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Dangling Modifiers
When a clause is reduced in such a manner that there is no obvious word for it to refer to, then an error called a dangling modifier (dg) results. In other words, a dangling modifier is an unattached expression within a sentence, usually at the beginning but sometimes at the end. Three major types of dangling modifiers exist: the dangling participial phrase, the dangling infinitive phrase, and the dangling elliptical clause.
Although there are many ways to correct dangling modifiers, two are most common. The first is to leave an introductory phrase as it is and revise the main clause so that the subject of the immediately following main clause does the action indicated in the reduced clause. (Frequently a change from a passive sentence pattern to an active one--or the reverse--will eliminate a dangling modifier.) The second way is to expand the dangling modifier into an absolute construction or a dependent clause which contains the true referent of the participle, infinitive, or elliptical clause. Following are examples of dangling modifiers and of ways to correct them. Note that even though all of the changes indicated are correct English some are better than others. Try to avoid passives, for instance.
The Dangling Participial Phrase:
Faulty: Hearing the door opening, the surprise party began.
Correct: Hearing the door opening, the guests began the surprise party. (present participial phrase referring to guests)
Correct: When the door was heard opening, the surprise party began. (adverb clause)
Correct: When the guests heard the door opening, the surprise party began. (adverb clause)
Correct: The guests hearing the door open, the surprise party began. (absolute construction)
Faulty: On finding the door unlocked, it was opened cautiously.
Correct: On finding the door unlocked, Bill opened it cautiously. (present participial phrase referring to Bill )
Correct: Found unlocked, the door was opened cautiously. (past participial phrase referring to door )
Correct: The door found unlocked, Bill opened it cautiously. (absolute construction)
Faulty: The building was entered after replacing the broken lock.
Correct: The building was entered after the janitor replaced the broken lock. (adverb clause)
Correct: The building was entered after the lock had been replaced. (adverb clause)
Correct: After replacing the broken lock, the janitor entered the building. (present participial phrase referring to janitor)
Correct: The janitor entered the building after replacing the broken lock. (present participial phrase referring to janitor)
Correct: The janitor having replaced the broken lock, the tenants entered the building. (absolute construction)
Faulty: Siriwan and Lim told Phong the truth about the broken window, having thought long and hard. (more than one possible referent for the participle)
Correct: Having thought long and hard, Siriwan and Lim told Phong the truth about the broken window. (phrase moved before the subject to clarify reference)
Correct: Siriwan and Lim told Phong the truth about the broken window after they had thought long and hard. (adverb clause)
The Dangling Infinitive Phrase:
Faulty: To answer the questions quickly, the driving manual must be studied carefully.
Correct: For the questions to be answered quickly, the driving manual must be studied carefully. (passive infinitive phrase with its own subject)
Correct: To answer the questions quickly, you must study the driving manual carefully. (infinitive phrase referring to you)
Correct: For you to answer the questions quickly, study the driving manual carefully. (infinitive phrase with its own subject repeating the understood subject of the main clause, you)
Faulty: To find the solution, books on the subject must be looked for.
Correct: For you to find the solution, books on the subject must be looked for. (infinitive phrase with its own subject)
Correct: To find the solution, you must look for books on the subject. (infinitive phrase referring to you)
Correct: To find the solution, look for books on the subject. (infinitive phrase referring to the understood subject you)
The Dangling Elliptical Clause:
Faulty: When five years old, Mary's grandmother took her on her first airplane trip.
Correct: When Mary was five years old, Mary's grandmother took her on her first airplane trip. (adverb clause)
Correct: When five years old, Mary was taken on her first airplane trip by her grandmother. (reduced adverb clause referring to Mary)