CC0040

academic English
workshops
2009-2010
Session 8–
Dangling Modifiers
Wience Lai
ccwience@hkcc-polyu.edu.hk
3746-0170
HHB 1630
Who swing through the
trees?

Swinging through
the trees, the
children watching the
monkeys burst into
giggles.
What is a Dangling Modifier?
A modifier that opens a sentence
must be followed immediately by
the word it is meant to describe;
otherwise it is dangling.

A dangling modifier does not

describe what the author intends
to describe, thus resulting in an
unintended meaning.
 How to correct dangling
modifiers?
1. Add/Place the subject right after the opening word
group .

Swinging through the trees, the monkeys make the

children burst into giggles.
 How to correct dangling
modifiers?
2. Add/Place the subject within the opening word
group .

While the monkeys swing through the trees, the

children burst into giggles.
Part A: Diagnostic Test
 Identify and underline the
dangling modifiers in the
passage.
 Revise these sentences to
eliminate errors of dangling
modifiers in the space between
the lines.
 Part B:
Grammatical principles -
Review
Varying your Sentences with
an Opening Phrase
Avoiding Dangling Modifiers
Varying your Sentences
with an Opening Phrase
 You can make your essay more interesting
by varying your sentences.
 One method is to open your sentences
with introductory phrases, e.g.
 -ed words (past participle phrases),
 -ing words (present participle phrases),
 prepositional phrases,
 “to” word groups (infinitives), etc.
words (Past Participle
Phrases)
Example:
Sentence 1: Mike was awarded the
Outstanding Postgraduate Student
Award.
Sentence 2: He thanked his supervisor for
his continuous support.

Awarded the Outstanding Research

Student Award, Mike thanked his
supervisor for his continuous support.
ing words (Present Participle
Phrases)
Example:
Sentence 1: Katie had put extra efforts
and time in her study this semester.
Sentence 2: She received straight A’s in
all subjects.

Having put extra efforts and time in her

study this semester, Katie received
straight A’s in all subjects.
Opening sentences with
prepositional phrases
Example:
Sentence 1: We were in the discussion
room.
Sentence 2: We reviewed the paragraphs
written by our team members.

In the discussion room, we reviewed

the paragraphs written by our team
members.
“to” word groups
(infinitives)
Example:
Sentence 1: The students want to get five bonus
marks for the research essay.
Sentence 2: They will complete all project
preparation steps before the deadlines.

To get five bonus marks for the research essay,

the students will complete all project
preparation steps before the deadlines.
 Avoiding Dangling Modifiers
 Dangling Modifiers - A modifier that describes or
identifies another word or group of words which is NOT
STATED in the same sentence.
 The writer’s intended meaning is distorted as the reader
attaches the modifier to another word or group of words
which appears in the sentence.
 Dangling modifiers take several forms:
 Opening sentences with -ed words (past participle phrases),
 Opening sentences with -ing words (present participle phrases),
 Opening sentences with prepositional phrases,
 Opening sentences with “to” word groups (infinitives)
word (Past Participle
Phrases)
Dangling Modifier: Awarded the Outstanding
Postgraduate Student Award, Mike’s
supervisor congratulated him.
[It was Mike but not his supervisor who was
awarded the Outstanding Postgraduate
Student Award.]

Revision: As Mike was awarded the Outstanding

Postgraduate Student Award, Mike’s
supervisor congratulated him.
ing word (Present Participle
Phrases)
Dangling Modifier: Having obtained
straight A’s in all subjects, a $10,000
scholarship was received.
[It was not a $10,000 scholarship but
Katie who has obtained straight A’s in
all subjects.]

Revision: Having obtained straight A’s in

all subjects, Katie received a $10,000
scholarship.
Opening sentences with
prepositional phrases
Dangling Modifier: In the discussion
room, the paragraphs written by our
group members were reviewed.
[It was not the paragraphs but we who
were in the discussion room reviewing
the paragraphs.]

Revision:
Revision In the discussion room, we
reviewed the paragraphs written by
each other.
Opening sentences with
“to” word group (infinitives)
Dangling Modifier: To get five bonus marks for
the research essay, all project preparation
steps should be completed before the
deadlines.
[It was not the project preparation steps but the
students who want to get five bonus marks.]

Revision: To get five bonus marks for the

research essay, we need to complete all
project preparation steps before the
deadlines.
Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
Exercise C1: Combine the following pairs of
sentences by using the opener shown in the
bracket.
1. (Opening with an –ed word)
(a) Most of the music recording companies in Hong
Kong are concerned about the appearance rather
than the voice of a potential singer.
(b) They give preference to candidates who are good-
looking.
Suggested answer: Concerned about the
appearance rather than the voice of a potential singer,
most of the music recording companies in Hong Kong
give preference to candidates who are good-looking.
 Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
2. (Opening with an –ing word)
(a) Many Hong Kong people know that having babies incurs
a large sum of expenses.
(b) Many married couples do not plan to have babies.
Suggested answer: Knowing that having babies incurs a large sum
of expenses, many married couples do not plan to have babies.

3. (Opening with a to word group)

(a) Our group wants to finish the project on time.
(b) Regular meetings have been scheduled every week.
Suggested answer: To finish the project on time, our group has
scheduled regular meetings every week.
Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
 Exercise C2: Make sentences using
the modifiers given to you. Then,
circle the word(s) being modified.
1. Having grown up in the 21st century, …
2. To receive an outstanding result in this
academic English course, …
3. Upon graduating from the associate
degree programme, …
4. Tired and exhausted, …
Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
Exercise C3: Identify and underline the
dangling modifiers in the passage.
Then, revise these sentences to
eliminate errors of dangling modifiers
in the space between the lines.
References
Langan, J. (2008). English skills for academic
studies. New York: McGraw-Hill.
End