This sentence is from the Advanced Focus on Grammar -

Checking the children, Reg and Maggie found them still sleeping peacefully on the back seat.

"Checking the children" is a phrase reduced from an adverb clause.

Is "still sleeoing peacefully on the back seat" also a reduced clause?

If not, what is it? I have read there is an overlap in function of -ing particilpes (cf Swan) at times - is this one of them? I'm a little confused! Thank you!

"Still sleeping peacefully" would be categorized as the -ing form following a special expression in Understanding and Using English Grammar, Third Edition* by Betty Azar.

The chart on page 304 shows "find" and "catch" followed by an object (pro)noun + the –ing form of the verb, like this:

"¢ When I walked into my office, I found George using my telephone.
"¢ When I walked into my office, I caught a thief looking through my desk drawers.
_______

Other expressions which are followed by the –ing form of the verb are:

have fun, have a good time, have trouble, have difficulty, have a hard time, have a difficult time, as in:

"¢ I had a hard time finding his house.

______

Some verbs, like spend and waste are followed by an expression of time or money and then by the –ing verb:

"¢ Sally is spending a lot of time doing research at the library.
_______

Some verbs, such as sit and stand are followed by an expression of place, and then by the –ing verb:

"¢ I stood there wondering what to do next.

Rachel
_______

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rachel, Moderator,

Thanks Rachel.
Clause-wise, in the sentences

"¢ When I walked into my office, I found George using my telephone.

"¢ When I walked into my office, I caught a thief looking through my desk drawers.
"¢ ...'children still sleeping peacefully'

the phrases
'[who was] using my telephone,
[who was] looking through my desk drawers, [that the children were sleeping eacefully]'

are reduced *adjective* clauses at a deeper level then.

And similarly, in "I stood there wondering what to do next", the -ing form after stood indicates a reduced adverb clause, at a deeper level. ['while I was wondering' > 'while wondering' > 'wondering']

Is this correct? Thank you so MUCH for this forum and your timely help.

Yes.

You have made a good analysis.