Lab Activity 45: Dangling Modifiers

Lab Activities
Lab Activity 45: Dangling Modifiers

ObjectiveTo practice recognizing and correcting dangling modifiers.

Step 1: Below, each sentence contains a dangling modifier. In the space provided, rewrite each sentence so that the modifier is correctly placed; make any other necessary changes as well. You may refer to Chapter 45.

Example:
Dangling Modifier: With their new role as hosts for social events, peace and quiet can no longer be counted on at most libraries.
Corrected Sentence: Peace and quiet can no longer be counted on at many libraries, with their new role as hosts for social events.


		1. Thanks to the low noise level tolerated there, a person could once count on going to a nice, quiet library. Corrected Sentence: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		2. Enforced by the vigilance of librarians, many people depended on a library's silence. Corrected Sentence: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		3. Being a kid and wanting to talk with my friends, at one time, this enforcement of silence seemed to be an imposition to me. Corrected Sentence: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		4. Inconsiderate of others, the librarian would constantly warn us to change our behavior. Corrected Sentence: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		5. Screaming and giggling, a person can hardly hear himself or herself think in libraries offering children's story hours. Corrected Sentence: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 2:* Now, think about what you believe should be allowed (and not allowed) at public libraries. You can let your mind roam and imagine your ideal research or reading scenarios. Write a paragraph of at least five sentences, explaining what you think and why. In your paragraph, include modifying phrases that begin with such words as which and that, an -ing word, an -ed word, and a preposition such as with or from. After you finish, check to make sure you placed your modifiers correctly. If necessary, revise your sentences for correct modifier placement. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		Step 3: For each sentence below, select the choice that has the modifier placed correctly. If the original sentence is correct, select "No change." 1. An elegant repository of irreplaceable documents, I have worked at a large city's main library that served a huge number of patrons. [Hint]

		2. The library employed many people, almost all of whom were much more important and more highly educated than I, a lowly high school kid working as a clerk. [Hint]

		3. What went on behind the scenes, clerks worked mostly in the reference stacks and out of the public view, so I saw what became quite bizarre. [Hint]

		4. Amongst the librarians in the stacks, it may sound as if I'm exaggerating the happenings, which were bizarre. [Hint]

		5. However, only people which were odd who have held jobs in libraries know the extent of these activities. [Hint]

		6. With a strangely but cleverly designed betting sheet, a small group of clerks had the wagering down to a science, with elaborate football and baseball scoring patterns. [Hint]

		7. Encumbered with creating the betting sheets and keeping track of who won and lost, I wonder if library work was ever done by these entrepreneurs. [Hint]

		8. Hardly ever searching for anything, a co-worker of mine also found some strange things in the first-tier reference stacks. [Hint]

		9. With only one side smashed, she found down there some large wooden book carts on wheels, which had clearly been used in book-cart jousting matches. [Hint]

		10. Interrupted only by the occasional rubber band shooting war, the reference stacks were mostly a place of serenity and industrious work. [Hint]

		*Step 4:* Now that you have practiced recognizing and correcting dangling modifiers, think about a place of work that you have especially liked (or disliked). It could even be a place of work that you make up. Write a paragraph of at least five sentences telling how you feel about that place of work and why. Include in your paragraph modifying phrases that begin with such words as which and that, an -ing word, an -ed word, and a preposition such as with or from. After you finish, check to make sure you placed your modifiers correctly. If necessary, revise your sentences for correct modifier placement. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

Answer choices in this exercise are randomized and will appear in a different order each time the page is loaded.