Grammar Lesson Ten: Avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers

The problem of "misplaced" or "dangling" modifiers can mar your writing. This is also a grammar skill that is often tested on standardized tests. Sentences containing phrases must be constructed in such a way so that those phrases are located in the right place in the sentence. A phrase that is misplaced often appears to modify the wrong word. This can cause confusion! It can also create some pretty amusing mistakes! The most common mistakes involve gerund or participial phrases. Here are some correct examples:

1. gerund phrase---- Swimming in a sea of blood was the punishment of the violent.

In this sentence the phrase Swimming in a sea of blood functions as the subject of the sentence.

2. participial phrase ---- Swimming in a sea of blood, the sinner choked and coughed.

In this sentence Swimming in a sea of blood works like an adjective and modifies the word sinner.

Participles can be either be present (ending in -ing) or past (ending usually in ed, d, n, or t).

Confused? Don't be. But look at the examples below for some real confusion! All of the sentences below are wrong. Explain why they are wrong and then correct them. Think about what each sentence really says!

1. While rowing the boat across the river, the violent waters gurgled and churned.

2. Climbing down the body of Satan, the view of hell was overwhelming.

3. Being a hypocrite, a leaden robe was what the sinner was forced to wear.

4. Being guilty of lust, the wind in Circle Two howled and wailed.

5. Walking down the steep and winding path, the Marsh of the Styx smelled terrible.

6. Being a sinner, I cringe at the punishments of Dido, Diomede, and Boniface.

 Answers!

These are suggested answers. There are several correct ways to fix these sentences.

1. While rowing the boat across the river, the violent waters gurgled and churned.

What's wrong? The way this sentence is written, it sounds as if the waters are rowing the boat. Recast the sentence with a clear subject to "link" to the modifier. That way, it won't "dangle" unattached.

Correct: While Charon rowed across the river, the violent waters gurgled and churned.

2. Climbing down the body of Satan, the view of hell was overwhelming.

What's wrong? Again, this sentence has no clear subject. It sounds as if the "View of hell" is climbing down Satan's body.

Correct: As Dante and Virgil climbed down the body of Satan, they saw an overwhelming view of hell.

3. Being a hypocrite, a leaden robe was what the sinner was forced to wear.

What's wrong? This construction makes it sound as if the robe is a hypocrite!

Correct: Those guilty of the sin of hypocrisy were forced to wear leaden robes.

4. Being guilty of lust, the wind in Circle Two howled and wailed.

What's wrong? Can a wind be lustful? Of course not!

Correct: Being guilty of lust, the sinners in Circle Two were thrown about by a howling and wailing wind.

5. Walking down the steep and winding path, the Marsh of the Styx smelled terrible.

What's wrong? This says the Marsh of the Styx is walking down the path!

Correct: While Dante and Virgil walked down the steep and winding path, they smelled the terrible stench of the Marsh of Styx.

6. Being a sinner, I cringe at the punishments of Dido, Diomede, and Boniface.

What's wrong? Actually, this sentence could be correct -- if you want to confess to all that you are a sinner!

What's the difference in meaning in this sentence?

I cringe at the punishments of the sinners Dido, Diomede, and Boniface.

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