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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

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