DANGLING MODIFIER

By: Selamat H. Napitupulu

Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris

Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni
UNIVERSITAS INDRAPRASTA PGRI JAKARTA
 Dangling Modifier
A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept. Dangling modifier
is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.

The dangling modifier is an introductory word group of: participle, gerund, infinitive, or
elliptical clause that does not refer logically to the noun or pronoun that follows it.

When the word modified is missing from the sentence, the modifier is left dangling.
Example:

Dangling Modifier Correct

Selling his soul to the devil, his • After Jack sells his soul to the devil, his
life becomes a series or life becomes a series of triumphs and
triumphs and pleasures. pleasures.
(Who sold his soul?)
 Dangling Present Participle or Present Participle Phrase

No Present Participle Phrase Sentences

1 Washing the dishes Washing the dishes, Albert felt a sense of satisfaction.
2 Laying eggs Laying eggs, Lucy chased the hen out of the coup
3 Enjoying views from the balcony Enjoying views from the balcony, the birds sang a sweet morning
song to me
4 Sitting in the back row, Sitting in the back row, She couldn't see the board well.
5 Mowing the lawn Mowing the lawn, I got grass clippings all over my face.
6 Having been notified by the court Having been notified by the court, Melissa reported for jury
duty.
7 Sighing with sadness Sighing with sadness, the man returned the expensive shoes to
the salesman
8 Walking across the field Walking across the field, the fat boy saw the rive
9 Drilling my tooth Drilling my tooth, my dentist stopped my cavity from aching.
10 Crashing on the shore Crashing on the shore, I could hear the waves
 Dangling Present Participle or Present Participle Phrase
No Dangling Modifier / Incorrect Corrections
1 Entering the room, finding the light Entering the room, I found the light off.
off.
2 Walking in the park, it was bitten by a Walking in the park, he was bitten by a snake.
snake.
3 Deleting the last of the spam emails, Deleting the last of the spam emails, I had finally
having finally cleaned my inbox. cleaned my inbox.
4 Taking the last bite of turkey from Taking the last bite of turkey from Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving dinner, would surely be dinner, I would surely be in for a long nap.
in for a long nap.
5 Guiding us through the museum, Guiding us through the museum, the director
gaing us a special explanation. gave us a special explanation.
6 Crossing the street, almost struck us. Crosseing the street , a car almost struck us.
7 Flying out the window, he grabbed Flying out the window, the papers were grabbed
the papers. by him.
 Dangling Past Participle or Past Participle Phrase

No Past Participle Sentences

Phrase
1 Soaked from the rain Soaked from the rain, we got on the bus.
2 Framed and hung Framed and hung, the painting lit up the room.
3 Disturbed by the Disturbed by the sounds, Chester ran out of the
sounds house.
4 Destroyed in the Destroyed in the accident, my car was taken away
accident by the mechanics.
5 Exhausted after a Exhausted after a long day’s work, my sister fell
long day’s work asleep on the sofa.
 Dangling Present Participle or Past Participle Phrase
No Dangling Modifier / Incorrect Corrections
1 Surfeited with life's pleasures, the Surfeited with life's pleasures, Jack forgets the
consequences for eternity are forgotten. consequences for eternity.
2 Tired and exhausted, a nap was taken by the Tired and exhausted, the passer-by took a nap.
passer-by.
3 Worn out by a long walk, fainted. Worn out by a long walk, she fainted.

4 Disgusted by greasy cafeteria food, my lunch Disgusted by greasy cafeteria food, I brought a salad and
consisted of a salad and an apple. an apple for lunch.

5 Tired of my lateness, the note was written Tired of my lateness, my teacher demanded to see an
and handed in. excuse note.
6 Unbeaten, the regular season championship Unbeaten, the wildcats claimed the regular season
was over. championship.
7 Drunk beyond good sense, an accident was Drunk beyond good sense, he faced an inevitable
inevitable. accident
8 Attacked by an angry mob, the gashes in the Attacked by an angry mob, the boy suffered life-
boy’s throat were life-threatening. threatening gashes in his throat.
 Dangling Perfect Participle Phrase
No Dangling Modifier / Incorrect Corrections
1 Having arrived late for practice, a Having arrived late for practice, the team captain needed a
written excuse was needed. written excuse.
2 Having been distributed the papers, Having been distributed the papers, the committee members
the problem was discussed by the discussed the problem.
members of the committee. (After the secretary had distributed the papers, the committee
members discussed the problem).
3 Having finished their supper, went Having finished their supper, the boys went out to play.
out to play. (After the boys had finished their supper, they went out to play)

4 Having written his composition, his Having written his composition, Philips handed it to his teacher.
composition handed to his teacher. (After Louie had written his composition, Louie handed it to his
teacher)
5 Not having read the book, the Not having read the book, Laura could not answer the question.
question could not answer with (Because she had not read the book, she could not answer the
Laura. question.)
 Dangling To Infinitive
No To infinitive Sentences
Phrase
1 To understand the To understand the subject, someone must do a great deal of studying.
subject
2 To get the access To get the access, you must register first.
3 To make a good To make a good cup of coffee, one must begin with high-quality coffee
cup of coffee beans.
4 To write a novel To write a novel during his vocation, Joshua must focus on reading first.
during his
sabbatical.
5 To eat organic To eat organic foods right from her own backyard, mam Maria is planting
foods right from a vegetable garden
her own backyard
 Dangling To Infinitive
No Dangling / Incorrect Correct
1 Power and pleasure seemed to Power and pleasure seemed to carry Sir. Jacob 's mind away from
carry Sir. Jacob's mind away from reality so that he forgot about a future in hell.
reality to forget about a future in
hell.
2 To become a physician, aptitude To become a physician, one needs to have aptitude and to work
and hard work are needed. hard.
3 To become a good To become a good photographer, you must use the camera
photographer, the camera must carefully.
be used carefully.
4 To play the guitar well, practice To play the guitar well, it is necessary to practice regularly
is necessary regularly.
5 To become a movie star, talent To become a movie star, the movie player must come into play
and luck must come into play. talent and luck.
6 To find out the facts, an To find out the facts, some body must consult with an
encyclopedia must be consulted. encyclopedia.
7 To rain for the Boston marathon, To rain for the Boston marathon, Mr. Lukas is running 5 miles a
running is 5 miles a day. day.
 Dangling Adjective Phrase
Adjectives are the most common types of modifiers that used to modify a noun , noun
phrase and pronoun, which placed before of them.
Examples:
• The quiet night was disturbed by unholy shrieks. (quiet is adjective which modifies ‘
night’ as a noun)
• Wolves prowled the eerie forest. ( eerie is adjective which modifies ‘ forest’ as a noun)
• Howling wolves prowled the hills above our home. (howling is adjective which modifies ‘
wolves’ as a noun)
• The big white house that located on Jl. Mulia is my house. (big white are adjective
phrase which modifies ‘ house’ as a noun)
• The beautiful tall slim girl with a nice glass works at Bank. (beautiful tall slim are
adjective phrase which modifies ‘ house’ as a noun)
 Dangling Adjective Phrase
No Dangling / Incorrect Correct
1 Young and inexperienced, Young and inexperienced, I thought the task easy.
the task seemed easy to
me.
2 Old and pervert, fourth Old and pervert, he didn’t think the fourth marriage to
marriage seemed not to be criticizing.
criticize to him.
3 Herat broken, the Herat broken, the children learned that the amusement
amusement park had to park had to close for repairs.
close for repairs.
4 Wonderfully talented , we Wonderfully talented , the architect impressed us with
were impressed by the his plans.
plans.
5 Small but expensive, Jana Small but expensive, the house wasn't right for Jana.
was reluctant to buy.
 Dangling Prepositional Phrase
No Dangling / Incorrect Correct
1 After reading the original study, the After reading the original study, I find the
article remains unconvincing. article unconvincing.
2 While lying under a tree, a bee stung While John was lying under a tree, a bee stung
his left ear. his left ear.
3 That is behavior I simply cannot That is behavior with which I simply cannot
deal with deal.
4 The idea I am thinking of is The idea of which I am thinking is particularly
particularly good. good.
5 With hundreds of lines to memorize, Franklin
With hundreds of lines to memorize, was overwhelmed by the role of Faustus.
the role of Faustus is overwhelming. Because there are hundreds of lines to
memorize, the role of Faustus is
overwhelming
 Dangling Prepositional Phrase

No Dangling / Incorrect Correct

6 After spending all day playing in . After spending all day playing in the
the snow, the crackling fireplace snow, we received some much needed
brought much needed warmth. warmth from the crackling fireplace.
7 Before singing the school song, a Before singing the school song, the
poem was recited. students recited a poem
(before the students san……..)
8 After jumping out a boat, the After jumping out a boat, the man was
shark bit the man. bitten by a shark.
 Dangling Elliptical Clause

No Incorrect Correct
1 He is a better drummer than I He is a better drummer than me
2 Corin and Alicia can’t sing as Corin and Alicia can’t sing as loudly as they.
loudly as them.
3 My brother is a faster runner than My brother is a faster runner than he.
him.
4 Evan is just as excited about seeing Evan is just as excited about seeing the movie as I .
the movie as me.
5 Danielle does math problems more Danielle does math problems more quickly
quickly than him. than he.
6 We haven’t traveled as We haven’t traveled as extensively as they .
extensively as them.
 Dangling Elliptical Clause

No Dangling / Incorrect Correct

1 Though only five, hamburgers were Though only five, John had already found out that
already John's favorite choice of hamburgers were his favorite choice of food.
food.
2 When fishing, my hook is always When fishing, I always bait my hook.
baited. When I am fishing, my hook is always baited.
3 Although only four years old, my Although I was only four years old, my father
father insisted that I learn to read. insisted that I learn to read.
 16

FINISH & Complete !!!

‘ THANKS ‘