During a recent election trailer on TV, the announcer said, "With his language skills, President Obama chose [the candidate]".
My question is: who does the clause refer to -- the president or the candidate?
By the way, an interesting sidenote about the candidate: One night he called police to report his car stolen. They found it outside a local convenience store with the keys in the ignition and the motor running. When he was told about it, he suddenly recalled going to the store -- and forgetting he had taken the car, then walking home.
It's a very rare example of an "in-the-wild" dangling modifier that potentially could cause genuine confusion. But a moment's thought reveals that it's unlikely that it refers to the president as it would be something of a non sequitur. The president's language skills seem to have little or no bearing on the matter. It must therefore refer to the candidate.
Whenever people complain of a dangling modifier they inevitably jump on the potential ambiguity and refuse to acknowledge the fact that normal people pass straight over it to the intended meaning.
"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
I agree it refers to the candidate but you'd think the ad agency that prepared the trailer would have been more careful in their wording.
I hesitate to name "the candidate" but he is the grand-son of a former long-serving governor who has no political experience -- and apparently not enough sense to be issued a license to drive.
Are you pulling my leg? I obviously meant he didn't have enough sense that he be allowed to drive, although if you have enough money it's relatively simple to acquire a license.
I obviously meant he didn't have enough sense that he be allowed to drive, although if you have enough money it's relatively simple to acquire a license.
I honestly don't get what you mean. His family kept him from driving because of incompetence? It isn't hard getting a license in the U.S., you are right. Besides paying a nominal fee, you need to take a written test, pass a road test and of course not have a suspension or the like on your record.
Really? I've not heard of that for getting a driver's license, though I may be living a "sheltered" life.
Having said that, an ex Illinois governor is in jail for allowing truck drivers to get licenses without having the correct qualifications - but I've not heard of it for automobile driver licenses.
As my father used to say, "I could be wrong, you know!"
