English for Academic Studies (Workshop) Session 8: Dangling ModifiersSemester 1, 2009/10 ©PolyU HKCC1
Session 8: Dangling ModifiersPart A: Diagnostic Test
Identify and underline the dangling modifiers in the following passage. Then,revise these sentences to eliminate errors of dangling modifiers in the spacebetween the lines.Home Alone
Every day, thousands of children in Hong Kong come home after school to anempty apartment. Thinking that it is safe to leave children at home alone, manychildren are left at home alone while their parents go to work. In fact, if left on theirown, children can get hurt easily. Children are always full of energy. If leftunsupervised, their boredom may make them try every means to have fun. Curiousabout everything, they may play with hot objects and burn themselves accidentally.Missing their parents, the children may climb to the window to find out whether theirparents are coming home or not. If forgotten to close the windows, the children mayfall out and lose their life. In addition, children are too young to distinguish certainthings such as alcohol and water. If not put in a proper place, children may drink alcohol by mistake.
Part B: Grammatical Sentences - ReviewCombining Sentences for Sentence Variety: Beginning with anOpening Phrase
Varying the kinds of sentences you write can make your essay more interesting andeffective. One method you may use to improve sentence variety is to open yoursentences with introductory phrases, e.g. -ed words (past participle phrases), -ingwords (present participle phrases), prepositional phrases, “to” word groups(infinitives), etc.
English for Academic Studies (Workshop) Session 8: Dangling ModifiersSemester 1, 2009/10 ©PolyU HKCC2
Opening sentences with –ed words (Past Participle Phrases)
Example:
Sentence 1:
Mike
was awarded the Outstanding Postgraduate Student Award.Sentence 2:
He
thanked his supervisor for his continuous support.
Awarded the Outstanding Research Student Award, Mike thanked his supervisorfor his continuous support.
Opening sentences with –ing words (Present Participle Phrases)
Example:
Sentence 1:
Katie
had put extra efforts and time in her study this semester.Sentence 2:
She
received straight A’s in all subjects.
Having put extra efforts and time in her study this semester, Katie receivedstraight A’s in all subjects.
Opening sentences with prepositional phrases
Example:
Sentence 1:
We
were in the discussion room.Sentence 2:
We
reviewed the paragraphs written by our team members.
In the discussion room, we reviewed the paragraphs written by our team members.
Opening sentences with “to” word groups (infinitives)
Example:
Sentence 1:
The students
want to get five bonus marks for the research essay.Sentence 2:
They
will complete all project preparation steps before the deadlines.
To get five bonus marks for the research essay, the students will complete allproject preparation steps before the deadlines.
Dangling Modifiers
- A modifier that describes or identifies another word orgroup of words which is NOT STATED in the same sentence. The writer’s intendedmeaning is distorted as the reader attaches the modifier to another word or group of words which appears in the sentence. Dangling modifiers take several forms:
Opening sentences with –ed word (Past Participle Phrases)
Awarded the Outstanding Postgraduate Student Award, Mike’s supervisorcongratulated him.
[It was Mike but not his supervisor who was awarded theOutstanding Postgraduate Student Award.]
Revision: As Mike was awarded the Outstanding Postgraduate Student Award, Mike’ssupervisor congratulated him.
English for Academic Studies (Workshop) Session 8: Dangling ModifiersSemester 1, 2009/10 ©PolyU HKCC3
Opening sentences with –ing word (Present Participle Phrases)
Having obtained straight A’s in all subjects, a $10,000 scholarship was received.
[It was not a $10,000 scholarship but Katie who has obtained straight A’s in allsubjects.]
Revision: Having obtained straight A’s in all subjects, Katie received a $10,000scholarship.
Opening sentences with prepositional phrases
In the discussion room, the paragraphs written by our group members werereviewed.
[It was not the paragraphs but we who were in the discussion roomreviewing the paragraphs.]
Revision: In the discussion room, we reviewed the paragraphs written by each other.
Opening sentences with “to” word group (infinitives)
To get five bonus marks for the research essay, all project preparation steps shouldbe completed before the deadlines.
[It was not the project preparation steps but thestudents who want to get five bonus marks.]
Revision: To get five bonus marks for the research essay, we need to complete all project preparation steps before the deadlines. Note: To correct errors of dangling modifiers, you may change the dangling modifier to a subordinate clause or change the subject of the main clause to the one that themodifier can appropriately attach to. There is no single exact way to revise eachsentence. The above revisions are only suggestions.
Part C: Concept Boosting Exercises
Exercise C1:
Combine the following pairs of sentences by using the opener shownin the bracket.
1.
(Opening with an –ed word)(a)
Most of the music recording companies in Hong Kong are concerned about theappearance rather than the voice of a potential singer.(b)
They give preference to candidates who are good-looking.2.
(Opening with an –ing word)(a)
Many Hong Kong people know that having babies incurs a large sum of expenses.(b)
Many married couples do not plan to have babies.
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Workshop Session 8 Dangling Modifiers
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