Re: German participles

Hi, you are right, it is an absolute participial phrase, just as in
Latin. It occurs in other languages too, e.g. in the Slavonic ones. It
is by no means elliptical (as you cannot add anything to preserve the
meaning). Even adding an active particip (habend) would change the
meaning significantly. If you still have questions about this pattern,
I would consult a grammar, just let me know.


Hi,

I'd like to invite the native speakers of German or anyone familiar
with the language among you to examine the following sentence:

"Acht Gestalten, die Gesichter hinter Tuechern und Wollmuetzen
versteckt, schlendern langsam zum Haus Nummer 128. "

Someone told me that "die Gesichter hinter Tuechern und Wollmuetzen
versteckt" is a reduced relative clause. But I doubt it. Can it be an
"absolute participial construction" instead?

Thank you in advance.

Ray

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: German participles
    ... versteckt, schlendern langsam zum Haus Nummer 128. ... Someone told me that "die Gesichter hinter Tuechern und Wollmuetzen ...
    (sci.lang)
  • German participles
    ... versteckt, schlendern langsam zum Haus Nummer 128. ... Someone told me that "die Gesichter hinter Tuechern und Wollmuetzen ...
    (sci.lang)