English grammar
Dangling participles: the opening phrase needs the right subject
Make an opening -ing or having + participle phrase fit the subject that follows.
From the scene Walking down the aisle, the rings…
In short
An opening -ing or having + participle phrase describes the subject that comes next, so put the right subject there.
Your turn
Which one goes with right subject next?
Options: having gone off to Medellín, Javi · Javi, looking for the rings, fell into the cake · Nuria walked out, slamming the door
Show answer
right subject next → Javi, looking for the rings, fell into the cake
How it works
An opening -ing phrase, or having + past participle, has no subject of its own.
Good to know
The reader takes it from the subject that comes next. If that subject is wrong, the sentence turns absurd: walking down the aisle, the rings fell out.
Good to know
Fix it by putting the right subject next, or by using a full clause: as Nuria walked down the aisle.
same subject: fine Nuria walked out, slamming the door
Javi
"Nuria walked out, slamming the door."
"Nuria salió dando un portazo."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank)."
Options: Looking for the rings · Having gone off to Medellín, Javi · Nuria walked out, slamming the door
Show answer
Javi
"Nuria walked out, slamming the door."
"Nuria salió dando un portazo."
right subject next Javi, looking for the rings, fell into the cake
Javi
And here: "Javi, looking for the rings, fell into the cake."
Y aquí: "Javi, buscando los anillos, se cayó en la tarta."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And here: "(blank)."
Options: Javi, looking for the rings, fell into the cake · Nuria walked out, slamming the door · Having gone off to Medellín, Javi
Show answer
Javi
And here: "Javi, looking for the rings, fell into the cake."
Y aquí: "Javi, buscando los anillos, se cayó en la tarta."
having + participle, right subject having gone off to Medellín, Javi
Nuria
Having gone off to Medellín, Javi made Nuria wait a year.
Habiéndose ido a Medellín, Javi hizo esperar un año a Nuria.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) made Nuria wait a year.
Options: Nuria walked out, slamming the door · Looking for the rings · Having gone off to Medellín, Javi
Show answer
Nuria
Having gone off to Medellín, Javi made Nuria wait a year.
Habiéndose ido a Medellín, Javi hizo esperar un año a Nuria.
dangling: the rings walk? walking down the aisle, the rings fell out
Javi
I never left! And this? "Walking down the aisle, the rings fell out of the box."
¡Si yo nunca me fui! ¿Y esto? «Caminando hacia el altar, los anillos se cayeron de la caja.»
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I never left! And this? "(blank) of the box."
Options: Nuria walked out, slamming the door · Javi, looking for the rings, fell into the cake · Walking down the aisle, the rings fell out
Show answer
Javi
I never left! And this? "Walking down the aisle, the rings fell out of the box."
¡Si yo nunca me fui! ¿Y esto? «Caminando hacia el altar, los anillos se cayeron de la caja.»
fixed with a full clause as Nuria walked down the aisle
Nuria
The rings don't walk. As Nuria walked down the aisle, the rings fell out.
Los anillos no caminan. Mientras Nuria caminaba hacia el altar, se cayeron los anillos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
The rings don't walk. (blank), the rings fell out.
Options: Looking for the rings · As Nuria walked down the aisle · Nuria walked out, slamming the door
Show answer
Nuria
The rings don't walk. As Nuria walked down the aisle, the rings fell out.
Los anillos no caminan. Mientras Nuria caminaba hacia el altar, se cayeron los anillos.
Common mistake
Not Nuria or the wedding here. Who went to Medellín?
Having gone off to Medellín, Javi made Nuria wait a year.
Habiéndose ido a Medellín, Javi hizo esperar un año a Nuria.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| same subject: fine | Nuria walked out, slamming the door |
|---|---|
| right subject next | Javi, looking for the rings, fell into the cake |
| having + participle, right subject | having gone off to Medellín, Javi |
| dangling: the rings walk? | walking down the aisle, the rings fell out |
| fixed with a full clause | as Nuria walked down the aisle |
More lines from the story
- NuriaI'm correcting it. Chapter two: the fight.Lo estoy corrigiendo. Capítulo dos: la pelea.