1&2) 1-They attacked Jeff (him) in a dark alley, drunk, weak and exhausted.
Some might this it is they who are drunk, weak, and exhausted. I hope it isn't the dark alley that is drunk, weak, and exhausted. (Just kidding.) It is a bit ambigous.
They attacked Jeff, who was drunk, weak, and exhausted, in a dark alley. (probably best for clarity in an active voice.)
Or,
In a dark alley, they attacked Jeff drunk, weak, and exhausted. If you put a comma after Jeff, then the drunk, weak, and exhausted adjectives usually refers back to the subject (they).
So we've addressed your number three as well.
Or you could use a passive sentence.
Drunk, weak, and exhausted, Jeff was attacked (by them). "By them" is not really required unless you want to stipulate "them" as opposed to some dogs or something else.
This is from a now defunct/unavailable Purdue (University) site. You might try searching "owl purdue english" in Google. Perhaps the site is down temporarily.
8. Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence that refer back to the beginning or middle of the sentence. Such phrases are free modifiers that can be placed anywhere in the sentence without causing confusion. (If the placement of the modifier causes confusion, then it is not "free" and must remain "bound" to the word it modifies.)
1. Nancy waved enthusiastically at the docking ship, laughing joyously. (correct)
2a. Lisa waved at Nancy, laughing joyously. (incorrect: Who is laughing, Lisa or Nancy?)
2b. Laughing joyously, Lisa waved at Nancy. (correct)
2c. Lisa waved at Nancy, who was laughing joyously. (correct)
Hope that helps.
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