Nominative Absolutes

Nominative absolutes are freestanding descriptions, usually about the main clause.

“[The cat] was sitting as still as a statue, its eyes fixed unblinkingly on the far corner of Privet Drive.” (J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

Noun + Adjective

The fighting over, the soldiers rejoiced.
The exam over/With the exam over, the weary students trudged home.
Their company bankrupt/With their company bankrupt, the two partners started from scratch.

Noun + Active Participial Phrase

Transformation rules:

Keep the subject.
Transform the full verb into an active participle.

Example 1

We walked on the beach. The sand shifted beneath our toes.
We walked on the beach, the sand shifting beneath our toes.

Example 2

He rode off in the old junker. Its exhaust spewed clouds of black smoke.
He rode off in the old junker, its exhaust spewing clouds of black smoke.

Example 3

She sped off in the convertible. Her hair was blowing in the wind.
She sped off in the convertible, her hair blowing in the wind.

Example 4

Samsung saw a massive decline in China in 2015 as its smart phone market share halved in 12 months.
Samsung saw a massive decline in China in 2015, its smart phone market share halving in 12 months/with its smart phone market share halving in 12 months.

Example 5

The nature of Facebook encourages users to accumulate "friends." The average number of friends is 338.
The nature of Facebook encourages users to accumulate "friends," the average number of friends being 338/with the average number of friends being 338.

Example 6

After his father retired, John took over the family business, because he was the oldest of the seven children.
After his father retired, John took over the family business, he being the oldest of the seven children.

Noun + Passive Participial Phrase

Transformation rules:

Keep the subject.
Transform the full verb into a passive participle.

Example 1

The security guard stood there impassively. His enormous arms were folded across his chest.
The security guard stood there impassively, his enormous arms folded across his chest.

Example 2

He found the treasure at a garage sale. It was a masterpiece that was created by an unknown artist.

Relative clause: He found the treasure at a garage sale. It was a masterpiece that was created by an unknown artist.
Participial phrase: He found the treasure at a garage sale. It was a masterpiece created by an unknown artist.
Nominative absolute: He found the treasure at a garage sale, a masterpiece created by an unknown artist.

“With” + Absolute

In some cases, you might need to add the preposition “with”. Use your ears.

He stood there ready to fight. His fingers were tightly clenched into fists.
He stood there ready to fight, (with) his fingers tightly clenched into fists.

With the experiment progressing as planned, we are just waiting for results.

Infinitive Phrase

Transformation rules:

Delete the subject.
Delete the verb.
Keep the infinitive phrase.

Example 1

The part was labelled “defective.” It was to be sent for repairs.
The part was labelled “defective”, to be sent for repairs.

Example 2

His performance was deemed inadequate. It is to be remedied through additional training.
His performance was deemed inadequate, to be remedied through additional training.

Nominative Absolute Derived from Subject Complement

Transformation rules:

Keep the subject.
Delete the verb.

Example 1

The city arose from the desert. The gleaming towers were a sign of economic progress.
The city arose from the desert, the gleaming towers a sign of economic progress.

Example 2

She glared at him in silence. The only sound was that of the ticking clock.
She glared at him in silence, the only sound that of the ticking clock.

Adjective phrase

Example 1

The monster could barely move. Its belly was full of children.
The monster could barely move, its belly full of children.

Example 2

The criminals sat around the table planning. Their minds were full of schemes.
The criminals sat around the table planning, their minds full of schemes.

Adverb phrase

Example 1

The soldiers were ambushed. Their guard was down in the supposedly safe part of town.
The soldiers were ambushed, their guard down in the supposedly safe part of town.

Example 2

He slept in his seat. His bag was directly above him in the luggage rack.
He slept in his seat, his bag directly above him in the luggage rack.

Preposition phrase

He went for a walk. A hat was on his head to protect him against the sun.
He went for a walk, a hat on his head to protect him against the sun.

Comparison

He gazed in wonder at the skyscrapers. The buildings were as tall as mountains.
He gazed in wonder at the skyscrapers, buildings as tall as mountains.