Hanging participle - Definition

A hanging participle or adjective, also known as an unattached participle, is a grammatical error in which a participle or adjective does not agree with the noun or pronoun with which it is associated. For example, in the following sentence the participle finding is associated with the noun mangoes, but it is not mangoes that find mangoes impossible to digest:

Finding them impossible to digest, mangoes are never on his breakfast table.

In this sentence, the particle finding agrees properly with the noun, John, with which it is associated:

Finding them impossible to digest, John never eats mangoes for breakfast.

Here are some similar errors, with suggested corrections:

Walking to work, a dog bit him on the leg. (> Walking to work, he was bitten on the leg by a dog)

Caught redhanded, it was easy for the police to arrest him. (> Caught redhanded, he was easily arrested by the police.)

Carelessly discarding a cigarette, the forest was soon on fire around him. (> Carelessly discarding a cigarette, he was soon surrounded by burning forest.)

However, we should note that some participles do not need to agree with a noun:

Generally speaking, it is easy to to hit a sitting duck.

Owing to bad weather, the festival has been canceled.

Taking the long view, it's better not to smoke.

Example Usage of participle