Verb-ed and Verb-ing modifiers! - Dissection

This is one area where most of us feel confused at one time or another. I am writing down my knowledge that I've learnt. Please feel free to add value to this.

1. Verb-ed modifiers:

They modify the closest noun.

For e.g: Assigned to withstand the radiation, the spaceship can stay for 3 months in space.

Here Assigned is the verb-ed modifier and spaceship is the closest noun that can logically follow it. Hence correct.

2. Verb-ing modifiers:

Now these are more complex than the verb-ed modifiers. Here, 'comma' plays an important role.

With comma: verb-ing modifers modify the entire clause.
Without comma: verb-ing modifiers modify the closest noun.

With comma e.g. : Joe killed the snake, using the stick.

Here Joe killed the snake is modified by 'using' modifier. It means to tell that using the stick, joe killed the snake. Notice the comma, hence using the stick modifies the entire clause 'joe killed the snake'.

Without comma e.g. : Joe killed the snake sleeping behind his house.

Here, 'sleeping' modifies the closest noun i.e. snake. Hence it means that Joe killed the snake that was sleeping behind his house. Hence it is correct usage.

Special Case:

When verb-ing modifer comes before the clause, it may modify the entire clause after the comma or just the subject after the comma.

For e.g.: Using the stick, Joe killed the snake.

Here Using the stick modifies the entire clause i.e. it tells that using the stick, joe killed that snake.

Another e.g.: Wearing the black shirt, Joe killed the snake.

Here 'wearing the black shirt' modifies just Joe i.e. it tells that Joe was wearing a black shirt when he killed the snake. Hence, here the preceding modifier just modifies the subject of the following clause.


Summary:

Verb-ed modifier: Modifies the closest noun always.

Verb-ing modifer: Modifies the closest noun or the entire clause depending upon whether comma comes or not. If comma comes, then verb-ing modifier modifies the entire clause else only the closest noun. If verb-ing modifier precedes the clause, then it may modify the whole clause or just the subject of the clause depending upon the context of the sentence.


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