Question

What is the name of the common error in the following sentence?

Having risen because of the rains, the hikers were unable to cross the river.
A. Prepositional phrase
B. Run-on sentence
C. Dangling modifier
D. Infinitive phrase

Answer 1

The name of the common error in this sentence is C) dangling modifier.
We don't know what the dangling modifier (having risen because of the rains) actually refers to - does it refer to the hikers or the river?
Although using logic you can infer that it refers to the river, but still, the order of the words makes it an incorrect sentence.