Hello--

I am just a lowly 10th grade English teacher (an English MINOR at that), but I teach 
my students that the participial phrase modifies the element closest to it in the 
sentence.  I would classify #2 as a misplaced modifier because it conveys the sense 
that the tears were trying to be brave.  I would advise my students that #1 is the 
sentence most easily understood because the modifier does not interrupt the flow 
of the sentence.  That's a pragmatic analysis from one who lives her life "in the 
trenches."

I have never had the benefit of a linguistics or advanced grammar class, so some 
of your discussions strike me as akin to "how many angels can dance on the head 
of a pin."  However, I am entertained, intrigued and at times edified by your 
obvious commitment to classifying and parsing the minutest components of our 
unwieldy, living language.  Thank you!

Laura Oliver
Pleasantville High School


---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: John Crow <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Assembly for the Teaching of English 
Grammar<[log in to unmask]>
Date:          Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:25:53 -0400

>The following sentence has the same participle phrase in three positions:
>
>   1. Trying to appear brave, the little boy fought back the tears.
>   2. The little boy fought back the tears, trying to appear brave.
>   3. The little boy, trying to appear brave, fought back the tears.
>
>"The little boy" is obviously given information; "tears" and "brave"
>represent new information.  I know that the decision about where to place
>the participle phrase in a piece of writing would be made according to
>context.  However, some overarching principle should apply, it would seem.
>So my question is this:  does the placement of the participle phrase bring
>either "tears" or "brave" into sharper focus?
>
>Here's my very confused take:
>
>   - Fronting an element is supposed to emphasize that element, so #1
>   emphasizes "brave"?
>   - The final element in a sentence is emphasized, so in #2, "brave" is
>   prominent?
>   - Following this same logic, #1 emphasizes "tears" as well as "brave"?
>   If so, which one is more prominent?
>   - Putting the participle in the middle of the sentence de-emphasizes it,
>   so #3 clearly emphasizes "brave" and only "brave".
>
>Can anybody help me out of the explanatory morass?  I would be most
>appreciative!
>John
>
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>
>
 




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