Can a participle phrase modify an entire sentence?
For example, can the following sentence convey that the situation of these patients suffering from depression and avoiding social situation compromises the quality of their social lives, and not these patients who are compromising it?
“These patients suffer from depression and avoid social situations, compromising the quality of their social lives significantly”
Also, if there’s a better way to express this sentence, could you suggest it to me?
Top answer
These patients suffer from depression and avoid social situations, compromising the quality of their social lives significantly. Yes, it can, but I don't understand your reference to "these patients who are compromising it? Syntactically, the underlined clause (it's not a phrase) does not modify anything.
- These patients suffer from depression and avoid social situations, compromising the quality of their social lives significantly.
- Yes, it can, but I don't understand your reference to "these patients who are compromising it?
- Syntactically, the underlined clause (it's not a phrase) does not modify anything.
- The comma marks it as a supplement, a loosely attached element providing supplementary, non-integrated information.
- The adjunct can be interpreted as having a resultative meaning (as a result of their depression they compromise the quality of their social lives).
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These patients suffer from depression and avoid social situations, compromising the quality of their social lives significantly.
Yes, it can, but I don't understand your reference to "these patients who are compromising it?
Syntactically, the underlined clause (it's not a phrase) does not modify anything. The comma marks it as a supplement, a loosely attached ele
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