Understanding a Dangling Modifier (Examples and Exercises)

A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that specifies the meaning of another word in a sentence. It offers details that make a sentence more descriptive and engaging. For example, in a ‘green dress’, the adjective ‘green’ is a modifier describing the noun ‘dress’. In ‘she spoke quietly, the adverb ‘quietly’ is a modifier of the verb ‘spoke’.

A modifier is used correctly in a sentence when it describes, defines, or qualifies its intended subject. On the other hand, if the word the modifier must describe, define, or qualify is missing from the sentence, then the modifier is left dangling. The resulting dangling modifier creates confusion about the meaning of the sentence.

Fixing a dangling modifier is easy. Let’s look at some examples and types of dangling modifiers, and quick fixes to remove them from sentences.

What is an example of a dangling modifier?

Read the sentence below and identify the dangling modifier:

1. Having eaten at Lionel’s Pizza Palace, the restaurant will be a hit among the locals.

It isn’t clear who ate at Lionel’s Pizza Palace. The modifier ‘having eaten at Lionel’s Pizza Palace’ is left dangling.

2. Having eaten at Lionel’s Pizza Palace, I think the restaurant will be a hit among the locals.

It is now clear who ate at Lionel’s Pizza Palace. In the sentence, ‘I think’ is the phrase receiving the modifier.

Types of dangling modifiers

Let’s get more specific by understanding the types of dangling modifiers.

Participle phrases as dangling modifiers

In a participle phrase, the noun/pronoun is the recipient of the action in the phrase. The modifier should connect clearly to the noun/pronoun. When the noun/pronoun acting as the subject in the sentence is missing, the sentence doesn’t make sense.

Example

Grappling his gun, the enemy could not be sighted.

Correction

Grappling his gun, the cowboy could not sight the enemy.

Adjective phrases as dangling modifiers

An adjective phrase is a group of words in which an adjective describing a noun/pronoun appears first. Adjectives are commonly used as modifiers, but when the nouns/pronouns they’re supposed to modify are missing, dangling modifiers occur.

Example

Gratified, the students received congratulations for their passing grades.

Correction

Gratified by the students’ passing grades, the teacher congratulated them.

The teacher was gratified by the students’ passing grades and congratulated them.

How to fix a dangling modifier

The good news is that it’s easy to recognize a dangling modifier in a sentence. Follow these steps to determine if a sentence has a dangling modifier: 

1. Note the modifier phrase appearing before the main clause
2. See what the modifier phrase modifies
3. Check if the modified noun phrase is correct

Let’s understand the steps with an example. Go through the sentence below: 

Having eaten a full meal, it was difficult to stay awake and work.

Spotted a dangling modifier? Now let’s fix it.

1. Modify the main clause

In the example, the subject of the modifier phrase isn’t clear. Place the subject immediately after the modifier phrase to solve the issue.

Correction: Having eaten a full meal, I found it difficult to stay awake and work.

2. Change the modifier phrase

The other option is to add a word to the introductory clause and let the main clause remain the same.

Correction: As I had eaten a full meal, it was difficult to stay awake and work.

3. Revise the sentence

Yet another fix is to move the introductory clause to another place in the sentence.

Correction: I found it difficult to stay awake and work because I had eaten a full meal.

Dangling vs misplaced modifier

A misplaced modifier occurs when the modifier appears too far from the phrase or word it intends to modify.

Example

I saw hundreds of fireflies, looking out the window.

The modifier ‘looking out the window’ dangles too far from the subject ‘I’ it must modify. It is linking more closely to ‘hundreds of fireflies’, causing confusion about who is looking out the window.

Correction

Looking out the window, I saw hundreds of fireflies.

I saw hundreds of fireflies as I looked out the window.

Example

Elegant and smooth, we were taken with the gymnast’s movements.

Correction

Elegant and smooth, the gymnast’s movements wowed us.

Exercise on incorrect modifiers

You should now have a good idea of dangling and misplaced modifiers. Try identifying them in the sentences below and correcting them to form cohesive sentences.

1. Entering the tunnel, the darkness enveloped her.
2. The lawn mower finally worked by replacing the engine.
3. After breaking his leg, his presentation could not be made in the office.
4. Sleeping in the tent, the mosquitoes bit him on his hands and feet.
5. Half baked, she removed the chicken from the oven.
6. While waiting for the bell to ring, the blue bird on the window caught his attention.
7. To get better prices, more product comparisons were made.
8. The police chased the zombies in the squad car.
9. Stuck to the wall, George read the fliers at the bar.
10. Ravenous, the box of cookies was devoured.

Sentence structure

More on sentence structure:

• Dangling modifier
• Transition sentences
• Active voice
• Passive voice
• Adverbial clause
• Parallelism