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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Choice between subordinate clauses?

Hi. Are they both correct? What would be possible factors that would affect the decision to choose one over the other (rather than the other) (if that is the option/choice available)?

1.He is reading a book while sitting on the bench.

2.He is reading a book sitting on a bench.
  

Top answer

#2 reads as if the book is sitting a bench. #2 should be re-written: Sitting on a bench, he is reading a book. #1 is fine.

— AlpheccaStars

  • #2 reads as if the book is sitting a bench.
  • #2 should be re-written: Sitting on a bench, he is reading a book.
  • #1 is fine.
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4 Answers
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#2 reads as if the book is sitting a bench.
#2 should be re-written:

Sitting on a bench, he is reading a book.

#1 is fine.
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Anonymous 1.He is reading a book while sitting on the bench.
2.He is reading a book sitting on a bench. The game here is that the meaning of #2 changes, depending on whether you place a comma after "book."

As A/S says, without the comma, the book is on the bench.
With the comma, the reader is on the bench.

In your f
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Thank you both of you, AlpheccaStar and Avangi. What would be the difference here? Do you think placing a comma after the words "playing" and "*****" makes a difference for both no. 1 and no.2?

The sentence I wrote:

He is reading a book sitting on a bench.





1.He is playing standing up.
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I think what we're talking about here is ambiguity. Syntax and symantics go hand in hand in determining whether or not a given sentence is ambiguous. A comma can push a modifier toward one noun or another, but when a particular interpretation is absolutely inconceivable, the mind discounts it, IMHO.
Such would be the interpretation that he has ***** which are standing on his toes, and he is
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