Icecream87 wrote:
Hi sayantanc2k,
Thanks for answering, I just felt like there were several inconsistencies with what I read. Please correct me if I am wrong, this is how I see things:
(i) the subject of previous clause
- a comma + ING modifier can modify the subject of the clause ONLY when placed before the clause
EXAMPLE Modifying subject: wearing high heels, I talked to my friend (my heels had nothing to do with my talking to my friend). Therefore high heels only modify ‘me’
- when place before the clause it can also modify the entire clause (by bringing additional info)
EXAMPLE Modifying the entire clause: Using my phone, I talked to my friend (How did I talk to my friend? By using the phone. This modifies the entire clause)
(ii) the whole clause, if it is expressing result
- when placed after the clause, it always modifies the entire clause, but the ING modifier can now have TWO functions: bringing additional info or bringing the result)
EXAMPLE Modifying the entire clause bringing additional info: I talked to my friend, using my phone. (How did I talk to my friend? By using the phone.)
EXAMPLE Modifying the entire clause bringing result: I played with my phone, finishing the battery. (the result of playing with my phone was that I finished my battery)
(iii) may refer back to an in between noun in the previous clause. Such a construction is considered correct.
This is the role of a noun + noun modifier: the only time that an ING modifier holds the same role as a noun + noun modifier is when the ING modifier modifies the entire clause by bringing additional information and when the noun + noun modifier also modifies the entire clause.
EXAMPLE ING modifier and Noun + noun modifier playing the same role :
using ING modifier: Scientists detected high levels of radiation at crash sites around the world, suggesting that …
Noun + noun modifier: Scientists detected high levels of radiation at crash sites around the world, results that suggest that …
(i) and (ii) When placed after the clause, the -ing modifier could be invalid in absence of a suitable subject. Following is an example (from Manhattan SC guide):
Correct: I lifted the weight, WHISTLING "Beat It."
Wrong: The weight was lifted, WHISTLING "Beat It."
In the first sentence, the -ing modifier may be considered either a (pro)noun-modifier ( modifying
I .. who lifted?), or a verb-modifier (modifying
lifted... how lifted?). It may be more meaningful to consider it a (pro)noun modifier, since in the second sentence, in absence of the (pro)noun, the modifier becomes invalid. (i.e. cannot be used just a verb modifier).
(iii) I could not clearly understand which "in between" noun in the previous clause the modifier ("suggesting....") is referring to; what I understood is that the -ing modifier modifies the whole clause.