dangling participle

n (Grammar) grammar a participle intended to modify a noun but having the wrong grammatical relationship to it as for example having left in the sentence Having left Europe for good, Peter's future seemed bleak indeed. Also called: misplaced modifier

dan′gling par′ticiple

n. a participle or participial phrase, often found at the beginning of a sentence, that appears from its position to modify an element of the sentence other than the one it was intended to modify, as plunging in Plunging hundreds of feet into the gorge, we saw Yosemite Falls. usage: Most usage guides warn against the dangling participle, advising revision of any sentence containing one. The example above would be recast as We saw Yosemite Falls plunging hundreds of feet into the gorge. dangling participles have long appeared in literary English and today are commonplace in speech and edited writing: Looking to the west, a deep river valley can be seen. Obviously, the river valley is not looking to the west, but here the sentence is clear and stylistically unexceptionable. When a dangling participle creates confusion or unintentional silliness (Having finished our breakfast, the boat was loaded and launched), then revision becomes necessary. Regardless of their position, certain participial constructions are never felt to be dangling. Some of these are simply independent phrases, and others function as conjunctions or prepositions: Generally speaking, the report is true. She looks wonderful, considering she has been through so much. Assuming congressional approval, the bill will go to the president Friday. See also misplaced modifier.

dangling participle

A participle that is not correctly related to the word it is supposed to modify, for example “flying” in Flying home that night, the weather broke.”

Thesaurus

Noun

dangling participle - a participle (usually at the beginning of a sentence) apparently modifying a word other than the word intended: e.g., `flying across the country' in `flying across the country the Rockies came into view'dangling modifier, misplaced modifier - a word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g., `when young' in `when young, circuses appeal to all of us'

dangling participle