How can we abbreviate a subordinate clause by use of a participle

Question

On Takkats advice i separated this part from this question:

"Senkenden Hauptes schlief sie langsam ein" - is this grammatically correct?

A (maybe) possible (but nowadays uncommon) abbreviation of

Während sie das Haupt senkte, schlief sie langsam ein.

The anwers here should focus on and explain what options one has in German to abbreviate a subordinate clause by use of participle structures. Maybe you give out a terminus for the grammatical structure and a short example?

Answer 1

In German it's a bit different, I try to compare my language and yours :-D

In English you can use the participle for this, make two to one:

I saw the girl yesterday. She went down the stairs. ➜ I saw the girl going down the stairs...

• In German the same could be done by using a Relativsatz or a Infinitivkonstruktion, e.g.:

  Gestern sah ich das Mädchen. Sie ging die Treppe hinunter. ➜ Ich sah das Mädchen die Treppe hinuntergehen.

• Especially after sensory verbs, you could use different type of subordinate clauses in German:

  Ich sah, wie das Mädchen die Treppe hinunterging.

In addition to that you can use the participle to eliminate subordinate clauses:

As she went to the principal she was angry. ➜ Going to the principal she was angry.

• In German you can use Partizip I and II:

  Indem sie ein fröhliches Liedchen pfeift, erledigt Yanina ihre Hausaufgaben. ➜ Ein fröhliches Liedchen pfeifend, erledigt Yanina ihre Hausaufgaben. (Partizip I)

  Als wir am Schwerter Bahnhof ankamen, nahmen wir sofort ein Taxi. ➜ Am Schwerter Bahnhof angekommen, nahmen wir sofort in ein Taxi. (Partizip II)

For further reading: Participles Partizip I and II

Some examples from: http://www.english-work.com