Hello,
Is the common error in the following sentence an infinitive phrase?
Having risen because of the rains, the hikers were unable to cross the river.
The problem with this sentence is a misplaced modifier. Did the hikers rise because of the rains?
You need to put the phrase close to the word it modifies.
Hello!
In the given sentence, the common error is not an infinitive phrase, but rather a misplaced modifier. The phrase "Having risen because of the rains" is intended to modify the hikers, but it is placed at the beginning of the sentence, creating confusion as to what it actually modifies.
To correct this error, you want to place the phrase closer to the word it modifies. In this case, you can rephrase the sentence as: "The hikers, having risen because of the rains, were unable to cross the river."
By moving the phrase closer to the subject it modifies, the sentence becomes clearer and avoids the misplaced modifier error.