Mastering English Made Easy We correct sentences with misplaced or dangling participle in 2 ways: a.
By changing the misplaced or dangling participle into a dependent clause by adding words like while or when or as, etc, as required. Such sentences can be rewritten putting the modifying clause after the principle clause. Example: Incorrect: Running to catch the train, the papers were dropped by Rahul. This sentence is incorrect because it suggests that the papers were running. Correct : When Rahul was running to catch the train, the papers were dropped by him. This can be rewritten as: The papers were dropped by Rahul when he was running to catch the train. This sentence is in the passive voice. We can write it in active voice as follows: Correct : Rahul dropped the papers when he was running to catch the train. Incorrect because ambiguous: The papers were dropped by him when Rahul was running to catch the train. In the above sentence it is not clear who dropped the papers. “him” could refer to another person. This will become clear if you look at the following sentence: The papers were dropped by her when Rahul was running to catch the train. In this sentence, clearly Rahul did not drop the papers! b.
By making the thing being modified by the participle, the subject of the main clause (which is the clause after the comma). Correct : Running to catch the train, Rahul dropped the papers. In this sentence, ‘runnung to catch the train’ remains a modifier. 1.
Slipping on the wet sidewalk, the keys fell from Amaury’s pocket. (Who slipped? The keys or Amaury?) Answer a. When Amaury slipped on the wet sidewalk, the keys fell from his pocket. Answer b. Slipping on the wet sidewalk, Amaury lost his keys when they fell from his pocket. Answer a is better in this situation. 2.
Being shocked by the foul language on television, the remote control dropped from Aunt Rani’s hand. (The remote control is not shocked, Aunt Rani is!) Answer a: Because she was shocked by the foul language on television, the remote control dropped from Aunt Rani’s hand. (The remote control dropped from Aunt Rani’s hand because she was shocked by the foul language on television.) Answer b: Being shocked by the foul language on television, Aunt Rani dropped the remote control from her hand. Answer b is more suited to the situation. 3.
Attacked by the school bully, the backpack fell from Abner’s shoulder. (Who was attacked?) Answer a: When he was attacked by the school bully, the backpack fell from Abner’s shoulder. (The backpack fell from Abner’s shoulder when he was attacked by the school bully.) (Again, we converted the participial phrase into a dependent clause with “he” as the subject and “attacked” as the main verb.) Answer b. Attacked by the school bully, Abner dropped the backpack. 4.
Walking barefoot through the tall grass, dew drops felt good between my toes. Answer When / As I walked barefoot through the tall grass, dew drops felt good between my toes. This sentence does not sound good when trying to change the subject of the primary clause. 5.
Stepping into the boat, my camera dropped into the water. Answer a: When I was stepping into the boat, my camera dropped into the water. (My camera dropped into the water when I was stepping into the boat.) Answer b: Stepping into the boat, I dropped my camera into the water. 6.
Turning the car in the wrong direction, the pedestrian was hit by Mr Roy. Answer a: When Mr Roy turned the car in the wrong direction, the pedestrian was hit by him. (The pedestrian was hit by Mr Roy when he turned the car in the wrong direction.) Incorrect: When he turned the car in the wrong direction, the pedestrian was hit by Mr Roy. In the above sentence it is not clear who turned the car. Answer b: Turning the car in the wrong direction, Mr Roy hit a pedestrian. 7.
Making dinner in a hurry, the rice was almost burned by my husband. Answer a: When he was making dinner in a hurry, the rice was almost burned by my husband. (The rice was almost burned by my husband when he was making dinner in a hurry.) Answer b: Making dinner in a hurry, my husband almost burned the rice. 8.
Engrossed in the book, the phone call from her mother-­‐in-­‐law was missed. Answer a: As she was engrossed in the book, the phone call from her mother-­‐in-­‐law was missed. (The phone call from her mother-­‐in-­‐law was missed as she was engrossed in the book.) Answer b: Engrossed in the book, she missed the phone call from her mother-­‐in-­‐law. Even though Answer a is correct, it is better if we say: As she was engrossed in the book, the phone call from her mother-­‐in-­‐law was missed by her. However, when correcting errors, we must not add words which are not necessary. Here, answer b is better. 9.
Impressed with her talent, a scholarship was offered to her. Answer a: Because they were impressed with her talent, a scholarship was offered to her. (A scholarship was offered to her because they were impressed with her talent.) Answer b (better): Impressed with her talent, they offered her a scholarship. Here it is necessary to supply the subject ‘they’. Without it, the sentence would be incomplete. 10. Refusing to wear suntan lotion at the beach, my nose was completely burned. Answer a: Because I refused to wear suntan lotion at the beach, my nose was completely burned. (My nose was completely burned because I refused to wear suntan lotion at the beach Answer b: Refusing to wear suntan lotion at the beach, I burned my nose completely. 11. Flying over the mountain tops, the cattle could be seen. Answer a: When they were flying over the mountain tops, the cattle could be seen by them. (The cattle could be seen by them when they were flying over the mountain tops.) Answer b: Flying over the mountain tops, they could see the cattle. (Who saw the cattle? This was not given but had to provided by us.) 12. Dividing her time between caring for aging parents and managing her household, it was difficult for Arushi to get a full-­‐time job. Answer a: As she was dividing her time between caring for aging parents and managing her household, it was difficult for Arushi to get a full-­‐time job. (It was difficult for Arushi to get a full-­‐time job as she was dividing her time between caring for aging parents and managing her household.) Answer b: Dividing her time between caring for aging parents and managing her household, Arushi found it difficult to get a full-­‐time job. 13. Smiling from ear to ear, it was obvious that Binita was happy with Rahul’s decision. Answer a: As she was smiling from ear to ear, it was obvious that Binita was happy with Rahul’s decision. (It was obvious that Binita was happy with Rahul’s decision as she was smiling from ear to ear.) Answer b: Smiling from ear to ear, Binita made it obvious that Binita was happy with Rahul’s decision. Here, answer a is better. We can also say: Binita’s smile stretching from ear to ear made it obvious that she was happy with Rahul’s decision. 14. Having been absent for two consecutive days, the school required a doctor’s note. Answer a: As he had been absent for two consecutive days, the school required a doctor’s note. (The school required a doctor’s note as he had been absent for two consecutive days.) Better: As he had been absent for two consecutive days, the school required him to bring a doctor’s note. Answer b: Having been absent for two consecutive days, he was required by the school to bring a doctor’s note. 15. Studying the unappetizing plate of food, all appetite was lost. Answer a: While studying the unappetizing plate of food, all appetite was lost by him. This is a very clumsy sentence. It should not be used. Answer b: Studying the unappetizing plate of food, he lost all his appetite. 16. To finish by the 3 p.m. deadline, the computer keyboard sang with Seema’s flying fingers. Answer a: Because she had to finish by the 3 p.m. deadline, the computer keyboard sang with Seema’s flying fingers. This is a clumsy sentence. Answer b: To finish by the 3 p.m. deadline, Seema made the computer keyboard sing with her flying fingers. Answer b is better. 17. Chewing his nails, the answer did not come to his mind. Answer a: Even though he was chewing his nails, the answer did not come to his mind. © Varsha Jain 11.08.2016