The absolute phrases

The absolute phrase, at its simplest is the combination of a noun + participle.

1. Absolute phrase

2. Definition His heart beating very fast , Harry stood listening to the chilly silence. [noun - heart, participle - beating] There, his black robes rippling in the breeze , stood Severus Snape. [noun - robes, participle - rippling] “What writers do is find a smaller noun that’s in the ‘ wide-angle shot ’ of the sentence, and then they add an -ing verb to that noun.” - Jeff Anderson - Mechanically Inclined An absolute is a combination of a noun followed by a participle (usually an -ing ending word). Here are some examples: Teacher notes

3. Simple sentence starter Simple sentence: The bicyclist raced down the road. Let’s think about all the nouns we could zoom in on in this image and the -ing ending words that could go with them. Nouns we see -ing verbs related to these nouns pedals spinning, pumping, turning hands gripping, gripping handlebars wheels spinning, splashing, turning, skidding face grunting, dripping with sweat legs pumping, grinding sweat dripping, soaking his shirt Adapted from Harry Noden: Image Grammar (2011), and Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson

4. Absolute added Noun + participle (-ing word) Nouns we see -ing verbs related to these nouns pedals spinning, pumping, turning hands gripping, gripping handlebars wheels spinning, splashing, turning, skidding face grunting, dripping with sweat, covered in mud legs pumping, standing, grinding sweat dripping, soaking his shirt Legs pumping, sweat dripping , the bicyclist raced down the road. The bicyclist raced down the road, legs pumping, sweat dripping. From Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson, p80 Adapted from Harry Noden: Image Grammar (2011), and Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson

5. Guided For the image on the right you might write a sentence like this: The waterfall roared. Now think about what other nouns we could describe: Nouns we see -ing words waves crashing mist spraying, flying, water splashing, crushing Adapted from Harry Noden: Image Grammar (2011), and Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson Create a short, simple sentence about the image.

6. Guided Our sentence now may be something like: The waterfall roared, mist spraying , water crashing into the ocean below. Adapted from Harry Noden: Image Grammar (2011), and Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson Nouns we see -ing words waves crashing mist spraying, flying, water splashing, crushing Now, let’s zoom in on real or imagined details in the image and add it to our sentence. The waterfall roared.

7. Guided Create a short, simple sentence about the image For the image on the right you might write a sentence like this: The cowboy held on to the bucking bronco. Now think about what other nouns we could describe Adapted from Harry Noden: Image Grammar (2011), and Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson Nouns we see -ing words legs squeezing arms balancing hands tightening muscles aching

8. Guided Now, let’s zoom in on real or imagined details and add it to our sentence. Our sentence now may be something like: His muscles aching , legs squeezing , the cowboy held on to the bucking bronco. Nouns we see -ing words legs squeezing arms balancing hands tightening muscles aching Adapted from Harry Noden: Image Grammar (2011), and Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson

9. Independent Lebron James dunks the ball Now it’s your turn. Follow the same process we have done with the other examples. Write a short simple sentence for the picture. Zoom in on the nouns in the wide angle shot, and add -ing words to them Add the noun and ing words (the absolute) to your sentence. Share with the class.

10. Independent Sumatran tiger Now it’s your turn. Follow the same process we have done with the other examples. Write a short simple sentence for the picture Zoom in on the nouns in the wide angle shot and add -ing words to them Add the noun and ing words (the absolute) to your sentence. Share with the class.

11. Identify In pairs, identify the absolute phrase in the following sentences: Mrs Barnet, his face red and eyes bulging, immediately pounced on her. Head down, tail flying, the young dog gave chase, swerving and tumbling in pursuit. His heart beating very fast, Harry stood listening to the chilly silence . Bull Number Two turned to face me, fire sputtering from the gash I'd cut in it's side. Six boys came over the hill half an hour early that afternoon, running hard, their heads down, their forearms working, their breath whistling. Heart pounding, I looked down at Angela, who was staring up at us, her expression serious.

12. Identify Answers In pairs, identify the absolute phrase in the following sentences: Mrs Barnet, his face red and eyes bulging, immediately pounced on her. Head down, tail flying, the young dog gave chase, swerving and tumbling in pursuit. His heart beating very fast, Harry stood listening to the chilly silence. Bull Number Two turned to face me, fire sputtering from the gash I'd cut in it's side. Six boys came over the hill half an hour early that afternoon, running hard, their heads down, their forearms working, their breath whistling. Heart pounding, I looked down at Angela, who was staring up at us, her expression serious.

13. Imitate Imitate the model sentence below, then share your imitation with the class Model: There, his black robes ripping on a cold breeze, stood Severus Snape Sample imitation: Up high, his speckled feathers blending into the foliage , perched the kookaburra.

14. Imitate Imitate the model sentence below, then share your imitation with the class Model: His heart beating very fast, Harry stood listening to the chilly silence Sample imitation: His mind racing, James stared blankly at the exam.

15. Absolute Advanced detail

16. Advanced There are many different structures for creating an absolute phrase. So far we have looked at the NOUN + PARTICIPLE (-ing word) form. One way to identify an absolute is that they often begin with these words: my, his, its, our, their . These pronouns can be stated or implied. Examples: An old man was standing before them, wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop. -HP and the Chamber of Secrets The old willow tree as enormous, its sprawling branches going up like reaching arms with many long fingered hands - The Lord of the Rings

17. Advanced Here are all the different structures for creating an absolute phrase. Noun + an -ing, -ed, or -en verb (lip quivering, fist knotted, heart broken) Noun + an adverb (head down, hat off ) Noun + an adjective (head sweaty, shirt white and crisp) Noun + a preposition (pen in hand) Preposition (usually with or like) + noun + any of the above variations (with hair standing up on the back of her neck) Possessive pronoun + noun + any of the above variations (his knees drawn to his chest)

18. Top tip Many sentences using the verb ‘to be’ can be made into an absolute phrase by removing the verb