hold a responsible job. • 2) ___ Speeding along the highway, the sign was just a blur. • ___ The sign, as we sped along the highway, was just blur. • ___ speeding along the highway, we saw the sign as a mere blur. • 3) ___ Through signing my name, a legal commitment was made. • ___ Through signing my name, I made a legal commitment. • ___ Thrown by the angry horse, he bruised his knee on a rock. • ___ Thrown by the angry horse, the rock bruised his knee. • ___ Although compassionate, her selfishness could not be condoned. • ___ Although compassionated, her father could not condone her selfishness. • ___ Her father could not condone her selfishness, although he was compassionate.

4. Dangling Modifiers • Practice • Write a D in the blank to the left of the sentence if the italicized modifier in it dangles. • 6)__ Rolling in the gutter, Senator Riley glimpsed a bright object. • __ Senator Riley glimpsed a bright object rolling in the gutter. • 7)__ The papers grew heavier while delivering them. • __ The papers grew heavier as I delivered them. • 8)__ If the roses were still alive, he was to fertilize them. • __ If still alive, the roses were to be fertilized. • __ IF stil alive, he was to fertilize the roses. • 9)__ Holding a python, the zoo director looked down from the screen. • __ The zoo director looked down from the screen, where he was shown holding a python. • __ Holding a python, we looked up at the zoo director on the screen. • 10) __ The pigs entertained the visitors rooting in their trough. • ___ Rooting in their trough, the pigs entertained the visitors.

5. Dangling Modifiers • Practice • 2. Identify and underline the modifiers that dangle and then revise the sentences to correct them. • To hull walnuts, they should be fully ripe. • Flying steadily faster, the helicopter passed overhead. • Though polluted, I am still fond of the river near Memphis. • He held out his hand to the small terrier holding the leash behind his back. • When driven hard, small-displacement cars tend to overheat. • The crowd stood around the acrobats and some jugglers watching intently. • By sitting on the porch, the affairs of the community can be monitored. • While riding the bus, I have met some interesting people. • Encouraged by his record, the firm offered him an extended appointment for the fall. • Begun in the time of Augustus, the archeology department from MIT is supervising the excavation of an unfinished North African temple.