Which Sentence Contains a Dangling Modifier?

A) Walking through the park, the trees were swaying in the breeze.
B) After finishing the book, the television was turned on.
C) To get to the other side of the street, the road was crossed.
D) Running quickly, the finish line was crossed in record time.

Correct Answer: A) “Walking through the park, the trees were swaying in the breeze.”

Explanation:

A dangling modifier is a phrase that doesn’t clearly connect to the subject it’s meant to describe, leading to confusion or illogical meaning.

In option A, “Walking through the park” lacks a clear subject, making it seem as though the trees were walking. The modifier should logically describe the person who is walking, but the sentence makes it sound like the trees are the ones walking.

• Option B: The phrase “After finishing the book” implies that the television finished the book, which is illogical.
• Option C: The phrase “To get to the other side of the street” suggests that the road crossed itself, which doesn’t make sense.
• Option D: The phrase “Running quickly” implies that the finish line was running, which is also incorrect.

Thus, option A contains a dangling modifier because it creates confusion about what or who is performing the action.

Conclusion:

Dangling modifiers can create confusion or illogical meaning in sentences. It’s important to ensure that the subject of the sentence is clearly connected to the modifying phrase to avoid ambiguity and maintain clarity in writing. In this case, the dangling modifier in option A makes it unclear who or what was walking through the park.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a dangling modifier?
A dangling modifier is a descriptive phrase that doesn’t clearly attach to the word or phrase it is meant to modify, leading to confusion or a nonsensical sentence.

Q2: How can I avoid dangling modifiers?
To avoid dangling modifiers, make sure the subject of the main clause is the one performing the action described by the modifier. If necessary, rephrase the sentence to clarify the intended subject.

Q3: Can dangling modifiers be fixed?
Yes! You can correct a dangling modifier by adjusting the sentence structure to clearly link the modifier to the appropriate subject. For example, in option A, the sentence can be corrected as: “Walking through the park, I saw the trees swaying in the breeze.”

Q4: Are dangling modifiers always wrong?
Dangling modifiers are often considered awkward and incorrect because they confuse the reader. It’s generally best to avoid them to ensure clear and effective communication.