A noun phrase as a modifier or object

Question

This novel is set in a Chinese village before World War One.
The protagonist Wang Lung lives with his father.
Today is the wedding day of Wang Lung.
He came to the very big mansion where his bride-to-be works as a maid.
Wang Lung came to old mistress's place in the mansion, following the gate keeper.

And collecting himself in great shame Wang Lung looked ahead of him, and upon a dais in the center of the room he saw a very old lady, her small fine body clothed in lustrous, pearly grey satin, and upon the low bench beside her a pipe of opium stood, burning over its little lamp.
[The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck]
I'd like to know if "her small fine body" modifies "old lady," or is an object of "old lady."
Thank you in advance for your help.

GPY · Accepted Answer

park sang joonor is an object of "old lady."

I think you meant an object of "saw"? No, it is not an object of "saw". While it gives more information about the old lady, I would not say it really "modifies" that. It is more a separate thought, like the following, but with the verb omitted:

... in the center of the room he saw a very old lady; her small fine body was clothed in lustrous, pearly grey satin ...

But note that the verb "was" cannot actually be included in the original sentence with the punctuation as it stands (would constitute a comma splice).

It is like, say, "I stood there, my knees shaking", which may (or may not!) look more familiar to you.

Park sang joon · Answer

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CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know if "her small fine body" modifies "old lady," or is an object of "old lady."

her small fine body clothed in lustrous, pearly grey satin is an "absolute construction". That is, It's a participle clause (clothed) with an explicit subject (her small fine body), and it gives supplementary information, in this case about the old lady. I have no objection to calling it a modifier since it is not much different from the corresponding relative clause whose small fine body was clothed in lustrous, pearly grey satin. It is a non-restrictive clause, however, as is characteristic of structures that provide supplementary information.

Re: "object of 'old lady'"

That's impossible because 'old lady' is not a verb or preposition. Only a verb or preposition can have an object.

CJ

A noun phrase as a modifier or object

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