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

Question

In another question, I asked for the grammaticality of:

Senkenden Hauptes schlief sie langsam ein.

which may be a possible, uncommon abbreviation of

Während sie das Haupt senkte, schlief sie langsam ein.

Here, I am asking what other 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