what would be the subject of the participle phrase 'while ensuring fairness to both sides' in the following sentence and why?
The principal sticking point when he first joined the talks, Perez said, was the arbitration system for resolving workplace disputes under the contract. He did not disclose how that impasse was overcome but said the parties agreed to changes that would improve the system WHILE ENSURING FAIRNESS TO BOTH SIDES.
what would be the subject of the participle phrase 'while ensuring fairness to both sides' in the following sentence and why?
The principal sticking point when he first joined the talks, Perez said, was the arbitration system for resolving workplace disputes under the contract. He did not disclose how that impasse was overcome but said the parties agreed to changes that would improve the system WHILE ENSURING FAIRNESS TO BOTH SIDES.
Hi
First of all it's NOT a phrase; it's a CLAUSE. It's what's called a 'subjectless non-finite clause'. In clauses like this, there is no overt subject; instead the subject has to be retrieved from the main clause. In this case it’s clearly "CHANGES". What it’s saying is that “changes would improve the system and at the same time those changes would ensure fairness to both sides”.