Tanchat
What about -ed modifier follows a comma : ________(sentence/clause)_______, -ed.
I know that there is no touch rule, but I would like to know in term of grammar. What things that -ed can modify? Is it the same as -ing following comma?
This question seems unrelated to the current mountain frog SC question. Anyway...
An -ed/-en modifier (past participle) that does not follow a comma modifies something it touches.
An -ed/-en modifier after a comma at the end of a sentence
typically modifies the subject of the preceding clause. But as a general rule, modifiers should be close to what they modify.
Here are some examples:
- The children fell asleep immediately, exhausted after the long trek.
(children are exhausted)- The children, exhausted after the long trek, fell asleep immediately.
(children are exhausted)- The children ate all the pizzas, famished after the long trek.
(children are famished, but it will be better to place the modifier closer to 'children')- Famished after the long trek, the children ate all the pizzas.
(no problem, children are famished)- The children, famished after the long trek, ate all the pizzas.
(no problem, children are famished)Here are two examples from Purdue OWL:- The local residents often saw Ken wandering through the streets.
(The phrase modifies Ken, not residents.)- Tom nervously watched the woman, alarmed by her silence.
(The phrase modifies Tom, not woman.)The Purdue OWL page on Participles is clear and informative. Please read it.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... iples.htmlPosted from my mobile device