what is a dangling participial phrase
Dangling Phrases / Dangling Participles. Rule: A participial phrase (or other similar phrase) at the beginning of a sentence refers to the grammatical subject. Walking slowly down the road, he saw a woman accompanied by two children. The participle walking refers to the subject of the sentence (he), not to the woman. If you wish to make walking refer to the woman, you must recast the sentence: He saw a woman, accompanied by two children, walking slowly down the road.