[Grammar] a crowd of people standing around Michelangelo’s Pietà

[it-is-niaz]

Original: The first time I noticed this phenomenon was a few years ago, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome – a crowd of people standing around Michelangelo’s Pietà, taking photos with their cameras and cell phones.

Source: American English File 2


Are the following correct as well?

The first time when I noticed this phenomenon was a few years ago, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome – a crowd of people who were standing around Michelangelo’s Pietà, taking photos with their cameras and cell phones.

 

[jutfrank]

No, they are both wrong.

However, you could replace your when with that and you could replace your who were with were.

 

[it-is-niaz]

[STRIKE]So,[/STRIKE] Is the original sentence incorrect as well because of using "standing" instead of "were standing"?

 

[GoesStation]

[STRIKE]So,[/STRIKE] Is the original sentence incorrect as well because of using "standing" instead of "were standing"?

No, it's fine. "This" is expanded into "a crowd of people".

 

[newkeenlearner]

No, it's fine. "This" is expanded into "a crowd of people".

It dosen’t make sense to me too.
How can we use the -ing form of a verb without “am, is, or are”? because JutFrank mentioned “who were standing” is incorret. It sounds like we say “ I going to a resurant tonight”.

 

[GoesStation]

"Standing" modifies "a crowd of people". In this sentence, it's a modifier, not a part of a continuous verb. [I'm not a grammar authority but I think that's correct.]

For example, "Do you see Jack, standing over there?"

 

[it-is-niaz]

Thank you all. I got it. We have the format "notice somebody/something doing something". That's why the author used "standing".