SC: Participial Phrase

by **thailandvc** Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:10 am

Subject + Verb + Object, Modifier, Present Participle.....

Does the present participle a) modify the item immediately before it, which is the modifier in this case (extending the meaning of the modifier) or b) Modify the object or C) Modify the subject (I would imagine that it CANNOT modify the subject since it would not be parallel since you would need a regular verb, correct?)

Can some grammar expert help me out on this? I feel like 50% of my errors are due to modifiers and this very subject. THANKS.

Ex:
Bill went to the store, which is around the corner, looking for John.

Who is doing the looking?
A) the corner?
B) the store?
C) Bill?

Logically it is obvious that who is doing the looking because store and corner are objects, however is that structure correct and unambiguous?

Furthermore, if "looking" were to be replaced with an ambiguous like "standing," [ignore the stuff after standing] what would happen now? Since Bill and the corner can be standing and corner can be argued to also be standing (imperfect substitution for locating). What would happen now?

Can someone please resolve this internal conflict for me.