Author Topic: The baffling thing about absolute phrases  (Read 9504 times)

Joe Carillo

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The baffling thing about absolute phrases
« on: February 15, 2018, 11:20:32 AM »
To establish context or give texture to a main clause, we normally use a subordinate phrase to directly modify either its operative noun or operative verb. This subordinate phrase is usually a prepositional phrase, an appositive phrase, an infinitive phrase, a gerund phrase, or a participial phrase, and it works in either of two ways: as an adjective modifying a noun in the main clause, or as an adverb modifying a verb in that clause.

THE FIVE TYPES OF SUBORDINATE PHRASES IN A SENTENCE

This functional relationship can be clearly seen in the following examples of subordinate phrases modifying the main clauses:

Prepositional phrase.In their senatorial lineups, both parties offer a generous sprinkling of movie actors or husbands of movie actresses.” Here, the prepositional phrase “in their senatorial lineups” serves as an adjective modifying the noun “parties.”

Appositive phrase. “The tropical island, a favorite summer hideaway of affluent foreign tourists, is sinking due to rising sea levels.” Here, the appositive phrase “a favorite summer hideaway of affluent foreign tourists” serves as an adjective modifying the noun “island.”

Infinitive phrase.To improve their sales, they launched an aggressive marketing campaign.” Here, the infinitive phrase “to improve our sales” serves as an adverb modifying the verb phrase “launched an aggressive marketing campaign.”

Gerund phrase.Winning the national championship being his goal, the chess player spent months of gruelling practice.” Here, the gerund phrase “winning the national championship” forms part of a participial phrase that modifies the noun “player.” Gerund phrases also often form part of prepositional phrases: “The chess player is obsessed with winning the national championship.” By itself, however, a gerund phrase can only function as a noun: “Winning the national championship is his goal.”

Participial phrase.Impressed by her credentials, the recruiter immediately hired the applicant.” Here, the participial phrase “impressed by her credentials” serves as an adjective modifying the noun “recruiter.” Participial phrases can also take the present participle form: “Learning simply from experience, he became one of the company’s ablest managers.”

Keep in mind that all of the subordinate phrases given above directly modify a particular noun or verb in the main clause.

THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF ABSOLUTE PHRASES


But there’s a sixth type of modifying phrase that differs in form from all of these five types. Called the nominative absolute or absolute clause—others call it absolute phrase—it doesn’t directly modify a specific word in the main clause of the sentence. Instead, it typically modifies the entire main clause, adding information or providing context to it.

Look at the following sentences using absolute clauses as modifiers: “The score sheet having been lost, the release of the game results was delayed.” “Night having fallen, the park filled up with promenaders.” “Her tour of duty in Europe completed, the veteran diplomat took a well-deserved retirement.” “His mind in a daze, the pilot failed to make the scheduled flight.” “The big game over, they immediately went home.”


An absolute clause usually consists of a noun or pronoun followed by a participle—never a finite verb—and a related modifier. For instance, in the first example above, the absolute clause “the score sheet having been lost” uses the present participle “having been,” while the second, “night having fallen,” uses the present participle “having fallen.” In the third example, however, the absolute clause “her tour of duty in Europe (having been) completed” has done away with the form of “be” altogether and just uses the participle “completed.”

In some special cases, the absolute phrase can drop even the participle itself, as in the third and fourth examples above, “his mind (being) in a daze” and “the big game (being) over.” That the construction is an absolute clause can only be inferred from the statement’s context.

We will take up the characteristics and various uses of absolute clauses next.

This essay, 1079th in the series, appeared in the column “English Plain and Simple” by Jose A. Carillo in the Campus Press section of the February 15, 2018 issue (print edition only) of The Manila Times, © 2018 by the Manila Times Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.



(Next week: The subtle job that absolute phrases do)
« Last Edit: February 17, 2018, 01:42:04 PM by Joe Carillo »