Have you ever heard of a dangling participle? It doesn't sound like a good thing, does it? Well, it certainly isn't something you want in your writing. Let's look at why that is the case.
First, we need to talk about what exactly a "participle" is. Every complete sentence will have a subject and a verb. Verbs can take many forms (past, present, or future, for example). A present participle verb is one that ends in "-ing." Some examples of present participle verbs are "running," "cooking," "sleeping," and "eating."
Here's a case of the dreaded dangling participle.
While sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of Tim's table.
Why is that not a correctly written sentence? Look at that phrase in the beginning of the sentence ("while sleeping"). Who or what is that phrase really meant to describe? It's meant to describe Tim. He's the one who was sleeping. However, here's where the problem occurs. Due to the way the sentence is written, it implies that it was the alarm clock that was sleeping! Isn't that silly?
To fix that dreaded dangling participle, you can reword your sentence. Here are a few examples of a correct way to express that statement.
1.) While Tim was sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of the table.
2.) The alarm clock fell off of the table while Tim was sleeping.
3.) While sleeping, Tim heard the alarm clock fall off of the table.
Now it's your turn! I'll give you 5 incorrect sentences, all with dreaded dangling participles. I'd like you to point out what the problem is and then rewrite the sentence to make it correct!
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Gloria.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Mary's husband.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Carlos.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. King.
8 comments:
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Gloria.
When Gloria was walking, she tripped on the sidewalk.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Mary's husband.
Mary's husband held multiple bags, while they were shopping at the mall.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Carlos.
While Carlos was driving to school, the cell phone rang.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
The plumber dropped tools, while he was installing a new sink.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. King.
While Mrs. King was thinking about the long holiday weekend an idea occurred to her.
Rebekah W.
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Gloria.
Gloria tripped on the sidewalk, while she was walking.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Mary's husband.
While shopping at the mall, Mary's hanband held the mutiple of bag.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Carlos.
The cell phone rang for Carlos, while driving to school.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
While installing a new sink, the plumber tools dropped.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. King.
An idea occurred while Mrs. King were thinking about the long holiday weekend.
Alicia.T
1. When walking, the sidewalk tripped Gloria.
When Gloria was walking, she tripped on the sidewalk.
2. Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Mary's husband.
Multiple bags were held by Mary's husband while shopping at the mall.
3. While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Carlos.
While Carlos was driving to school, his cell phone rang.
4. Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
The plumber dropped tools, while installing a new sink.
5.When thinking about the long weekend, an idea occured to Mrs. King.
An idea occured to Mrs. King while thinking about the long weekend.
1. The sidewalk did not trip Gloria. Also, the sidewalk isn't walking.
Correction: While walking, Gloria tripped on the sidewalk.
2. Bags don't shop at the mall.
Correction: Mary's husband held multiple bags while shopping at the mall.
3. Cell phones can't drive, at least mine can't!
Correction: The cell phone rang while Carlos was driving to school.
4. Tools don't install sinks.
Correction: The plumber dropped the tools when he was installing the new sink.
5. This was tricky. I thought this sentence was correct.
Correction: Mrs. King was thinking about the long holiday weekend when an idea occurred to her. Is this correct? Should it be "While Mrs. King was thinking...?"
1.While Gloria was walking she tripped on the sidewalk.
2.Mary's husband held mutiple bags while shopping at the mall.
3.Carlos cell phone rang while driving to school.
4.The plumber dropped his tools while installing the new sink.
5.While Mrs. King was thinking about the long weekend an idea occured to her.
Indira H.
1.)When walking, the sidewalk tripped Gloria.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Mary's husband.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Carlos.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. King.
1. Gloria tripped on the sidewalk when she was walking.
2. Mary’s husband held multiple bags when he was shopping at the mall.
3. The cell phone rang for Carlos while he was driving to school.
4. The plumber dropped tools when he was installing a new sink.
5. An idea occurred while Mrs. King was thinking about the long holiday weekend.
Geraldine G.
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Gloria.
While she was walking,Gloria tripped on the sidewalk
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Mary's husband.
While shopping at the mall, Mary's hanband held the mutiple bags.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Carlos.
While driving to school,the cell phone rang for Carlos.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
While installing a new sink, the plumber's tools dropped.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. King.
An idea occurred while Mrs. King were thinking about the long holiday weekend.
Luz Croce
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Gloria.
The sentence implies the sidewalk is walking.
*When walking, Gloria tripped on the sidewalk.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Mary's husband.
The sentence implies multiple bags were shopping at the mall.
*Mary's husband held multiple bags while shopping at the mall.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Carlos.
The sentence implies the cell phone drove to school.
*The cell phone rang, while Carlos drove to school.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
The sentence implies tooks were installing a new sink.
*Installing a new sink, the plumber dropped tools.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. King.
*An idae occurred to Mrs. King while thinking about the long holiday weekend.
Melissa Lobsinger
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