Belajar Bahasa Inggris Dangling Modifier 1

Avoid dangling participial phrases.

EXERCISE 1
Revise the following sentences to eliminate the dangling participial phrases.

1. Turning your back for a moment, your car can disappear.
2. "Hot-wiring" the car, the vehicle can be stolen from a parking lot.
3. Ready for action, a parked car can have parts stripped in minutes.
4. Dismantled in "chop shops," auto-theft rings reap big profits.
5. Some auto-parts theft rings deal internationally, being shipped to Mexico.

Avoid dangling phrases that contain gerunds.

EXERCISE 2
Revise the following sentences to eliminate the dangling gerund phrases.

1. After running for a few seconds without the proper key, a fuel cut-off device will shut off the supply of fuel to the engine.
2. An ignition kill device may foil a thief's plans, after "hot-wiring" a car to start it.
3. In tampering with locks or windows, motion or sound detectors may be set off to trigger an alarm.
4. Before leaving the dealership, hood locks can be installed which will protect the engine and battery.
5. By taking the extra time necessary to disarm all these systems, deterrent devices may encourage a thief to try something easier to steal.

Avoid dangling infinitive phrases.

EXERCISE 3
Revise the following sentences to eliminate the dangling infinitive phrases.

1. To relax and have fun, kites are built and flown.
2. To fly a kite successfully, its tail should be balanced.
3. The proper balance of kite and tail has to be achieved to get a kite into the air.
4. To make observations from the air, manned kites were flown from German submarines in World War II.
5. To experiment with aerodynamics or electricity, kites were beneficial to early American scientists and inventors.

Avoid dangling elliptical clauses.

EXERCISE 4
Revise the following sentences to eliminate the dangling elliptical clauses.

1. When ill, pet owners see symptoms remarkably similar to those of humans.
2. If left in a hot car in summer, a person could make a pet quite ill.
3. When suffering from heatstroke, one should bathe one's pet in cool water.
4. Pet owners should try to prevent their cats and dogs from being stung by insects, particularly when young and curious.
5. Insect bites, heatstroke, burns, and cuts are as dangerous to pets as to young children, if not careful.

Model answer:

EXERCISE 1 (Dangling participial phrases)

1. If you turn your back for a moment, your car can disappear.
2. By "hot-wiring" the car, a thief can steal the vehicle from a parking lot.
3. Always ready for action, a group of parts thieves can strip parts from parked cars in minutes.
4. Auto-theft rings reap big profits from cars dismantled in "chop shops."
5. Some auto-parts thefts rings deal internationally, shipping parts to Mexico.

EXERCISE 2 (Dangling gerund phrases)

1. After running a few seconds without the proper key, an engine can be shut off with a fuel cut-off device.
2. After "hot-wiring" a car to start it, a thief's plans may be foiled by an ignition kill device.
3. In tampering with locks and windows, a thief may set off motion or sound detectors to trigger an alarm.
4. Before leaving the dealership, a car owner may have hood locks installed which will protect the engine and battery.
5. Rather than taking the time necessary to disarm all these systems, a thief may encouraged to try something easier to steal.

EXERCISE 3 (Dangling infinitive phrases)
Errors created by dangling infinitive phrases often result also in a weak use of the passive voice; thus, correcting the dangling infinitive will often eliminate the weak use of the passive as well.

1. To relax and have fun, many people build and fly kites.
2. To fly a kite successfully, you should balance its tail.
3. The proper balance of kite and tail has to be achieved, if you wish to get a kite into the air. OR 

          If you wish to get a kite into the air, you have to achieve the proper balance of kite and tail. (The  second sentence eliminates the passive voice.)
    4.  To make observations from the air, German submarine crews in World War II flew manned kites.
    5.  Kites were beneficial to early American scientists and inventors to experiment with aerodynamics or electricity.

EXERCISE 4 (Dangling elliptical clauses)

1. When their pets are ill, pet owners see symptoms remarkably similar to those of humans.
2. If a pet is left in a hot car in summer, the pet could become quite ill.
3. When a pet is suffering from heatstroke, one should bathe the pet in cool water.
4. Pet owners should try to prevent their cats and dogs from being stung by insects, particularly when these pets are young and curious.
5. Insect bites, heatstroke, burns, and cuts are as dangerous to pets as to young children if the pets' owners are not careful.