A gerund is a verb form ending in ing that acts as a noun. In all three of those examples, the subject that was being modified by the participial phrase came right after the phrase. Remember that a participle is a verbal that acts as an adjective in the sentence. The participial phrase doesnt have to be at the beginning of a sentence, but that is the place where its most likely to dangle, so well stick with that format today. Dangling and misplaced participles often give rise to absurdly humorous scenarios. It is a phrase that starts with a gerund and acts as a noun. Eating ice cream on a windy day can be a messy experience if you have long, untamed hair. The word gerund originated from the latin word gerundium, from gerundus which means to be carried out, with a future passive participle form of gerundive of gero which translates to carry, bear. Gerund phrase, functioning as direct object the teacher simply cannot excuse sleeping during class.
May 16, 2019 a dangling participle modifies an unintended subject. When you are finished, click the check my work button at the bottom. This mismatch occurs because the implied subject is missing. In the second sentence, writing begins a gerund phrase that is the subject of the sentence. Then identify the gerunds function in the sentence as subject, direct object, subjective complement,object of preposition, or appositive. A dangling modifier is a type of misplaced modifier that modifies a word or phrase that is not clearly stated in a sentence. Gerund phrases a gerund phrase consists of a gerund an ing form of a verb, its modifiers, and its complements. A gerund is a verb that ends with ing, but it functions as a noun and can also function as a complement, subject or object in a sentence. In other languages, specifically dutch, italian, or russian, it is a verbal form that is similar to a present. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated. Gerund phrases always function as nouns, so they will be subjects, subject complements, or objects in the sentence.
A gerund phrase will always behave as a noun while a present participle phrase will act as an adjective. Infinitive phrases, which start with the infinitive form of a verb such as to tango, to simmer, to cogitate, etc. A dangling participle has no noun in the sentence to. The difference is the function that they provide in the sentence. A gerund phrase will begin with a gerund, an ing word, and will include other modifiers andor objects. Since how to term the form of a verb affixed with ing is still so. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifiers, objects, andor complements. Put a tick by the sentences that do contain dangling participles. After the dentist drilled my tooth, my cavity stopped aching. A dangling modifier is misplaced because it does not have anything to modify.
Though they may not occur too often, they can appear whenever gerunds or gerund phrases act as objects of a preposition, such as before, after, by, or with. Dangling and misplaced modifiers dangling modifiers are words or phrases that do not have a clear term to modify in a sentence. In other words, a phrase is a multiword composed of a subject or a verb and not both. The infinitive dangles or is poorly attached if the subject of the following clause is someone or something who did not do the action in the infinitive. Pdf the problematic forms of nominalization in english. Difference between gerund and participle nonfinite verbs.
After being whipped fiercely, the cook boiled the egg. In this exercise you will be presented with a number of sentences, some of which contain dangling participles. Start studying participles, gerunds, infinitives, and dangling phrases by. Either the sentence or the dangling modifier must be changed by adding needed. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies i.
A dangling modifier is simply a word or phrase that modifies the wrong subject in a sentence. Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation. They most frequently occur at the beginning of sentences often as introductory clauses or phrases but can also appear at the end. A gerund is a noun made from a verb root plus ing a present participle.
Pdf learning proper grammar and usage rules for the english language can be a. A dangling participle has no noun in the sentence to which the participle would logically attach. The idea was clear in the authors mind, but it didnt translate to the reader. I believe the phrase heading into the event which follows the word goal is a misplaced modifier. Infected with typhoid, mary mallon passed on the disease to others. The participle in subordinate clauses should always describe an action performed by the subject of the main part of the sentence. The word or words a dangling modifier should modify have been omitted from the sentence. Page 1 of 15 verbals gerunds and participles gerunds.
Circle the gerund and underline the gerund phrase where appropriate. Dangling participle definition, 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. How to spot and correct dangling participle sentence errors. Consider the previous examples with the subject clarified. To avoid confusion about the subject of a sentence with participle phrases, place the subject immediately after the participle phrase. Mar 12, 2017 nonfinite verbs identify and differentiate between participle and gerund with examples and exercise. Slipping on the icy sidewalk, the cell phone fell from amys coat pocket.
A dangling modifier is a type of misplaced modifier. Misplaced and dangling modifiers towson university. Often, they can be found at the beginning of sentences, though they can also appear at a sentences end. Lets break down this definition to understand it better. After drilling my tooth, my dentist stopped my cavity from aching. Slipping on the wet sidewalk, the keys fell from amaurys pocket. A gerund phrase is a phrase consisting of a gerund and any modifiers or objects associated with it.
Test to determine whether a word in a sentence is a gerund, look at the words ending in ing in the sentence. Contrary to what others believe in, the english language goes beyond the basic subjectverb agreement. After having danced all night, they realized it was late and no restaurants were open. Dangling participles describe something which is implied, but not clearly stated. Difference between gerund and participle nonfinite. When the independent clause begins with there is, there are or an ambiguous it, dangling is inevitable. According to the staff at the chicago manual of style, relocation doesnt help. If this word can be replaced by the pronoun it, then the word is a gerund. Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their corrections. Like a participle, it ends in ing, but unlike a participle, it functions as a noun, not a modifier. The gerund phrase entering the crypt is the object of the preposition upon, but where is its. This creates an illogical scenario that could easily be misunderstood for something else.
Dangling gerund phrase after having danced all night, it was late and no restaurants were open. As you can see from the following examples, the sentences should be. Unlike misplaced modifiers, dangling modifiers cannot be fixed simply by moving it to a different place in the sentence. Refer to discovery, 324327, for additional practice. The gerund phrase is the subject of the verb takes. The gerund, swimming, is the direct object in the sentence and is the thing that i love. Gerunds and gerund phrases underline each gerund phrase. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence. A participle that is in the sentence but that does not modify a noun or pronoun in the sentence. The phrase is therefore left dangling hanging loosely. To become a physician, aptitude and hard work are needed. In the first example, writing is a gerund used as the subject of the sentence. This phrase functions as a noun and is the subject of the sentence.
Recognize the following types of dangling modifiers and their. The term verbal indicates that a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. Like a gerund, a gerund phrase functions as a noun. A gerund is a verb ending with ing, but, it works as a noun and can act as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. A dangling modifier is an introductory word groupparticiple, gerund, infinitive, or elliptical clausethat does not refer logically to the noun or pronoun that follows it. Gerunds and gerund phrases underline the gerund gerund phrase. Dangling modifiers a dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that either modifies no word in the sentence or refers to the wrong word. A gerund phrase is a phrase that begins with a gerund, and functions as a noun. You might have heard about dangling participles before. Displaying all worksheets related to participle phrase. Participles can be present participles, ending in ing, or past participles, ending in ed or en because participles are adjectives, the modify a noun or pronoun in the sentence. Its important to use participles in subordinate clauses correctly.
A whole gerund phrase functions in a sentence just like a noun, and can act as a subject, an object, or a predicate nominative. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Nonfinite verbs identify and differentiate between participle and gerund with examples and exercise. A participial phrase is misplaced if it seems to modify a word other than the one the writer intended to modify. To be firstclass, you must have giantsquidfighting extensions on your submarine. Dec 22, 2018 dangling participles can be unintentionally funny because they make for awkward sentences. The robber ran from the policeman, still holding the money in his hands.
Meanwhile, a phrase is a group of words that contains either a subject noun or a verb but not both. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence, or that does not connect grammatically with what it is intended to modify. Dangling participle definition of dangling participle at. Here, the gerund phrase is said to be dangling because of how it is mismatched with the subject that follows. For more details and exercises on thie topic and other topics click the links. It was sticking close to the modifier so you couldnt miss it. The writer or speaker of the statement undoubtedly intended to convey that when jasmine ran with the the pack of safety pins, her pet dog was injured.
A dangling participle modifies an unintended subject. A phrase that begins with a participle and incl udes an object andor modifiers 3. Page 1 of 15 verbals gerunds and participles gerunds a gerund is a verbal that ends in ing and functions as a noun. Dangling participle definition of dangling participle by. Often, they can be found at the beginning of sentences, but they are found at the end of sentences too. Violations of this rule are called dangling participles a form of dangling modifier, because the subject does not support the.
Rarely do students write confusing sentences using gerunds. Adjectives ending in ing and sometimes ed are called participles and must be used with care. Dangling modifiers make unclear the meaning of a sentence. When a sentence includes a participial phrase one that includes a participle, or a verb that modifies a noun or a noun phrase the subject of the sentence must directly relate to the action in the phrase. Below are examples of dangling gerunds gerunds are similar to participles in that they end in ing, but gerunds act as nouns rather than as adjectives in these examples, the gerunds are objects of prepositional. The participle should always describe an action performed by the subject of the main part of the sentence. A dangling modifier is a phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically related to the word or words it modifies or describes. I do not know how to straighten out this kind of sentence. The gerund phrase is the direct object of finished. Dangling modifiers cause the sentence to lack coherence. Drinking large amounts of water can help clear the kidneys.
Gerund phrase, functioning as object of preposition we found the keys by looking on the ground next to the car. Worksheets are participles and participial phrases, participles gerunds and infinitives, name date grammar work participles ed, 1 of 4 participle phrases as reduced relative clauses, participle clauses exercise, t he par t i ci pl e p hr as e, grammar work misplaced and dangling participles, participle adjectives. A participial phrase consists of the participle, and any complements or modifiers. The problem is the same as with dangling gerunds and participles. This sentence reads as if the keys slipped on the wet sidewalk.
Underline the gerunds or gerund phrases in the following sentences. Dangling modifiers a modifier dangles if the implied subject of an introductory clause or phrase differs from the actual subject. It is often added to a sentence as an afterthought. A gerund phrase consists of the gerund, and any complements or modifiers. Participles of verbs are often used to introduce subordinate clauses, which give extra information about the main part of a sentence known as the main clause. A gerund is a verbal ending in ing that is used as a noun.
The vacation brochure featured rafting down the colorado river. The participial phrase doesnt have to be at the beginning of a sentence, but that is the place where its. Worksheet 1, misplaced and dangling participles, 9 exercises. Dangling present participles these present participial phrases are acting as. Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they both begin with an ing word. The gerund phrase the gerund phrase consists of the gerund, which always ends in ing, and its modifiers and complements.
Gerund is defined as a verbal form that functions as a verbal noun. I know people who are obsessed with eating all the time. Participles, gerunds, infinitives, and dangling phrases by. The prepositional phrase with my swim team modifies the gerund to. I have followed the advice faithfully given by the manual.
Dangling participles can be unintentionally funny because they make for awkward sentences. Participle phrases function as adjectives and use participles to replace and shorten phrases that describe modify the main subject of a sentence. Dangling modifiers are also called dangling participles what is a dangling modifier. Unlike a misplaced modifier, a dangling modifier cannot be corrected by simply moving it to a different place in a sentence.