(also called a misrelated participle or a dangling participle) a participle that is not related to (placed next to) the correct noun or proper noun, e.g. in Coming down the hill, the fishing boat could be clearly seen, the fishing boat is the noun closest to the phrase coming down the hill. However, the sentence is incorrect and should be rewritten as As I was coming down the hill, I could see the fishing boat clearly. Another example is I want to buy a piano for my son, coming from Japan (when it is in fact the piano which is coming from Japan).