A dangling participle

Question

After showing her parents her bad report card, the climate was not right for Tanya to ask for her allowance.
<Source: Vocabulary Cartoons Level 1 by Sam·Max·Bryan Burchers>

1. I'd like to know whether "the climate" can be the subject of "was not right for Tanya to ask for her allowance."
2. I'd like to know whether whether or not I can use a dangling participle as in my example.

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know whether "the climate" can be the subject of "was not right for Tanya to ask for her allowance."

It can. The expression “The climate (meaning ‘the current situation’) was/is not right for something to happen” is a pretty common one.

park sang joon2. I'd like to know whether whether or not I can use a dangling participle as in my example.

I have no problem with it. It’s clear as day that the understood subject of the participle is Tanya. Nobody would think otherwise.

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, Aspara Gus, for your valuable answer.

It can. The expression “The climate (meaning ‘the current situation’) was/is not right for something to happen” is a pretty common one.

In "Longman Dictionary", the following is a only usage using the structure "right to do something," and I don't think "the climate' action" is morally correct. So, I was asking you for more explanation.

5 morally
if someone is right to do something, their action is morally correct or sensible [? wrong]

right to do something
Do you think I was right to report them to the police?

It can't be right to keep lying to your family.

<Source: Longman Dictionary http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/right_1>

I have no problem with it. It’s clear as day that the understood subject of the participle is Tanya. Nobody would think otherwise.

Then I'd like to know why grammar books say that we shouldn't use dangling participles.

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonIt can't be right to keep lying to your family.

Here "right" is "morally right".

park sang joon The climate was not right

Here "right" is "appropriate", not "morally right".

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know why grammar books say that we shouldn't use dangling participles.

They sometimes lead to embarrassingly humorous interpretations.

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, Mr.Jim, for your valuable answer.

Then, I'd like to know whether if the subject of a participle phrase can be deduced through the context, I can use dangling participle phrases.

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know whether if the subject of a participle phrase can be deduced through the context, I can use dangling participle phrases.

Usually, especially in speech, you can. But in writing, especially formal writing, it is best not to use anything that dangles. It should always be clear grammatically what modifies what, even if you might be able to deduce the subject through common sense.

CJ

A dangling participle

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions