1. Absolutes and Appositives
English 10

2. ABSOLUTES An absolute is a noun plus a verb form.
This means there will be a two-word combination of a noun followed by a verb with an –ING or –ED ending.
Noun + Verb (ing)
Noun + Verb (ed)

3. Create an absolute
To create an absolute, take a noun followed by an ING verb or ED verb, and START your sentence with it.
Notice the placement of the comma (after the end of the introductory phrase).

4. Important! Use an absolute as a SENTENCE STARTER!!
This is called an “Introductory Phrase”.

5. examples
Here are some examples of absolute (these are not in complete sentences yet).
Eyes twitching,
Eyes forced open,
Eyes shutting,

6. examples
Hands clapping,
Hands trembling,
Hands closed,

7. examples
Sirens sounding,
Sirens blared,
Dogs barking,
Dogs howling,

8. Student sentences:
Hands trembling, Joe walked up to the podium to deliver his speech.
Wolves biting, the pack fiercely ripped the prey to pieces.
Eyes twitching, the tired girl finally rolled out of bed.
Sirens blared while Chad went over the speed limit again.

9. ALWAYS DO THE ELIMINATION CHECK!!!

10. Write your own absolutes!
____________________________________.

11. APPOSITIVES An appositive is a descriptive phrase describing a noun.
It describes the noun in further detail.

12. Create an appositive
To create an appositive, you should include a phrase AFTER the noun that will give more detail to that noun.
Notice the placement of the commas (there is one comma on each side of the appositive).

13. Non-essential clause An appositive is usually a non-essential clause!!
This means that it is not needed in order to have a complete sentence.
In other words, you could eliminate the appositive, and the sentence would still make sense.

14. Therefore, ALWAYS DO THE ELIMINATION CHECK!!!

15. examples Mrs. Countess, my English 10 teacher, likes flamingos.
The dog, a hyper, terrier/poodle mix, jumped up and down like a kangaroo.
The eyes, brown and wide, closed slowly as the boy became tired.
The shooting star, quick as lightning, darted across the night sky.
The basketball player, a predator seeking whom he may devour, raced across the floor.

16. Write your own appositive!
____________________________________.