An absolute (or absolute phrase) is made up of an optional determiner (the, his, that), a noun (or pronoun), and a participial phrase (with verbals ending in –ed or –ing). Absolute phrases are different from complete sentences in that absolute phrases have a subject but no predicate. In other words, they do not include a real verb.  The italicized phrases in the following examples are absolute phrases.

EX: Milton having forgotten the tent for the camping weekend, Mia chastised him.

EX: The cupcakes completely baked and iced, the bakers can finally rest in anticipation of their bakery’s grand opening.

Note that the second example above has a missing helping verb (were). For instance, “The cupcakes were completely baked….” The omitted helping verb in absolute phrases is a “be” verb: am, is, are, was, were.

Absolutes modify the entire sentences in which they are contained. They can provide conditional information—the when or because of a sentence—or additional information—the context a writer wants to emphasize in a concise and emphatic way.

Take the example of forgetful Milton above. The absolute does not modify Mia because it talks about Milton’s slip-up, nor does it modify chastised. Rather, it sets up the context or situation for the rest of the sentence and emphasizes an important layer of detail.  The reader can establish a causal Because of this, that happened relationship if necessary.

verbal- a word that looks like a verb but that is used as a noun or adjective

Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary

In addition to this tip, we recommend the following website for an explanation of absolutes. It also has a quiz that helps a writer recognize these phrases in sentences: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/sentence/2_4e.htm#absolute.

Now test your skills by identifying the absolute phrases in the following sentences:

1. Travis halted suddenly in his tracks, his ears pleased to hear the rustling of a raccoon scavenging nearby, and took in his rustic surroundings.

2. Its tail between its legs, the mischievous Dalmatian scampered hastily away from its owners’ ravaged flowerbed, ashamed but not entirely thwarted.

3. A single chapter having taken me half a day to read, I would recommend that you start the novel soon.

Answers

1. Travis halted suddenly in his tracks, his ears pleased to hear the rustling of a raccoon scavenging nearby, and took in his rustic surroundings.

2. Its tail between its legs, the mischievous Dalmatian scampered hastily away from its owners’ ravaged flowerbed, ashamed but not entirely thwarted. (Some absolutes omit the participle, but it can still be inferred: Its tail hanging between its legs…)

3. A single chapter having taken me half a day to read, I would recommend that you start the novel soon.

Additional practice: Write a paragraph about any topic, using absolutes to emphasize key information for effect.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

Subscribe/Unsubscribe/View Archive