Dangling

Participles
John & Eiko
What is a participle?
A participle is a form of a verb that is used in a sentence to modify a noun, noun
phrase, verb, or verb phrase, and plays a role similar to an adjective or adverb.
Participles come in two varieties: past and present. They are two of the five
forms or principal parts that every verb has.

Present
The “ing” form of a verb.
Example:
› The menacing ogre sings
Smash Mouth.
› The ogres are competing for
limited Smash Mouth CDs.
› Let’s go dancing at the
swamp tonight.
Past
The “ed/en” form of a verb.
Example:
› The frightened donkey
› A hug from an ogre is a surefire
way to brighten your day.
› They had gone to the swamp
prematurely.
› “All Star” was written thousands
of years before it was released.
Participle Phrases
Participle Phrases are phrases that begin with a verb form and
are used to modify nouns and pronouns.
Example:
› Running right on schedule, the train reached
Washington at 4:30 a.m.
› Singing at the top of his lungs, the ogre
declared himself to be an all-star.
Dangling Participles
“A dangling modifier walks into a bar. After finishing a drink, the bartender asks it to leave.”

Dangling Participle is the name given to a participial phrase

that is misplaced and has the effect of modifying the wrong
noun or pronoun.
› Landing at the airport, the reporters surrounded
the president’s plane.
› Having bitten several pedestrians, the owner
forcibly muzzled his dog.
› Wondering irresolutely what to do next, the
clock struck twelve.
 Examples
The subject of the sentence must directly relate to the action in the phrase.

› Wondering irresolutely what

› Wondering irresolutely what to
to do next, I listened as the
do next, the clock struck
clock struck twelve.
twelve.

› Tired of unwanted visitors in › Tired of unwanted visitors in

his swamp, a restraining order his swamp, Shrek filed a
was filed by Shrek. restraining order.
Quiz
1. What are the two forms of participles?

2. TRUE OR FALSE: Flying is a participle.

3. TRUE OR FALSE: Escape is a participle

4. Which of the following is a participle: swam or swum?

5. What makes a participle “dangling”?

(Answers!)
1. Past and present.

2. True!

3. False ):

4. Swum; Swum is one of many irregular participles, along with verbs like
been (base form: be). Ex. Swam vs (have) swum | was/were vs (have) been

5. The participle modifies the wrong subject.

Quiz (cont.)
All but one of these sentences include a dangling modifier. Identify if a
sentence has a dangling modifier. Revise if necessary.

6. Running consistently every day, the workouts steadily became easier.

7. After being whipped fiercely, the cook boiled the egg.

8. Rolling down the hill, my eyes widened as the truck came into view.

9. Low in the water and loaded with cargo, the sailors thought the ship would
sink.

10. Knowing what was at stake, I prepared myself mentally for the ordeal.
(Answers!) Pt.2
6. Running consistently every day, I improved on the workouts.

7. After being whipped fiercely, the egg was then boiled.

8. Rolling down the hill, the truck came into view.

9. Low in the water and loaded with cargo, the ship looked as though it would
sink.

10. No editing needed!