Carrying a heavy pile of books, his foot caught on a step.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Lenka

OK, thank you!
To tell the truth, I believe I won't have any problems not to use such confucing sentences... I wouldn't say it... Maybe the reason is that I am not a native speaker.

Good idea, Lenka. But remember, you likely don't intend to be a passive learner all your life. By that I mean that you have to be able to process, quickly, the speech of native speakers, and as the AHD noted, these are common in speech and even in some writing.

[riverkid]

Also, Lenka, remember that in speech, and this happens more so as speech becomes more casual, a lot of shortcuts are used.

AHD: "The participial modifier is a saver of time and space, in that it replaces a full clause of some sort—"

DANGLING MODIFIERS. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993

[Lenka]

Originally Posted by riverkid

Also, Lenka, remember that in speech, and this happens more so as speech becomes more casual, a lot of shortcuts are used.

AHD: "The participial modifier is a saver of time and space, in that it replaces a full clause of some sort—"

DANGLING MODIFIERS. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993

Thank you very much, riverkid! You all here seem to be so nice and willing to help!

What is the "AHD"?


As to the links about dangling modifiers... I read the "article" and don't understand one thing:
Stop When Flashing - I have no idea when this could me used and what it is intended to mean.

Shake Before Using - if I understand it well, it means "shake yourself before you use this", technically. Am I right?

By the way, do you speak Latin? Well, I don't, but I do know some names for several terms which belong to linguistics.
I just know that in Czech, there are words called "transgresiva" (the name must be similar in Latin). They aren't used much, but they have exatly the same meanings and position in the sentence like participles do. I just wonder, what is the difference between participles and the "transgresives".
Well, in my language, you have to add some special addings to the verb stem (and the addings vary from person etc.).

[riverkid]

Lenka: Thank you very much, riverkid! You all here seem to be so nice and willing to help!

You're very welcome, Lenka.

What is the "AHD"?

American Heritage Dictionary


As to the links about dangling modifiers... I read the "article" and don't understand one thing:
Stop When Flashing - I have no idea when this could me used and what it is intended to mean.

Shake Before Using - if I understand it well, it means "shake yourself before you use this", technically. Am I right?

The first is a traffic sign. In full it means, "Stop your vehicle when the light is flashing".

The second relates a phrase often found in instructions. Technically and actually, it means, "Shake this container before using the product found inside."

By the way, do you speak Latin? Well, I don't, but I do know some names for several terms which belong to linguistics.
I just know that in Czech, there are words called "transgresiva" (the name must be similar in Latin). They aren't used much, but they have exatly the same meanings and position in the sentence like participles do. I just wonder, what is the difference between participles and the "transgresives".
Well, in my language, you have to add some special addings to the verb stem (and the addings vary from person etc.).

I really have no idea on this part, Lenka. Other than some Latin learned as an altar boy, no I don't speak any Latin.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Lenka

OK, thank you!

To tell the truth, I believe I won't have any problems not to use such confucing sentences... I wouldn't say it... Maybe the reason is that I am not a native speaker.

It is relatively easy to avoid these sentences. When a sentence is started with a participial phrase, it logically attaches to the first noun or pronoun that follows it. So just make certain that the phrase decribes the following noun or pronoun.

Incorrect: Lighting a cigarette, the car drove off the rode.
Correct: Lighting a cigarette, John drove the car off the road.

Cars don't light cigarettes.

Incorect: Talking to the peson next to him, the plane dropped altitude.
Correct: While John was talking to the person next to him, the plane dropped altitude.
Correct: Talking to the person next to him, John felt the plane drop altitude.

Planes don't talk to the person next to it/him.