[Grammar] At Christmas the family all arrive at the house bearing gifts.

[nininaz]

Hello all,

Main sentence:
"At Christmas the family all arrive at the house bearing gifts."

Was it something like?

At Christmas the family all arrive at the house (while/when they are) bearing gifts. (reduced adverb clause)

 

[jutfrank]

Don't overcomplicate things, nininaz. It means they arrive with gifts. They brought gifts with them.

 

[nininaz]

Don't overcomplicate things, nininaz. It means they arrive with gifts. They brought gifts with them.

Sure teacher. Thanks for your advice.
I just wanted to know why the 'ing' form of verb was used.
And, the following are another examples:
"The guests all arrived bearing(= bringing) gifts."
three kings bearing gifts.
They arrived bearing gifts.

In all of the examples the 'ing' form of verb is used.

 

[jutfrank]

The -ing form shows that when they arrived, they had gifts with them. The arriving and the bearing happened at the same time.

 

[nininaz]

The -ing form shows that when they arrived, they had gifts with them. The arriving and the bearing happened at the same time.

so the use of 'while or when' is incorrect?

 

[jutfrank]

so the use of 'while or when' is incorrect?

Yes. However, you could rewrite the sentence with when, like this:

When they arrived at the house, they were bearing gifts.

Can you see now why the -ing form is used in the original?

 

[nininaz]

Can you see now why the -ing form is used in the original?

Yes teacher, so many thanks.
It was because at the same time when they arrived, they carried some gifts themselves.