1、Dangling ModifiersSentence emphasisWords that are made of verbs but dont act like verbs are called verbals.There are three types of verbals:participles,infinitives and gerunds.A participle is a verb form used as an adjective to modify nouns and pronouns,or as an adverb to modify verbs,adjectives or
2、other adverbs.Participles come in two forms:the present participle(V-ing)and the past participle(V-ed).If you are not sure whether you should use present participle or past participle,you can turn the phrase into a sentence.Right sentence ensures right choice.Many adverbial clauses can be reduced to
3、 participial phrases,especially when they share the subject with the main clause.If you following this road,you will find the bus stop.Following this road,you will find the bus stop.When he reads in the final pages of the novel,the readers hair stands on end.Reading in the final pages of the novel,t
4、he readers hair stands on end.After he was nominated for the award,he got above himself.Nominated for the award,he got above himself.Because it had been submerged years ago,the village no longer existed.Submerged years ago,the village no longer existed.The action that is occurring in the participial
5、 phrases should relate back to the subject.That is,the subject of the sentence should be doing the action.If this is not the case,the result is a dangling modifier.This often happens with beginning participial phrases or infinitive phrases.You can correct it by:1.naming the appropriate or logical do
6、er of the action as the subject of the main clause;2.changing the phrase that dangles into a complete introductory clause by naming the doer of the action in that clause;bining the phrase and main clause into one.1.While cleaning his gun,it went off unexpectedly.2.Approaching the woods,a cabin will
7、come into your sight.3.After looking out the window for hours,the rain passed.4.Tearing the curtains apart,there was no one hiding there.5.Getting here on time,but there were hardly any guests left.6.Shouting loudly,the hills resounded.7.Sitting under an apple tree one night,an idea came to Newton.8.To swim properly,a course of instruction is necessary.9.When a small boy,his parents were very strict with him.10.Being a holiday,children are going to have a picnic.
