Dangling Modifiers
A word, phrase, or clause that modifies or gives information about another word in the same sentence is called a modifier.
When a modifier modifies a word that is not clearly stated in the sentence, i.e., the subject is not stated in the introductory phase of the sentence, those modifiers are known as dangling modifiers.
Examples:
"While forgetting his headphones, he left home." (Dangling Modifier)
In this sentence, the modifier ‘while forgetting his headphones’ is not correctly connected to the subject of the sentence. The sentence seems to suggest that, ‘While forgetting his headphones’, he left home, which is not clearly the intended meaning. The sentence can be rephrased as: "While leaving home, he forgot his headphones." (Correct)
"The first girl of our class, Rima, has cracked IIT." (Dangling modifier)
In this sentence, ‘The first girl of our class’ is the modifier and is not connected to the subject of the sentence. The sentence seems to suggest that the first girl of our class is named Rima, which is not the intended meaning behind the sentence. The intention is to give the information about cracking IIT, which is missing here. So the sentence should be rephrased as: "Rima, the first girl of our class, has cracked IIT." (Correct)
"Being a professional music artist, he has to attend and host meetings regularly." (Dangling Modifier). In this sentence, we can see that the modifier ‘being a professional music artist’ is not connected to the subject of the sentence. Hence, it does not provide the meaning intended. The sentence suggests that being a professional music artist means having to host and attend meetings regularly, which again is not the intended meaning. The sentence can be written as: "He, being a professional music artist, has to attend and host meetings regularly."
Rectifying dangling modifiers:
Combining a phrase and a main clause into one. Being a professional music artist, he has to attend and host meetings regularly" (Dangling Modifier). " He has to attend and host meetings regularly as a professional music artist." (Rectified)
Introduce the relevant doer of action as the subject of the sentence or change the sentence into passive voice. The IIT exam having been cracked, Rima became the first girl in our class. (Dangling Modifier). The first girl of our class, Rima, has cracked IIT. (Correct). Rima, the first girl of our class, has cracked IIT. (Correct)