Noun + Participle

Question

I believe that the participle in the following phrase refers to the second noun (rubbish):

...possible sites with submerged rubbish

But I have some doubts. Could "submerged rubbish" be a participle phrase for "sites"? Or are "sites" and "rubbish" two independent parts in this sentence, connected by "with"?

In the phrase "the idea of putting rubbish into the harbour..", "putting" is a participle referring to "idea". So, I'm wondering, could it be the same case in the first phrase or not.

Could you please share your opinion on this?

Edited:

Thanks for the correction, "putting" is a gerund, of course!*

The second sentence is just another example of a relationship between a noun and a following preposition + modifier + noun. So, the question is if "submerged rubbish" functions as a modifier of "sites"? Or it complements "sites"?

Answer 1

possible sites with submerged rubbish

the idea of putting rubbish into the harbour

Yes, submerged describes rubbish.

No. submerged rubbish is a noun phrase and is the object of preposition with. The preposition phrase with submerged rubbish acts as an adjective describing sites.

In the 'habour' example, putting is a gerund. Again, the noun phrase putting rubbish into the harbour is the object of preposition of, and the preposition phrase of putting rubbish into the harbour acts as an adjective describing idea.

Edit

submerged rubbish is a noun phrase and used in this construction does not modify site. The phrase that acts as an adjective modifying site is the preposition phrase with submerged rubbish.

submerged rubbish functions as complement/object of with, not sites.

masterclass explains the use of prepositional phrases as adjectives.

Prepositional adjectival phrase: Many prepositions serve as adjective phrases that modify nouns. One such example is "the carpet on the wood floor," where "carpet" is the noun and "on the wood floor" is the modifying adjectival phrase.

Answer 2

"submerged" is a participle, modifying "rubbish".

"submerged rubbish" is a noun phrase, and the object of the preposition "with". It is neither a modifier nor a complement of "sites". It is a complement of "with".

"with submerged rubbish" is a prepositional phrase. It modifies "sites".

"sites with submerged rubbish" is another noun phrase, composed of a noun "sites", followed by a modifying prepositional phrase.