Nominative absolute

Nominative absolute

In English grammar, a nominative absolute is a free-standing (absolute) part of a sentence that describes or modifies the main subject and verb. It is usually at the beginning or end of the sentence, although it can also appear in the middle. Its parallel is the ablative absolute in Latin, or the genitive absolute in Greek.

One way to identify a nominative absolute is to add a verb; one can always create a sentence out of a nominative absolute by adding one verb (generally a form of to be).

  • Their manes flowing, the horses ran from the burning barn.
    Nominative absolute: Their manes flowing.
    With a verb added: Their manes were flowing.
  • Stephen, his mind taxed, searched frantically for a dictionary.
    Nominative absolute: his mind taxed
    With a verb added: His mind was taxed.

Similarly, one can break the absolute off, add a verb and make two sentences. For example, Stephen searched frantically for a dictionary. His mind was taxed.

Perhaps the most controversial example of a nominative absolute is the sentence composing the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution:

  • A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • nominative absolute — noun also nominative independent : a construction in English consisting of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case joined wih a predicate that does not include a finite verb and functioning usually as a sentence modifier but …   Useful english dictionary

  • nominative absolute — /nɒmənətɪv ˈæbsəlut/ (say nomuhnuhtiv absuhlooht) noun a group of words including a substantive together with a participial modifier, not grammatically related to any other element in the sentence. In the following sentence, the sun having set is …  

  • nominative absolute — Gram. a construction consisting in English of a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun in the nominative case followed by a predicate lacking a finite verb, used as a loose modifier of the whole sentence, as the play done in The play done, the audience… …   Universalium

  • nominative absolute — noun A grammatically independent element of a sentence realized in English as a noun phrase and a participle or adjective …   Wiktionary

  • nominative — n. (grammar) the nominative absolute * * * [ nɒm(ɪ)nətɪv] (grammar) the nominative absolute …   Combinatory dictionary

  • nominative independent — noun see nominative absolute …   Useful english dictionary

  • absolute superlative — noun a) In Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan; the form of an adjective formed by adding the suffixes issimo, isimo, íssimo, érrimo, imo, or íssim to the adjective (with any final vowel dropped) to express a superlative that cannot be… …   Wiktionary

  • accusative absolute — noun 1. : a construction in German consisting of a noun in the accusative case joined with a predicate that does not include a finite verb and usually capable of being construed as the modifier of the principal verb in its sentence (as den hut in …   Useful english dictionary

  • Latin grammar — The grammar of Latin, like that of other ancient Indo European languages, is highly inflected, which allows for a large degree of flexibility when choosing word order. In Latin there are five declensions of nouns and four conjugations of verbs.… …   Wikipedia

  • Russian grammar — encompasses: * a highly synthetic morphology * a syntax that, for the literary language, is the conscious fusion of three elements: ** a Church Slavonic inheritance; ** a Western European style; ** a polished vernacular foundation.The Russian… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”