What does the participle modify?

Well, consider this.

You cannot move the participial phrase without changing the meaning of the sentence. If you rearrange your sentence, see what happens:

I saw an accident between a car and a truck walking down the street.
I saw an accident between a car walking down the street and a truck.

Similarly, you cannot move an adjective without changing the meaning becaus

James MWhich answer do you suggest that we learners adopt?

If you are participating in a classroom setting to learn English, adopt the method advised by your teacher.
If you are studying on your own from a particular book, adopt the method advised by that book.
____________

Personally, I don't think "modify" is the right word. These co

Thank you very much, AlpheccaStars and CalifJim, for your very insightful answers.

James MWalking down the street, I saw an accident between a car and a truck.(1) Many books tell us that the participle phrase modifies the subject.(2) Some people say it modifies the whole sentence.Which answer do you suggest that we learners adopt?

James, this is the same kind of construction as "Putting on his cap, Jim started down the stairs", that y

Thank you, BillJ, for your reply.

Unless I am mistaken, two experts tell me that the participle DOES modify (attach to) the subject; two experts tell me

it does NOT.

I guess this is just another example of how experts can disagree on how to parse a sentence.

Thanks again!

James MI guess this is just another example of how experts can disagree on how to parse a sentence.

I guess so. Or how far one is willing to stretch the concept of "modify".

My view is that the predicate of a sentence does not "modify" the subject. But that is more or less what you get if you say that a clause like "While I was walking down the s

James MWalking down the street, I saw an accident between a car and a truck.

<< But those examples are a far cry from your example, where the clause "Walking down the street" most definitely does not modify the subject "I".

BillJ>>

Not being an expert,

AvangiNot being an expert, I cannot interpret this participial phrase as not describing the subject, "I." But it can certainly describe the clause, "I saw."

Whatever happened to the grammatical error (formerly?) known as the "dangling modifier."? These types of phrases (oops, non-finite / reduced clauses) were often cited as examples of such errors, at least i

AlpheccaStarsWhatever happened to the grammatical error (formerly?) known as the "dangling modifier."?

My mother would have said it went the way of all flesh.

Edit. I applaud your choice of the technical term, "element." Who could possibly argue with that??

AvangiMy mother would have said it went the way of all flesh.

Our mothers think alike.... mine would have added - so go and sin no more!