现在分词修饰作用分析探讨

smilingsea

最近看OG,发现ETS非常愿意考现在分词修饰名次，有的时候现在分词修饰距离它最近的名词，有的时候修饰句子主语，起伴随状语作用。到底什么时候修饰名词，什么时候修饰主语，仿佛很难弄明白，请大家讨论。请看下面几道题目：

256. The nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote the only eyewitness account of the great eruption of Vesuvius in two letters to the historian Tacitus.

(A)              The nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote the only eyewitness account of the great eruption of Vesuvius in two letters to the historian Tacitus.

(B)              To the historian Tacitus, the nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote two letters, being the only eyewitness accounts of the great eruption of Vesuvius.

(C)              The only eyewitness account is in two letters by the nephew of Pliny the Elder writing to the historian Tacitus an account of the great eruption of Vesuvius.

(D)              Writing the only eyewitness account, Pliny the Elder's nephew accounted for the great eruption of Vesuvius in two letters to the historian Tacitus.

(E)              In two letters to the historian Tacitus, the nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote the only eyewitness account of the great eruption of Vesuvius.

这道题答案是E。对B为何错,ets这样解释：In B, the verb phrase that begins being the only eyewitness accounts modifies the subject of the preceding clause, suggesting non-sensically that the nephew of Pliny the Elder himself was the eyewitness accounts. 可见，现在分词being修饰的是前边句子的主语，而非最近的名词letters.

253. Analysts blamed May's sluggish retail sales on unexciting merchandise as well as the weather, colder and wetter than was usual in some regions. which slowed sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture.
(A) colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed
(B) which was colder and wetter than usual in some regions, slowing
(C) since it was colder and wetter than usually in some regions, which slowed
(D) being colder and wetter than usually in some regions, slowing
(E) having been colder and wetter than was usual in some regions and slowed

Key is B.这里现在分词slowing修饰weather,而没有修饰analyst。可见，现在分词slowing修饰最近的名词,而非句子的主语。

178. In the last few years, the number of convicted criminals given community service sentences, which allow the criminals to remain unconfined while they perform specific jobs benefiting the public, have risen dramatically.
(A) sentences, which allow the criminals to remain unconfined while they perform specific jobs benefiting the public, have
(B) sentences, performing specific jobs that benefit the public while being allowed to remain unconfined, have
(C) sentences, performing specific jobs beneficial to the public while they are allowed to remain unconfined, have
(D) sentences which allow them to remain unconfined in their performing of specific jobs beneficial to the public has
(E) sentences allowing them to remain unconfined while performing specific jobs that benefit the public has

key is E.现在分词allowing修饰sentences，不是主句名词number。可见，现在分词allowing修饰最近的名词,而非句子的主语。

259. Five fledgling sea eagles left their nests in western Scotland this summer, bringing to 34 the number of wild birds successfully raised since transplants from Norway began in 1975.

(A) bringing
(B) and brings
(C) and it brings
(D) and it brought
(E) and brought

key is A.现在分词bringing修饰句子主语eagles，表伴随状语，不修饰summer。可见，现在分词bringing修饰句子的主语，而非最近的名词。

这几道题目看下来，越发confused.

1. 256，259题，主语名词...+名词＋逗号＋现在分词，现在分词不修饰这个名词，而是主语名词，通常起伴随状语作用。但是253题打破了这个规律。


2. 比较肯定的是，178题，名词+现在分词，现在分词都是无歧异地修饰这个名词，不会有歧异错误。

请大家讨论一下我的分析。结论2是否正确，1又是怎么回事呢？

smilingsea

up! anyone please respond.