Dangling Modifiers

Review

Modifier- one of more words that describe another word or word group.

Ex. My cousin has a cat with all white fur.

Dangling Modifiers

• Have no word in the sentence to describe• Often begin a sentence• Ex-

Sitting in the dentist’s chair, the sound of the drill awakened Larry’s old fears.

Sitting in the dentist’s chair is the modifier, but it is followed by the sound of the drill, so it sounds like the sound of the drill is sitting in the dentist’s chair!

RULE:

When a modifier STARTS a sentence, it MUST be immediately followed by the word or words it describes!

Example

Sitting in the dentist’s chair, the sound of the drill awakened Larry’s old fears.In this sentence, what is the modifier supposed to describe?Larry

Since the word Larry (Larry’s is not the same) is not in the sentence, you can’t just change the order

How to Correct

• 2 ways• Method 1-

Follow the dangling modifier with the word or words it is meant to modify

Ex-Sitting in the dentist’s chair, Larry found that

the sound of the drill awakened his old fears.Now the modifier is no longer dangling!!

Directions: write down the following sentence, then correct it using method 1

Depressed and disappointed, running away seemed the only thing for me to do.

Corrected:Depressed and disappointed, I felt that running

away was the only thing for me to do.

How to Correct

• Method 2-Add a subject and verb to the opening word group

Ex-As Larry was sitting in the dentist’s chair, the

sound of the drill awakened his old fears.

Directions: write down the following sentence, then correct it using method 2

Depressed and disappointed, running away seemed the only thing for me to do.

Corrected:Because I was depressed and disappointed, running away seemed like the only thing for me to do.