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The Dangling Modifier

This document discusses dangling modifiers, which occur when a modifier is used without clearly specifying what it is modifying. It provides examples of sentences containing dangling modifiers and how to fix them by adding language to clearly connect the modifier to a subject or object. The key issues are: - Modifiers like adjectives or phrases should directly precede or follow the word they are describing. - Dangling modifiers occur when this is not clear from the sentence structure alone. - To fix dangling modifiers, the sentence usually needs to be restructured to unambiguously connect the modifier to its target. Practice examples are provided and corrected.

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Euis Fadilah
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144 views

The Dangling Modifier

This document discusses dangling modifiers, which occur when a modifier is used without clearly specifying what it is modifying. It provides examples of sentences containing dangling modifiers and how to fix them by adding language to clearly connect the modifier to a subject or object. The key issues are: - Modifiers like adjectives or phrases should directly precede or follow the word they are describing. - Dangling modifiers occur when this is not clear from the sentence structure alone. - To fix dangling modifiers, the sentence usually needs to be restructured to unambiguously connect the modifier to its target. Practice examples are provided and corrected.

Uploaded by

Euis Fadilah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE DANGLING MODIFIER

Recognize a dangling modifier when you see one.

Mrs. Lee
7th Grade Language Arts
What is a modifier?

Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that add description.


In clear, logical sentences, you will often find modifiers right next to—
either in front of or behind—the target words they logically describe.

Read this example:


Horrified, Mom snatched the deviled eggs from Jack, whose fingers
were covered in cat hair.

Notice that horrified precedes Mom, its target, just as deviled sits right
before eggs. Whose fingers were covered in cat hair follows Jack, its
target.
Why do modifiers “dangle” sometime?

Sometimes, however, an inexperienced writer will include a


modifier but forget the target. The modifier thus dangles because
the missing target word leaves nothing for the modifier to describe.

Dangling modifiers are errors. Their poor construction confuses


readers. Look at the sample below:

Hungry, the leftover pizza was devoured.

Hungry is a single-word adjective. Notice that there is no one in the


sentence for this modifier to describe.
Now look at these…

• Rummaging in her giant handbag, the sunglasses escaped detection.

• Rummaging in her giant handbag is a participle phrase. In the current


sentence, no word exists for this phrase to modify.

• Neither sunglasses nor detection has fingers to make rummaging


possible!

• With a sigh of disappointment, the expensive dress was returned to the


rack.

• With a sigh of disappointment is a string of prepositional phrases. If


you look carefully, you do not find anyone in the sentence capable of
feeling disappointed. Neither dress nor rack has emotions!
Know how to fix a dangling modifier:

Fixing a dangling modifier will require more than rearranging the


words in the sentence. You will often need to add something new so
that the modifier finally has a target word to describe:

Hungry, we devoured the leftover pizza.


Rummaging in her giant handbag, Frieda failed to find her
sunglasses.

With a sigh of disappointment, Charlene returned the expensive


dress to the rack.
Now you try it….

1. Scrubbing the tile grout with bleach and an old toothbrush, the mildew stains began to
fade.

2. Rapping the pencil on the edge of the desk, the fourth cause of the French Revolution
would not come to mind.

3. Slathering the popcorn with melted butter, the calorie count skyrocketed.

4. Struggling with the tight jeans, the zipper would not budge.

5. Closing the hotel room door and pulling the heavy suitcase to the elevator, the relaxing
beach vacation came to an end.
Let’s check it…. (This is only one way. There are several
correct ways to fix these errors.)

1. As Jackie scrubbed the tile grout with bleach and an old toothbrush, the mildew stains
began to fade.

2. As Tom rapped the pencil on the edge of the desk, the fourth cause of the French
Revolution would not come to his mind.

3. The calorie count skyrocketed because Jill slathered the popcorn with melted butter.

4. Struggling with the tight jeans, Cindy could not make the zipper budge.

5. The relaxing beach vacation came to an end when Bob closed the hotel room door and
pulled the heavy suitcase to the elevator.
Now try on your own…

1. After centuries of lying on the ocean floor, the treasure hunters


found the Spanish galleon.

2. Watching carefully for hours, the flock of butterflies never


arrived.

3. Thirsty, the glass of water was swallowed in one gulp.

4. Driving down the street, the park came into view.

5. Resolving to study more, the textbooks seemed more interesting.

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