Paul, thanks for your answer. Part of my confusion is I have a few grammar sources that say a participal phrase always functions as an adjective, but it seems to be quite common to use it as an adjunct like you describe.
Are you saying there is no such thing as an absolute phrase?
http://www.englishgrammar.org/absolute-phrase/
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/absolutephrase.htm
They seem real to me!:)
The example you give doesn't seem like a clause to me, but I think it depends on how one interprets gripping in that sentence.
"His hands gripping the door"
I would say the phrase "gripping the door" is a typical participal phrase functioning as an adjective making the whole construction a phrase not a clause-no verb just the verbal gripping. Maybe gripping can and should be thought of as a verb here?
Anyway, thanks for your help and explanations.
Brett
Hi Paul,
Thank you for taking the time to educate me on this participle beast and especially the participle clause. Up until your answer, I didn't even know they existed. I have two grammar books that don't mention them. I found this link that seems quite good-
http://www.grammaring.com/participle-clauses
It seems to me a participle clause is a short hand way to rewrite a dependent clause. They show the rewrites for most of the clauses they give. Because sometimes the subject is implied, I mistakenly think of it as a phrase.
Maybe I misunderstood you, but you seem to be calling any verb with an ing ending a participle? It seemed like in some of your examples you were calling a Gerund a participle?
Anyway, this has been very helpful because now I can understand and use participle clauses!
Thanks!
Brett