The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying children. interested (in) (participle) music (direct object of action expressed in participle) early (adverb) Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise. The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying Lynn. Having been (participle) a gymnast (subject complement for Lynn, via state of being expressed in participle) Placement: In order to prevent confusion, a participial phrase must be placed as close to the noun it modifies as possible, and the noun must be clearly stated. Carrying a pile of books, his foot caught on a step. * Carrying a heavy pile of books, he caught his foot on a step. In the first sentence there is no clear indication of who or what is performing the action expressed in the participle carrying. Certainly foot can't be logically understood to function in this way. This situation is an example of a error since the modifier (the participial phrase) is not modifying any specific noun in the sentence and is thus left "dangling." Since a person must be doing the carrying for the sentence to make sense, a noun or pronoun that refers to a person must be in the place immediately after the participial phrase, as in the second sentence. Punctuation: When a participial phrase begins a sentence, a comma should be placed after the phrase. Arriving at the store, I found that it was closed. Washing and polishing the car, Frank developed sore muscles. If the participle or participial phrase comes in the middle of a sentence, it should be set off with commas only if the information is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Sid, watching an old movie, drifted in and out of sleep. The church, destroyed by a fire, was never rebuilt. Note that if the participial phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence, no commas should be used:
The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying children. interested (in) (participle) music (direct object of action expressed in participle) early (adverb) Having been a gymnast, Lynn knew the importance of exercise. The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying Lynn. Having been (participle) a gymnast (subject complement for Lynn, via state of being expressed in participle) Placement: In order to prevent confusion, a participial phrase must be placed as close to the noun it modifies as possible, and the noun must be clearly stated. Carrying a pile of books, his foot caught on a step. * Carrying a heavy pile of books, he caught his foot on a step. In the first sentence there is no clear indication of who or what is performing the action expressed in the participle carrying. Certainly foot can't be logically understood to function in this way. This situation is an example of a error since the modifier (the participial phrase) is not modifying any specific noun in the sentence and is thus left "dangling." Since a person must be doing the carrying for the sentence to make sense, a noun or pronoun that refers to a person must be in the place immediately after the participial phrase, as in the second sentence. Punctuation: When a participial phrase begins a sentence, a comma should be placed after the phrase. Arriving at the store, I found that it was closed. Washing and polishing the car, Frank developed sore muscles. If the participle or participial phrase comes in the middle of a sentence, it should be set off with commas only if the information is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Sid, watching an old movie, drifted in and out of sleep. The church, destroyed by a fire, was never rebuilt. Note that if the participial phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence, no commas should be used:
Verbals.docx