Participle phrases and postmodifier

Question

Hi there.I am told that Participle phrase is always modifying a noun.''I've spent the whole day shopping.'' & ''I paid the book using a credit card.''Both shopping and using are modifying the subject ''I''.What about this sentence?''The robber gave the teller a note demanding $1000.''Can ''demanding $1000'' modify the subject The robber? Or it is a postmodifier of note?Here is my own example:I have a chance going to Germany. Can ''going'' modify the subject ''I''?''He broke the window while he was playing football.''Can this sentence be written as ''He broke the window playing football.''Thanks

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

''I've spent the whole day shopping.'' & ''I paid for the book using a credit card.''
Both shopping and using are modifying the subject ''I''.

I disagree.
The first seems more like a complement of "day." It is a required element of the sentence.
The second seems more adverbial (an adjunct). It is not a required element for the sentence. It describes the manner of paying.

jasonkhlim''The robber gave the teller a note demanding $1000.''

Which one seems to you to be a better paraphrase?

Demanding $1000, the robber gave the teller a note.

The robber gave the teller a note which demanded $1000.

jasonkhlimI have a chance going to Germany. Can going modify the subject ''I''?

No. You have a mistake.
I have a chance of going to Germany.
I have a chance to go to Germany.

Jasonkhlim · Answer

Hi AlpheccaStars.

I disagree.
The first seems more like a complement of "day." It is a required element of the sentence.
The second seems more adverbial (an adjunct). It is not a required element for the sentence. It describes the manner of paying.

I came across this thread:

"Malani paid her electric bill using her credit card." Using is modifying Malani.
This sentence has a same structure with mine, doesn't it?

Can I say "I've spent the whole day at shopping. "?

Which one seems to you to be a better paraphrase?
Demanding $1000, the robber gave the teller a note.
The robber gave the teller a note which demanded $1000.

The first one is using participle phrases modifying the robber .
The second one is using a relative clause.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

jasonkhlimThis sentence has a same structure with mine, doesn't it?

Yes. There are different ways to analyze the sentence. To me, the clause does not seem to describe Malani as much as the means of paying.
Let's change it a little, without changing the meaning.
"Malani paid her electric bill with her credit card."

Would you say that the prepositional phrase describes Malani? Or how she paid the bill?

jasonkhlimCan I say "I've spent the whole day at shopping. "?

No, that's not natural.

jasonkhlimThe first one is using participle phrases modifying the robber .The second one is using a relative clause.

Right. And the relative clause modifies "note", no?

So which is closer to the original sentence?

The first one sounds odd. It should read something like this:
Demanding $1000, the robber pointed a gun at the teller.

Giving a note is not much of a threat, is it?

Jasonkhlim · Answer

Giving a note is not much of a threat, is it?

Thanks for the explanation.

"Malani paid her electric bill with her credit card."

Would you say that the prepositional phrase describes Malani? Or how she paid the bill?

This I have to agree with you.
If we added a preposition, it would be an adverbial.

Anonymous · Answer

jasonkhlim"Malani paid her electric bill using her credit card."

"Malani paid her electricity bill using her credit card."

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Anonymous"Malani paid her electricity bill using her credit card."

In the US, "electric bill" is commonly used, as is "gas bill," "water bill" and "utility bill."

Participle phrases and postmodifier

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Giving a note is not much of a threat, is it?

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