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Khoff Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
What is this type of mistake called?
Okay, grammar experts - what do you call the grammar error that results in sentences like these:
"Racing to catch the bus, his papers spilled all over the street."
"Curled up in a furry ball and snoring loudly, she finally found her cat beneath the blanket."
"Cantankerous as only an elderly deaf widow can be, Bob nontheless visited his grandmother every week."
I just quit listening to an audio book after one too many of these (not these particular ones; they are my own invention), but I can't remember what they are called. Misplaced modifiers? Perpendicular predicates? Adverse appositives? Please help me here, so when I want to complain about someone's writing I can do it intelligently! Many thanks.
"Racing to catch the bus, his papers spilled all over the street."
"Curled up in a furry ball and snoring loudly, she finally found her cat beneath the blanket."
"Cantankerous as only an elderly deaf widow can be, Bob nontheless visited his grandmother every week."
I just quit listening to an audio book after one too many of these (not these particular ones; they are my own invention), but I can't remember what they are called. Misplaced modifiers? Perpendicular predicates? Adverse appositives? Please help me here, so when I want to complain about someone's writing I can do it intelligently! Many thanks.
Top answer
Hi Khoff, I'm no expert, but I think this is a dangling modifier.
- Hi Khoff, I'm no expert, but I think this is a dangling modifier.
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10 Answers
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Hi Khoff,
I am not a grammar expert. I believe these sentences are examples for 'misplaced modifier'.
I am not a grammar expert. I believe these sentences are examples for 'misplaced modifier'.
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Thanks, everybody. I guess "misplaced modifier" is what I was trying to think of.
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Back in the old days, we used to call them "dangling participles".
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Thanks, Jim -- I wasn't sure if dangling participles and misplaced modifiers (now where did I leave those modifiers?) were the same, but I guess the categories overlap. (I suppose there could be misplaced modifiers that are not actually participles.)
"Dangling participle" does have a variety of interesting connotations. (I can't wait to see the illustration Davkett comes up with!) He
"Dangling participle" does have a variety of interesting connotations. (I can't wait to see the illustration Davkett comes up with!) He
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Modifiers of participial phrases, gerund phrases, and infinitive phrases need to follow the phrases DIRECLTY, OR, as many have said, you've got a modifier that "dangles," or doesn't make much sense. After reading the phrase, you ask WHO or WHAT. The correct modifier should be right there.
Isn't this fun?
Ikia
Isn't this fun?
Ikia
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<...I just quit listening to an audio book after one too many of these...>
The curse of the dangler. Once you become aware of them, that's it. You're a dangler-spotter forever after.
Sometimes I think it's better not to know.
MrP
The curse of the dangler. Once you become aware of them, that's it. You're a dangler-spotter forever after.
Sometimes I think it's better not to know.
MrP
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