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In the examples above, the absolute phrases are at the front of the sentence and offset with a comma. However, they can also appear mid-sentence or at the end. For example: The players, their hearts torn, limped off the pitch. (When mid-sentence, the phrase is offset with two commas.) Dexter stared at the ball, his tail wagging frantically.
- Examples and Observations
- Nominative Absolutes
- More Examples of Absolute Phrases
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"The absolute phrase that adds a focusing detail is especially common in fiction writing, much more common than in expository writing... In the following passages, all from works of fiction, some have a participle as the post-noun modifier...; however, you'll also see some with noun phrases, others with prepositional phrases. 1. There was no bus in...
"Nominative absolutes are related to nonfinite verb phrases... They consist of a subject noun phrase followed by some part of the predicate: either a participle form of the main verb or a complemen..."Absolutes have traditionally been called nominative because the absolute construction begins with a noun phrase as its headword. Nevertheless, they function adverbially as sentence modifiers. Some..."Roy circles the bases like a Mississippi steamboat, lights lit, flags fluttering, whistle banging, coming round the bend." (Bernard Malamud, The Natural, 1952)"Harry froze, his cut finger slipping on the jagged edge of the mirror again." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Scholastic, 2007)"Bolenciecwcz was staring at the floor now, trying to think, his great brow furrowed, his huge hands rubbing together, his face red." (James Thurber, "University Days")"The spider skins lie on their sides, translucent and ragged, their legs drying in knots." (Annie Dillard, Holy the Firm, 1977)An absolute phrase is a group of words that modifies an independent clause as a whole. Learn how to identify and use absolutes in fiction and expository writing, with examples from literature and grammar sources.
- Richard Nordquist
In an absolute phrase, the noun is what is doing the present or past participle (see the next section, B). Here are some examples, with the nouns in green: Muffins baking. Fingers typing. Clothes folded. Muffins baked. The noun in an absolute phrase is very often (but not always) accompanied by a pronoun, like this:
The country is an absolute monarchy. The country is ruled by an absolute dictator. He swore an oath of absolute secrecy. You can't predict the future with absolute certainty. When it comes to using computers, I'm an absolute beginner. The white queen size is slashed to just $25, an absolute steal for a comforter.
Learn what absolute phrases are, how to identify and use them, and see examples of different types and functions. Absolute phrases are grammatical constructs that add details or information to sentences without affecting their structure or meaning.
Definition of Absolute Phrase. A phrase having a subject but no finite verb and modifying the full sentence is referred to as an Absolute phrase. Examples of Absolute Phrase. My cousin finally returning to the homeland, we will be able to have fun in the family gatherings like before. The singer’s performance in the concert, the organizers ...
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Examples: broken hand, finished career, motivated man, etc. Check out present participle adjectives and past participle adjectives! Also, check out participle phrases. A) Absolute phrases using a noun/pronoun and a participle. He hit the last ball for a six, everyone jumping in the air with happiness. everyone = a noun (subject)
