I’d like to share some insights from my own experience learning English as a second language (ESL). If you're an ESL learner, it's essential to start by reading and then listening to English pronunciation and meaning. You can do this by watching movies, listening to podcasts, or even using Google Translate. Once you're comfortable with listening, you can start practicing your speaking with correct pronunciations. Don't worry too much about grammar at this stage, just focus on speaking in English to the best of your ability.
However, when it comes to writing, you must adhere to the rules of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics of English correctly. Examples of English mechanics include abbreviations, capitalization, compound words, contractions, run-on sentences, and spelling. Now, let's dive into the topic of dangling and misplaced modifiers.
“Here, it's important to learn about clauses and conjunctions as they can serve as helpful signposts to help you detect and avoid dangling and misplaced modifiers in your writing.”
In speaking, it's crucial to enunciate each word clearly to avoid misinterpretation by the listener. I learned this lesson firsthand when I spoke with a friend on Facebook via video call. Despite my correct pronunciation, my friend still struggled to understand my meaning. In one conversation, I misplaced my words and said, "I always sell my vegetables to a customer that is of good quality." My friend asked for clarification, "What do you mean by 'to a customer that is of good quality'?" I realized I had made a mistake; the modifier "good-quality" was placed too close to "customer," making it seem like the customer was of good quality, not the vegetables. This is an example of a misplaced modifier.
In another conversation, I used a dangling modifier. My friend asked, "What do you do in the morning?" I replied, "Starting a happy day, preparing a to-do list through discussion." My friend asked, "Who do you discuss with?" I quickly corrected myself, "Oh no, my friend. I really enjoyed talking to you. What I meant was, 'starting a happy day, my son and I always discuss beforehand to prepare a to-do list.'" In this instance, the modifier "starting a happy day" was left dangling without a subject or verb to modify.
These errors can occur when we speak or write with an unprepared mind or a lack of understanding of correct grammar. Aspiring writers must pay close attention to dangling and misplaced modifiers to avoid ambiguity and misinterpretation.
Focus on reading and listening to improve your English comprehension and speaking skills. When writing, adhere to the rules of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. And remember to watch out for dangling and misplaced modifiers in your writing and speaking. With practice, you'll master these grammar rules and become a more effective communicator.
Examples:
Dangling modifier: "After finishing my homework, the TV was turned on." The modifier "After finishing my homework" is left dangling because it doesn't have a clear noun to modify. The sentence should be revised to something like "After finishing my homework, I turned on the TV."
Misplaced modifier: "I saw a man with glasses driving a car." The modifier "with glasses" is misplaced in this sentence because it could modify either "man" or "car." A better version of this sentence might be "I saw a man driving a car who was wearing glasses."
Dangling modifier: "Walking through the park, the flowers were beautiful." This sentence has a dangling modifier because it's unclear who or what is doing the walking. A better version of this sentence might be "While walking through the park, I saw beautiful flowers."
Misplaced modifier: "She only ate a sandwich for lunch with cheese." This sentence has a misplaced modifier because it's not clear whether "with cheese" modifies "sandwich" or "lunch". It could be interpreted to mean that she only ate a sandwich that had cheese for lunch, or that she only ate a sandwich with cheese and nothing else for lunch. To make it clearer, the sentence could be rewritten as "For lunch, she only ate a sandwich that had cheese." or "She only ate a cheese sandwich for lunch."
In conclusion, understanding and applying the rules of grammar is crucial for effective communication, whether in writing or speaking. Dangling and misplaced modifiers can lead to ambiguity and misinterpretation, so it's important to be aware of them and avoid making these mistakes. By practicing your language skills and paying close attention to grammar rules, you can improve your ability to express yourself clearly and effectively. Remember, effective communication is the key to success in all aspects of life.
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Best regards,
Santosa Laksana.
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