1. Absolute Phrase

An absolute phrase is a group of words that forms part of a sentence that  doesn’t need a conjunction to join. It consists of a subject or a noun, a participle, and a modifier, but it does not have a finite verb.  Without a finite verb, an absolute phrase cannot stand alone as a complete sentence . The participle can be a past participle or present participle , which may not be present in an absolute phrase.

An absolute phrase functions as a modifier of an independent clause (main clause) or entire sentence , and in doing so gives further information . It is separated by a comma , and its removal does not affect the grammar of the sentence.

Examples:

Examples of absolute phrases shown in bold.

Examples:

  • His knife in hand , the deranged man threatened to slit the policeman’s throat.

    (knife = noun; his, in hand = modifiers) 

  • The girls standing side by side , they sang the national anthem loudly together.

    (girl = noun; standing = participle; side by side = modifier)

  • The putrid smell of the carrion having attracted a group of vultures , we decided to spend the day taking photographs of the birds.

    (In the sentence, the absolute phrase the putrid smell of the carrion  having attracted a group of vultures  is followed by a comma, and consists of the noun smell  modified by the participial phrase having attracted a group of vultures .)

An absolute phrase may come at the beginning, in the middle (between the subject and the verb), or at the end of a sentence .

Examples:

  • Their mouths uttering prayer for lasting world peace ,   the long-bearded cult members gathered on the beach.
  • The long-bearded cult members, their mouths uttering prayer for lasting world peace, gathered on the beach .
  • The long-bearded cult members gathered on the beach, their mouths uttering prayer for lasting world peace .   Â

Converting an absolute phrase into a complete sentence Â

This requires a change or addition of the/a verb and an addition of a conjunction to form a compound sentence. As can be seen, an absolute phrase needs to be attached to a complete sentence.

Examples:

  • A dark shadow appearing from behind a tree, Jane and her sister screamed and ran.
  • A dark shadow appeared  from behind the tree, so  Jane and her sister screamed and ran.
  • The escaped prisoner still at large in the town, its residents shut their doors tight.
  • The escaped prisoner was  still at large in the town, and  the residents shut their doors tight.
  • The politician has many bad habits, lying being one of them.
  • The politician has many bad habits and  lying is one of them.