XCI. ABSOLUTE PARTICIPIAL PHRASES
357. In the sentence, “When the snow had left the lawns bare, the crocuses appeared,” we have an adverbial clause. What is it? What does it denote? Such a clause is frequently condensed into a group of words like this, the snow having left the lawns bare. In this group there are two parts,—the noun element the snow, which was subject of the clause, and the participial phrase having left the lawns bare, which is made out of the predicate of the clause. It is clear then that the two parts of this group of words have the logical, though not the grammatical, relation of subject and predicate.
Such a group of words is called an absolute phrase.
358. The absolute phrase is generally spoken of by grammarians as an independent element; that is, it is not a modifier of any part of the sentence.
359. Occasionally, as in the example given, the absolute phrase is an abridgment of an adverbial clause of time. Oftener it is used instead of a clause of cause, as in the sentence, “The drought having lasted so long, the foliage began to turn yellow.”
360. Sometimes an absolute phrase is used instead of an independent clause, thus changing a compound sentence to a simple sentence; as, “The crew escaped from the ship in three boats, only two reaching Siberia.” What clause would you make out of the absolute phrase here? By what conjunction would you join it to the first independent proposition?
361. The noun or the pronoun that is the base word of the noun element in an absolute phrase is said to be in the nominative case, used absolutely.
Summary.—An absolute phrase is a group of words used independently and consisting of a noun or a pronoun and a participle, having to each other the logical relation of subject and predicate.
An absolute phrase is an abridgment of an adverbial clause or an independent clause.
Exercise.—Select all the absolute phrases. Separate them into their two parts. Expand them into adverbial clauses or independent clauses.
1. His feet were clad in half slippers of red leather, the toes being pointed and turned upward.
2. She had paused in reverie, her hands clasped behind her head.
3. Jack telling his condition, the giant bade him welcome.
4. Grandma and Norman were sitting on the floor in front of the ice box, the child having manifested a peculiar desire for cold boiled potato.
5. From a balcony above leaned the lovely Ermengarde, her golden tresses crowned with a nightcap of rare and curious design.
6. The Frey home was made up of cheery workers, even little Dorothea having her daily self-assumed tasks.
7. The laws of that country being very severe against slaves, Androcles was sentenced to be torn in pieces by a furious lion.
8. Through wild and desolate scenes, by forests, rocks, and waterfalls, we pass, the little locomotive always puffing and pushing vigorously behind us.
9. Mowgli had been looking from one to the other of his friends, his chest heaving and his eyes full of tears.
10. These eggs being sold, Jack and his mother got plenty of money.
11. Everywhere, scattered about the country, we have seen windmills, their great arms moving slowly around.
12. Under Rebecca’s delicately etched brows her eyes glowed like two stars; their dancing lights half hidden in lustrous darkness.
13. The eagerness of Barnum to obtain a white elephant is easily understood, that animal being considered by showmen the greatest attraction in the country.