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Boomshakala Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Dangling Participle/Clause
I'm running into problems with modifying a direct object with TWO phrases, resulting to a dangling modifier issue. Please take a look and choose the best, or choose none, or help me troubleshoot the dangling modifier issue.
The information:
The object is a phone. This phone is on the table. This phone was given to her by her mother.
My attempt:
She grabbed the phone on the table, given to her by her mother.
(sounds like her mother gave her the table not the phone)
She grabbed the phone given by her mother on top of the table.
(still weird, is it just me or does it sound like her mother gave her a phone on top of the table?)
She grabbed the phone on the table given to her by her mother.
(same as first without the comma)
She grabbed the phone on the table, which her mother had given her.
(now using a clause, but it is still wrong, as it sounds like her mother gave her the table)
She grabbed the phone, which her mother had given her, on top of the table.
(my best effort, but still off)
What do you think?
The information:
The object is a phone. This phone is on the table. This phone was given to her by her mother.
My attempt:
She grabbed the phone on the table, given to her by her mother.
(sounds like her mother gave her the table not the phone)
She grabbed the phone given by her mother on top of the table.
(still weird, is it just me or does it sound like her mother gave her a phone on top of the table?)
She grabbed the phone on the table given to her by her mother.
(same as first without the comma)
She grabbed the phone on the table, which her mother had given her.
(now using a clause, but it is still wrong, as it sounds like her mother gave her the table)
She grabbed the phone, which her mother had given her, on top of the table.
(my best effort, but still off)
What do you think?
Top answer
boomshakala She grabbed the phone, which her mother had given her, on top of the table. If you must say all of this in one sentence, use the version above. With multiple modifying phrases and/or clauses it is nearly impossible to avoid ambiguities.
- boomshakala She grabbed the phone, which her mother had given her, on top of the table.
- If you must say all of this in one sentence, use the version above.
- With multiple modifying phrases and/or clauses it is nearly impossible to avoid ambiguities.
- CJ
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3 Answers
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boomshakalaShe grabbed the phone, which her mother had given her, on top of the table.If you must say all of this in one sentence, use the version above.
With multiple modifying phrases and/or clauses it is nearly impossible to avoid ambiguities.
CJ
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CalifJim boomshakalaShe grabbed the phone, which her mother had given her, on top of the table.If you must say all of this in one sentence, use the version above.With multiple modifying phrases and/or clauses it is nearly impossible to avoid ambiguities.CJThanks CalifJim
The ambiguity seems to come from placing the adjectival phrase right after the o
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boomshakalaCurious, how does this one strike you?She grabbed the phone given to her by her mother, resting on top of the table.Very funny!
CJ
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