Absolute and ParticipialPhrases

Absolute Absolute ParticipialParticipial

Noun + “ing” Verb

His head pounding, Charlie took some Tylenol.

Her heart fluttering, Suzy smiled at Jim.

Police cars chasing, Matt dashed down the alley.

Two lovers walked through the garden, their hands touching.

“ing” Verb + Modifier

Struggling with a headache, Charlie took some Tylenol.

Enjoying the date, Suzy smiled at Jim.

Avoiding the police, Matt dashed down the alley.

Walking through the garden, he squeezed her hand gently.

Appositive PhrasesAppositive PhrasesRename a noun or pronoun

My brother, the one beside Jenny, sells insurance.

The tornado, a spinning demon, ate everything in its path.

Mr. Moran, an English teacher at Woodrow, saved a kitten from burning building.

The words, buzzards with sharp claws, picked at Mr. Shiftlet's mind.

Clifford, the messiest eater at the table, spewed mashed potatoes like an erupting volcano.

Robbie, a hot-tempered tennis player, charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man's skull with a racket.

Model

absolute phrase

absolute phrase

absolute phrase

independent clause

prepositional phrase

prepositional phrase

prepositional phrase

prepositional phrase

prepositional phrase

Example

His fur ruffling,

his eyes burning,

his muscles rippling,

the tiger paced

in the cage

in the night

in the gloom

in the fire

of his rage.

Model

independent clause with an appositive phrase in it

participial phrase and prepositional phrase

participial phrase and prepositional phrase

participial phrase and prepositional phrase

participial phrase and prepositional phrase

participial phrase and prepositional phrase

Example

The monster, a killing machine, stalks his prey,

Dripping with blood,

Lurking in the night,

Hiding in the shadows,

Searching through his past,

Punishing without guilt.