IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION WITH DANGLING
1. Keep
or leave someone: This means to keep somebody in an uncertain state by not
telling then what they want to know; E.g.
(i)
She kept him DANGLING for weeks
before making her decision known to him.
(ii)
The lecturer left all the students DANGLING
before she gave the topic at late hour.
2. Dangling
something be’ fore or in’ front of someone: This means to offer somebody something
good in order to persuade them to do something E.g.
(i)
The politician dangled money publicly
to the people and they gave him their mandate;
(ii)
(ii) She dangled her love with
smiles which made him felt for her. (Dangling relationship).
(Grammar)
DANGLING
PARTICIPLE.
This refers to a participle that refers to a
noun which is not mentioned in a sentence
Look @ this statement; “While I was walking, my phone rang.” Walking is a dangling participle but is
considered incorrect thus; the correct form of saying it would be:
While I was walking home, my phone rang.
DANGLING MODIFIER
A Dangling Modifier is a modifier that has
nothing to modify. Remember modifiers describe a word or make its meaning more
specific. A dangling modifier is an error caused by failing to use the word
that the modifier is meant to be describing.
Let see some examples here:
Having
read your letter, my cat will stay indoors until
the ducklings fly off.
(N/B) In
this example, the missing word is we
Consider the correct way to put it;
*Having read your letter, we will keep our cat
indoors until the ducking fly off.
(In this examples, the modifier having read
your letter is modifying we as it should)
Logically, the wrong example suggests the cat
read the letter.
Here is another example of a dangling modifier:
Meticulous
and punctual, David’s work ethics is admirable.
In this example, the missing word is David (as
a standalone subject)
A correct way of putting it would be:
*Meticulous and punctual, David has an
admirable work ethics;
(In this example, the modifier meticulous and
punctual is modifying David as it should, not David’s work ethics).
Logically, the wrong example suggests David’s
work ethics is meticulous and punctual.
Consider another example of dangling modifier.
Having
watched the Calabar Carnival, the carnival costumes are
more impressive.
In this example, the missing word is she. Let’s
try the correct version:
*Having watched the Calabar Carnival, she
thinks the carnival costumes are more impressive.
(In this example, the modifier having watched
the Calabar Carnival is modifying she as it should, not the carnival costumes.
Logically, the wrong example suggests the
carnival costumes watched the Calabar Carnival.
A DANGLING MODIFIER AS A MISPLACED MODIFIER
Sometimes, a modifier can dangle a bit. This
happens when the word being modified is present but is not next to its
modifier.
Look @ this example:
Vicious
smelly creatures with huge tusks, the ship’s crew
found it difficult to drive the male walruses from the beach.
This is still a dangling modifier but it’s not
dangling fully because the object being modified (the male walruses) is
present.
This is better known as misplaced modifier.
Consider the correct version:
*Vicious smelly creatures with huge tusks, the
male walruses were difficult for the ship’s crew to drive from the beach.
SQUINTING MODIFIER
A squinting modifier (usually a verb) is a kind
of modifier which could feasibly modify the words before it or the words after
it. A squinting modifier is a type of misplaced modifier.
Examples of squinting modifier here:
*Cycling up hills Quickly strengthen your quadriceps.
(In this example, the adverb quickly is a
squinting modifier. It is unclear whether quickly pertains to cycling up hills
or strengthens).
* Taking a moment to think Clearly improves your
chances.
(In this example, the adverb clearly is a
squinting modifier, though it unclear whether it pertains to think or
improves).
FIXING A SQUINTING MIDIFIER
Like most misplaced modifiers, a squinting
modifier can be fixed by changing its position in the sentence or by rewording.
Examples:
*Cycling up hills strengthens your quadriceps
quickly.
*Taking a moment to think clearly about the
issue improves your chances.
Did you know? The wild animal that attacks and
eats humans are called MANEATER
and this name are humorously refers to a young lady who has many sexual partners,
eehm #wow!
LEARN\ING
ENGLISH
British vs American English
- Grammatical Differences
English language
is used differently in the United States and in England and in other English
speaking countries. There are some skeptical differences between American and
British English in vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation as well as a few
grammatical differences. In this section I'm only going to tell you the
grammatical differences.
1. The use of
present perfect
The American English prefers the simple past tense
to the present perfect tense.
American:
• They just arrived home.
• We just finished our meal.
• Did you have lunch yet?
British:
• They have just arrived home.
• We have just finished our meal.
• Have you had lunch yet?
Perfect
tense "Have"
American:
They have most likely landed by now.
British
They most likely have landed by now.
2.
The use of subjunctive
The American English tends to hide "should" from the sentence.
[It’s Necessary/ essential / vital / urgent / imperative… that + (hidden
should) + verb]
American:
• It’s essential that she be told the truth.
• It’s vital that you be taken to hospital.
• It’s important that Barry stop smoking.
British:
• It’s essential that she should be told the truth.
• It’s vital that you should be taken to hospital.
• It’s important that Barry should stop smoking.
3.
Asking for the person on the phone
American:
Hello, is this Julie?
British:
Hello, is that Julie?
4.
Use of look like /as If
American:
He looks like he is an expert.
British
He looks as if he is an expert.
5.
The use of tags
The Americans use tags much less often than the British. Americans often use
"right" and "OK" as tags.
American:
• You're coming with us, right?
• I'll bring the baggage in, OK?
British:
• You're coming with us, aren't you?
• I'll bring the luggage in, shall I?
6.
The names of the rivers
The Americans put the word "river" after the name, whereas the
British put it before.
American:
Colorado River
British
River Thames
7.
The title of an important person
The Americans normally put both the title and the descriptions of offices in
front of the names.
American:
• President Roosevelt
• Prime Minister Churchill
British
• President Roosevelt
• Churchill, the Prime Minister
Posted
by Ettefreeguy
Fb.com/Danglingmedia