Present Participle

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Sgofpl

#470677 Wed, 30 Jan 08 05:51 PM

Hi,

It is estimated that during the 1980’s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital left Mexico, adding to the strain on the country’s debt-ridden economy.

The present participle "adding" modifies "investment captial left" than "investment capital". That means it modifies "clause" than "noun" to act as "adjective".

I am confused. Can anyone please shed some light.

Thanks

Sgofpl

Joined on Sat, Jan 26 2008

Minneapolis

New Member (08)

Clauses, Nouns

Avangi

#470733 Wed, 30 Jan 08 08:44 PM

Hi Sgofpl,

I can't illucidate but I too am confused. I've often seen these analyses offered, seemingly as options, where something is said to modify the whole phrase or clause rather than a particular word. I'm looking forward to some learned opinions.

Your use of "than" is not typical. Do you mean, "rather than" or "first A, then B"?

My only comment on the example itself is that once you start playing this game, you can say that a whole phrase or clause is acting as a noun, so its modifiers would act as adjectives. But I really get the sense from this example that "adding" modifies everything which comes before it in the sentence.

Regards, - A.

Avangi

Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007

Senior Member (3,817)

". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

Regards, Dates, Clauses, Nouns

Yankee

#470775 Wed, 30 Jan 08 10:57 PM

It is estimated that during the 1980’s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital left Mexico, adding to the strain on the country’s debt-ridden economy.

In a participial clause beginning with a present participle, the participle can be used instead of a relative pronoun and an active verb.
In your sentence, you could easily replace 'adding' with 'which added'. The clause is a non-defining one. It adds information to an entire idea -- the idea that 'during the 1980’s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital left Mexico'.