English Toolkit

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15.101Absolute phrases
TYPICAL ERROR The rain having stopped the cricket game was resumed.
CORRECTION The rain having stopped, the cricket game was resumed

EXPLANATION Notice that without the comma, a misreading of the sentence is highly likely. We could easily read the opening phrase as The rain having stopped the cricket game ... Of course, if we did misread the sentence, we would immediately realise our error but such confusion is best avoided - especially when all that is required is the insertion of a comma to show where the absolute phrase ends.

Note that many grammarians avoid using absolute phrases completely because such phrases are a grammatical ‘short-hand’. Grammatically, an absolute phrase is a noun with an attached participial phrase; it is not grammatically attached to the rest of the sentence. Consequently, adverbial clauses make more sense grammatically: e.g. Because the rain had stopped,...

Having said that, if we do use absolute phrases, we should insert commas after them.

After which word in each of these sentences should a comma be placed? (For interest, you might like to convert the absolute phrase to an adverbial clause - just to see which construction you think works better.)
a
Our house being close by the Walkers and ourselves decided to go there to shelter from the storm.

b
Many people having been lost in that National Park while we were there we decided to employ a guide.

c
The speaker being about to address the meeting the noisy fans were turned off.

d
The show being booked out the booking office was closed.

e
Our father being in a hurry to avoid annoying him by keeping him waiting we put our shoes on in the car.

Success!