ILLOGICAL PARTICIPLE MODIFIER

ILLOGICAL PARTICIPLE MODIFIER

We have seen that participles are usually used as phrases in sentences. It is important that each of these phrases be used properly in the sentence so that its relationship with other words in the sentence is absolutely clear. If it is not, the result is dangling modifier.

**When the two phrases do not share a common subject, we call the participial phrase an illogical participial modifier. Actually, the subject of the participial phrase is understood rather than explicit. Remember that the Noun appearing after the comma must be the logical subject of the participial modifier.

After jumping out of a boat, the shark bit the man. [Incorrect: We understand that the actual subject of the verb jumping is the man; therefore, immediately after the common, we must mention the man.]

After jumping out of a boat, the man was bitten by a shark.

**Sometimes the participial phrase is preceded by a preposition. by upon before after while

After preparing the dinner, Michelle will read a book. By working a ten-hour day for four days, we can have a long weekend.

** The perfect form (having + verb in past participle) is used to indicate that the action of the participial phrase took place before that of the main verb.

(not)+having+[verb in past participle] .... noun

Having finished their supper, the boys went out to play. Not having read the book, she could not answer the question.

**The participial phrase can also be used to express an idea in the passive voice, in which the subject was responsible for the action.

Sometimes a participial modifier in passive voice is reduced by dropping the “have been” and using the past participial alone.

Attacked by an angry mob, the gashes in the boy's throats were life threatening. [Incorrect]

[Note that attacked means the same as having been attacked. The actual subject of verb attacked is the boy; therefore, reference to him must appear immediately after the comma]

Attacked by an angry mob, the boy suffered life threatening gashes in his throat. [Correct]

Observe the corrected form of the following illogical participle modifiers.

Before singing the school song, a poem was recited.

[Incorrect]

Before singing the school song, the students recited a poem. [Correct]

**In other cases, sometimes participles are not used but there may have a modifier phrase without any participle. This situation also demands the same kind of logical relationship.

Unable to swim, a lifeguard rescued me. [Incorrect]

Unable to swim, I was rescued by a lifeguard. [Correct]

To determine its value, the book will be appraised.

[Incorrect]

To determine its value, we will have the book appraised. [Correct]