Dangling Modifiers
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
While walking to the store, the rain started drizzling.
While walking to the store, RIDANY NOTICED THAT the rain started drizzling.
WHILE RIDANY WAS WALKING to the store, the rain started drizzling.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Ali served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.
(It suggests that the children were on the plates.)
CORRECTION: Ali served SANDWICHES ON PAPER PLATES to the children.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Rena will win if she will beat me!
INCORRECT.
Rena will win if she BEATS me.
WILL and IF do not mix!!!
Rewrite using WISH.
Nadine has four tests tomorrow.
Nadine wishes she DIDN'T HAVE four tests tomorrow.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Mariam loves to travel, however she rarely has the time.
Mariam loves to travel; however , she rarely has the time.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Before going to the gym, Majd called his sister.
CORRECT
The modifier is directly followed by the correct subject.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Karim almost won every game this season.
(It implies he almost won all of them, but didn’t actually win any.)
CORRECTION: Karim won ALMOST every game this season.
Rewrite using conditionals:
Ahmad had a lot of work. --> He didn't finish on time.
If Ahmad HADN'T HAD a lot of work, he WOULD HAVE FINISHED on time.
Rewrite using WISH.
I am an only child!
I wish I WEREN'T an only child.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Hayfa enjoys exploring new cuisines, she often experiments with different recipes in her kitchen.
Hayfa enjoys exploring new cuisines; she often experiments with different recipes in her kitchen.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
After finishing the assignment, pizza was ordered.
After finishing the assignment, WE ordered some pizza.
AFTER WE FINISHED the assignment, pizza was ordered.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
The teacher only gave the students one assignment.
(It sounds like the only thing she did was give them one assignment.)
CORRECTION: The teacher gave the students ONLY one assignment.
Rewrite using conditionals.
Plants grow because there is photosynthesis.
If there WERE no photosynthesis, plants WOULD NOT GROW.
Do not use WAS with conditionals!
Rewrite using WISH.
Abdallah told everyone about the surprise.
I wish Abdallah HAD NOT TOLD everyone about the surprise.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Fouad organized the charity event, and reached out to local businesses for donations to support the cause.
Fouad organized the charity event and reached out to local businesses for donations to support the cause.
Fouad organized the charity event and NO SUBJECT reached out to local businesses for donations to support the cause.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
To enjoy the movie, silence is necessary.
To enjoy the movie, EVERYONE must be silent.
IF YOU WANT to enjoy the movie, silence is necessary.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
The man walked his dog in a suit.
The man in a suit walked his dog.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
If Rayan had a car, she would have taken us to the airport yesterday!
If Rayan HAD HAD a car, she would have taken us to the airport.
Rewrite using WISH.
It is so cold in here!
I wish it WEREN'T so cold!!!!
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
The project required extensive research and meticulous planning yet Jad's team managed to complete it ahead of time.
The project required extensive research and meticulous planning, yet Jad's team managed to complete it ahead of time.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
As they were all very thirsty, cold drinks were handed out right away.
CORRECT
The sentence begins with an introductory clause, NOT a modifying PHRASE.
As subordinating conjunction they subject were verb all very thirsty, cold drinks were handed out right away.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Khodor saw that movie only once.
CORRECT
Rewrite using conditionals.
Little Serene adores the BABY SHARK song. She sings it all day long.
Little Serene WOULDN'T SING the baby shark song all day long if she DIDN'T LIKE it.
OR
If Little Serene DIDN'T LIKE the BABY SHARK song, she WOULDN'T SING it all day long.
Rewrite using WISH.
The test was so difficult!
I wish the test HAD NOT BEEN so difficult.
CORRECT IF NOT CORRECT:
Even though Sham was offered a promotion at work she chose to decline it in order to focus on her studies, and pursue her long-held passion for art.
Even though Sham was offered a promotion at work, she chose to decline it to focus on her studies and pursue her long-held passion for art.