So here is the simple definition of a Dangling Modifier with some examples.
A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.
You do have a certain amount of freedom in deciding where to place the modifier in a sentence:
Sue tamed the dragon easily.
Sue easily tamed the dragon.
Easily Sue tamed the dragon.
However, you will want to be wary of the misplaced modifiers as their position can modify the wrong thing. Writing can be greatly improved by paying attention to the misplaced modifier.
The single-word modifiers should be placed near the word or words they modify so that the reader gets a clear message of what you are saying. Consider these sentences:
[wrong] After Sue's dragon-speaking lessons, she could understand dragon language spoken by the professor easily.
Does Sue understand dragon language easily, or does the professor speak it easily?
The next sentence makes the meaning clear:
[right] Sue could easily understand dragon language after her dragon-speaking lessons taught by the professor.
It is also important to be careful about where you put limiting modifiers. These are words like "nearly", "just", "only", "almost", etc. Misplaced limiting modifiers can change the entire meaning of a sentence when placed next to the wrong word:
[wrong] Sue almost ate all of the dragon's food. (she didn't "almost eat" it)
[right] Sue ate almost all of the dragon's food.
[wrong] Sue has nearly annoyed every dragon she plays with. (she hasn't "nearly annoyed" them)
[right] Sue has annoyed nearly every dragon she has played with.
So, the lessons here are for Sue: While easily taming your dragon and easily speaking his language, do not continue eating almost all of the dragon food and annoying nearly every dragon you play with.
More grammar lessons to come regarding: misplaced phrases and clauses; squinting modifiers; split infinitives; and more about dangling participles.
Sheesh, there's a lot of rules in English.
copyright, Diane Mae Robinson, 2012