What is a dangling modifier and how do you fix it?

What is a dangling modifier and how do you fix it?

Most cases of dangling modifiers can be fixed by identifying the subject you want to modify, making sure it’s present, and placing the modifier immediately before or after it in the sentence: “Walking into the room, they encountered an overpowering smell.”

What does a modifier modify?

A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies—that is, gives information about—another word in the same sentence. For example, in the following sentence, the word “burger” is modified by the word “vegetarian”: Example: I’m going to the Saturn Café for a vegetarian burger.

Where are dangling modifiers most likely to occur in a sentence?

Where are dangling modifiers most likely to occur in a sentence? Dangling modifiers often appear at the beginning of the sentence as a participle phrase. A problem arises when these modifying phrases aren’t clearly attached to the subject of a sentence, resulting in ambiguity.

How do you prevent dangling modifiers in academic writing?

The modifier is dangling at the beginning of the sentence with nothing to modify. To avoid a dangling modifier, the writer must clearly express, following the dangling modifier and right after the comma, the word the phrase actually modifies.

How do you know if it is a dangling modifier?

A dangling modifier occurs when the intended subject of the modifier is missing from the sentence, and instead another subject appears in its place. Dangling modifiers often take the form of an introductory phrase that is connected to the wrong thing. Fumbling in her purse, the keys could not be found.

What are the characteristics of dangling modifiers?

Characteristics of dangling modifiers: They most frequently occur at the beginning of sentences but can also appear at the end. dangling modifier at end of sentence: The experiment was a failure, having not studied the lab manual carefully. (The experiment–the subject of the main clause–did not study the lab manual.) possible revision:

What kind of sentence has a dangling modifier?

A dangling modifier occurs when the subject of a modifier is missing from the sentence. Dangling modifiers often take the form of an introductory phrase followed by a clause that doesn’t state the intended subject. Fumbling in her purse, the keys could not be found. Fumbling in her purse, she could not find the keys.

Does your sentence have a dangling modifier?

Make sure the modifier and noun go together logically. If they do not, it is very likely you have a dangling modifier . After identifying the dangling modifier, rewrite the sentence. Painting for three hours at night, Maggie finally finished the kitchen.

Which of these sentences contains a dangling modifier?

The sentence that contains a dangling modifier is B.Born in Germany, America became John Augustus Roebling ‘s Home in 1831. Dangling modifiers are modifiers that are not clear about what they modify.

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