Examples of Dangling Participles / Modifiers
- Details
- Category: Examples of Dangling Participles / Modifiers
- Published on Saturday, 01 January 2011 00:00
- Written by erly
- Hits: 385
After being mixed thoroughly,
the baker put the batter in the oven and took a coffee break.
Explanation: This sentence says
the baker and not the batter had been mixed thoroughly.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The baker put the batter in the oven and
took a coffee break after mixing the batter thoroughly.
Hiking along the steep winding trail,
the blue jays chirped loudly and flew away.
Explanation: The sentence says
the blue jays were hiking along the steep winding trail.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The blue jays chirped loudly and flew away because we were hiking along the steep winding trail.
Walking down the country road,
the trees provided a canopy of shade from the midday sun.
Explanation: The sentence says
the trees were walking down the country road.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The trees provided a canopy of shade from the midday sun for everyone walking down the country road.
Upon arriving at the train station,
the sun finally came out from behind the clouds.
Explanation: The sentence says
the sun arrived at the train station.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: When we arrived at the train station, the sun finally came out from behind the clouds.
I saw the mobile home trailers peeking through the window.
Explanation: The sentence says
the mobile home trailers were peeking through the window.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: While I was peeking through the window,
I saw the mobile home trailers.
Lowering the New Year’s TIME ball in New York Times Square,
the countdown began.
Explanation: The sentences says
the countdown was lowering the New Year’s TIME ball.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The countdown began upon lowering the New Year’s TIME ball in New York Times Square.
Walking along the deserted beach,
the sun rose slowly from the horizon.
Explanation: The sentence says
the sun was walking along the deserted beach.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The sun rose slowly from the horizon
while we were walking along the deserted beach.
Driving to school, the car ran out of gas.
Explanation: The sentence says
the car was driving to school.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: As we were driving to school,
the car ran out of gas.
Standing on the sidewalk in the rain,
the bus drove by as we waited.
Explanation: The sentence says
the bus was standing on the sidewalk in the rain.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: While standing on the sidewalk in the rain,
the bus drove by as we waited.
Sitting at the picnic table,
the squirrels scamper up the palm tree.
Explanation: The sentences says
the squirrels were sitting at the picnic table.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: We saw the squirrels scamper up the palm tree while we were sitting at the picnic table.
Biking through the streets of San Francisco,
the crosswalks were crowded with pedestrians
waiting impatiently to cross the intersection.
Explanation: The sentence says
the crosswalks were biking through the streets of San Francisco.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: When we were biking through the streets of San Francisco, we noticed the crowded crosswalks with pedestrians waiting impatiently to cross the intersection.
Growling ferociously as they ate, the spectators gathered
around the lion’s cage.
Explanation: The sentence says
the spectators were growling ferociously as they ate.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The spectators gathered around the lion’s cage when they heard the lions growling ferociously as they ate.
Speeding along in the subway trains,
the stations passed by rather quickly.
Explanation: The sentence says
the stations were speeding along in the subway trains.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The stations passed by rather quickly as we were
speeding along in the subway trains.
Riding the new elevators, the floors whizzed by.
Explanation: The sentence says
the floors were riding the new elevators.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The floors whizzed by
as we were riding the new elevators.
Jetting across the ocean, the clouds floated by at high speed.
Explanation: The sentence says
the clouds were jetting across the ocean.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: While we were jetting across the ocean, we watched the clouds floating by at high speed.
Hiking up the mountain trials, the scenery was
absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.
Explanation: The sentence says
the scenery was hiking up the mountain trails.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: We were amazed at the absolutely breathtakingly beautiful scenery as we were hiking up the mountain.
Watching the parade, the floats were magnificent.
Explanation: The sentence says
the floats were watching the parade.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: We saw how magnificent the floats were while we
watched the parade.
Picking up their children, the wintry rains started
to pour down in bucket-full.
Explanation: The sentence says
the wintry rains were picking up their children.
(which does not make sense)
Rephased: The wintry rains started to pour in bucket full
as the parents were picking up their children.
Texting on her iPod while driving,
the Highway Patrol cop pulled her over and
wrote out a traffic ticket.
Explanation: The sentence says
the Highway Patrol cop
was texting on her iPod while driving.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The Highway Patrol cop pulled her over
and wrote out a traffic ticket
because she was texting on her iPod while driving.
Walking on the catwalk,
the fashion designs were exquisitely tailored.
Explanation: The sentence says
the fashion designs were walking on the catwalk.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The models were walking on the catwalk in
exquisitely tailored fashion designs.
Printing the invoices, the electricity experienced a brownout as
the PC lost power.
Explanation: The sentence says
the electricity was printing the invoices.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: The electricity experienced a brownout as the PC lost power and stopped printing the invoices.
When planning a College Education,
extensive preparation is absolutely a must.
Explanation: The sentence says
extensive preparation is planning a College Education.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: When planning a College education,
a student must absolutely make extensive preparations.
When driving, seat belts must be securely fastened.
Explanation: The sentence says seat belts are driving.
(which does not make sense)
Rephrased: When driving,
our seat belts must be securely fastened.