Sprouting plums of water through their trunks, the children giggled at the elephants. Which of the following best corrects the d
angling modifier? A. Sprouting plums of water through their trunks, Maria and Marco giggled at the elephants. B. The elephants sprouting plums of water through their trunks , the children giggled at them. C. The children sprouted plums of water through their trunks; the elephants giggled at them. D. The children giggled at the elephants sprouting plums of water through their trunks.
The correct answer is D. The children giggled at the elephants sprouting plums of water through their trunks.
That is the only option that makes it absolutely clear which words the modifier really modifies (elephants). The A and C examples make it sound as if the children had trunks and sprouted plums of water through them. The B example makes it clear that it's the elephants that we're talking about, but it doesn't work well in terms of syntax. Only the last option is well structured and clear.
