Examples of Dangling Modifiers

Many dangling modifiers appear at the beginning of a sentence. It's easy to lose track of the word they're modifying in these cases, particularly when the sentence begins with a participial phrase. Take a look at several examples of participial phrases that have become dangling modifiers in their sentences. The modifiers are bolded, while the words they modify are underlined.

When a present participial phrase isn't followed by the noun it's modifying, the resulting sentence just doesn't make sense. Unlike a misplaced modifier, the subject isn't in the wrong place — it's just gone.

• Dangling modifier - Hoping to garner favor, my parents were unimpressed with the gift.
• Correction - Hoping to garner favor, my new boyfriend brought my parents a gift, but they were unimpressed.

The first sentence includes a dangling modifier because it is unclear who or what was hoping to garner favor. It's certainly not the parents, since they were unimpressed! When you add a proper subject such as "my new boyfriend," it's clear who was hoping to garner favor.

You'll also find past participial phrases without their subjects. You have a few options for correcting these modifiers, all of which involve some rewriting.

• Dangling modifier - Tired of my lateness, the note was written and handed in.
• Correction - Tired of my lateness, my teacher demanded to see an excuse note.

The phrase "tired of my lateness" modifies the teacher, who is missing from the original sentence. You can fix this dangling modifier by making the teacher the subject of the sentence.

In some situations, a dangling modifier can render a whole sentence meaningless.

• Dangling modifier - Stuck standing in line, the elevator slowed everyone down.
• Correction - Stuck standing in line for the elevator, we were getting impatient.

Elevators can't stand in line. Logically, it's "people" who are stuck standing in line, but with the way this sentence is structured, grammatically that phrase must refer to "the elevator," making the sentence nonsensical. Changing the direct object "people" to the subject "we" and adding a prepositional phrase ("for the elevator") clears up any misunderstanding.

A dangling modifier isn't always a whole phrase. Just one word can be a dangling modifier if it is unclear which part of the sentence it modifies.

• Dangling modifier - Unbeaten, the regular season championship was over.
• Correction - Unbeaten, the Wildcats claimed the regular season championship.

The past participle "unbeaten" is left dangling here, apparently modifying the noun "the regular season championship." Since championships can't be unbeaten, the modifier is dangling. Reordering the sentence clarifies who is unbeaten (the Wildcats).

Starting sentences with prepositional phrases is also an effective way to vary your sentence style. They can modify nouns, or they can function as adverb phrases to modify a verb. However, they need to come right before the words they modify to avoid becoming dangling modifiers.

Prepositional phrases provide more information about a noun in the sentence. The trick is to make sure the noun it's modifying is obvious.

• Dangling modifier - After reading the great new book, the movie based on it is sure to be exciting.
• Correction - After reading the great new book, Anna thought the movie based on it was sure to be exciting.

We are left wondering exactly who read the great new book. The phrase can't possibly be modifying the movie, since the movie can't read. Adding a subject (Anna) allows the reader to know who has read the book.

Dangling prepositional phrases can make inanimate objects seem like they're alive.

• Dangling modifier - With one last look at the room, the door closed.
• Correction - With one last look at the room, my dad closed the door.

The door didn't take one last look at the room, but who did? Adding "my dad" (or another subject) to the sentence makes it clear who is actually performing the action in the sentence.

Sometimes you'll find a dangling modifier at the end of the sentence.

• Dangling modifier - The car's engine finally worked by fixing the transmission.
• Correction - By fixing the transmission, my sister finally got the car's engine to work.

The car's engine didn't fix its own transmission. Adding "my sister" as a subject is a good way to correct this dangling modifier. Since prepositional phrases should be closer to the subject they modify, moving "by fixing the transmission" to the front of the sentence also helps you avoid fixing a misplaced modifier.

Adjectives are the most common types of modifiers. For example, "The big" doesn't make sense without telling what is big, which leaves "big" as a dangling modifier. However, "the big dog" is a complete phrase. Adjectives and adjective phrases can become dangling modifiers when they don't have anything to modify.

Starting your sentence with an adjective is an effective stylistic choice. But if the noun it modifies is missing, you've got a dangling modifier.

• Dangling modifier - Heartbroken, the amusement park had to close for repairs.
• Correction - Heartbroken, the children learned that the amusement park had to close for repairs.

Unless your story is about an amusement park that is self-aware, you need a subject to be "heartbroken." Adding "the children" into the sentence clarifies what you're trying to say.

Adjectives are a great way to give compliments to someone. But be sure that that person comes right after your adjective, or you may accidentally give that compliment to yourself!

• Dangling modifier - Wonderfully talented, we were impressed by the plans.
• Correction - Wonderfully talented, the architect impressed us with his plans.

Who exactly is "wonderfully talented" here? Adding the subject "the architect" to your sentence helps the reader understand exactly who you're talking about.

Check out one more example of an adjective phrase that's missing a subject. It conveys a much different message than the writer intends.

• Dangling modifier - Small but expensive, Jana was reluctant to buy.
• Correction - Small but expensive, the house wasn't right for Jana.

Surely Jana isn't the "small but expensive" noun in this sentence! Adding "the house" as the subject to the sentence keeps this adjective phrase from being a dangling modifier.

Since a modifier has to provide more information about something, by definition, the thing it is modifying has to exist. It seems pretty obvious and intuitive when written in a simple sentence. However, sentences aren't always simple. Take a look at different sentence variety examples you can use that may result in dangling modifiers. You can also check out the 18 most common grammar mistakes that may be affecting your writing.