comment/single page errors

when editing my single.php file i want to get rid of the small grey text below the post but when i do, it gives me errors saying the

<?php endwhile; else: ?> and <?php endif; ?>

aren’t needed but when i take them out then it gives me

Parse error: parse error, unexpected $ in /home/otaku84/public_html/x/wp-content/themes/laughing/single.php on line 61

— how do i make this work?

also, i cannot get my textarea in my comments to lessen in colspace/width. i’ve tried via CSS as well as changing just

cols="##%"

— any help on that as well?
( https://www.otakugirl.us/x/?p=1#comments )