L. Alicia Monroe 2009 Oklahoma Writing Project Teacher Consultant Painting with Parts of Speech Absolutes Adapted from Harry Noden’s Image Grammar (1999),

L. Alicia Monroe 2009Oklahoma Writing Project Teacher Consultant

Painting with Parts of Speech

Absolutes

Adapted from Harry Noden’s Image Grammar (1999), Don and Jenny Killgallon’s Grammar for Middle School (2006), and Constance Weaver’s The Grammar Plan Book (2007)

Painting with Parts of Speech: Absolutes

Compare and contrast the sentences below.

She counted to ten.

Eyes covered, she counted to ten.

She counted to ten, anticipation growing.


To “paint” with an absolute, add a two-word combination: a noun and an ing verb OR a noun and an ed verb.

Absolute: noun + ing verb OR noun + ed verb

Examples: Eyes watering, the chef sliced the onion.

Brian wandered into the woods, a map folded in his back pocket.


Sentence with no absolute:The candlelight created a romantic atmosphere.

Sentence with an absolute:Flames glowing, the candlelight created a romantic atmosphere.

Sentence with an absolute phrase:Flames glowing at the center of the table, the candlelight created a romantic atmosphere.


Sentence with one absolute phrase:Ethan climbed the rock wall, sweat dripping from his forehead.

Sentence with two absolute phrases:Ethan climbed the rock wall, sweat dripping from his forehead, heart pounding in his chest.

Sentence with three absolute phrases:Ethan climbed the rock wall, sweat dripping from his forehead, heart pounding in his chest, fear mounting at the thought of falling.


Absolutes can begin a sentence:Music blaring from his iPod, the apathetic student ignored his assignment.

Absolutes can interrupt a sentence:The apathetic student, music blaring from his iPod, ignored his assignment.

Absolutes can end a sentence:The apathetic student ignored his assignment, music blaring from his iPod.


Examples of absolutes from literature:Her feet touching the side of the stone tower and her hands grasping the rope, Violet closed her eyes and began to climb.

—Lemony Snicket, The Bad Beginning


Examples of absolutes from literature:The riders stiffened, eyes flashing from side to side, then wheeled their mounts around and galloped away.

—Christopher Paolini, Eragon


Examples of absolutes from literature:He sat with his shoulders hunched, his eyes squeezed shut in concentration, and his hands clasped tightly together.

—Jeanne DuPrau, The City of Ember


Examples of absolutes from literature:He’d seemed engrossed in our conversation, but now I could see, from the corner of my eye, that he was leaning away from me again, his hands gripping the edge of the table with unmistakable tension.

—Stephenie Meyer, Twilight


Examples of absolutes by students:Knees shaking, I prepared to steal home plate.

—Garrett H.


Examples of absolutes by students:Chin quivering, eyes welling up with tears, the small girl cried.

—Tisha W.


Examples of absolutes by students:As I got home, I saw him, arms crossed, waiting for me.

—Derek S.


Examples of absolutes by students:The kangaroo, knees bending, anger rushing, jumped in the air to kick the predator.

—Mindee B.


Examples of absolutes by students:I sat there quiet, my eyes following the pattern of the rain.

—Autumn H.


Examples of absolutes by students:The licking flames smothered the golden field, smoke rising into the unexpectant blue sky.

—Sara H.


Identify absolutes from literature:Head down, tail flying, the young dog gave chase, swerving and turning in pursuit, but always the rabbit was just out of reach of his hungry jaws.

—Sheila Burnford, The Incredible Journey


Identify absolutes from literature:“I bet they were cool ol’ guys,” he said, his eyes glowing, after I had read the part about them riding into sure death because they were gallant.

—S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders


Identify absolutes from literature:Soon, the crowd of gnomes in the field started walking away in a staggering line, their little shoulders hunched.

—J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


Identify absolutes from literature:The raptor struck out with its hind claws, and with a single swift movement ripped open the belly of the fallen animal, coils of intestine falling out, like fat snakes.

—Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park


Arrange absolutes from literature:Create a sentence with the sentence strips. Write the sentence, punctuating correctly, and underline and label the absolute phrases.

He picked up Gabe’s Camaro by the torn roof, the chassis creaking and groaning.

—Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief



Hermione was running toward them down the path, Hagrid puffing along behind her.

—J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets



He sat with his shoulders hunched, his eyes squeezed shut in concentration, and his hands clasped tightly together.

—Jeanne DuPrau, The City of Ember



The woman’s eyes scanned the approach to the forest, her head moving from side to side in a weirdly regular motion, like someone watching a slow-motion tennis match without much interest.

—Scott Westerfeld, Uglies


Imitate absolutes from literature:Write a sentence about a different subject, imitating the structure of the model sentence. Underline and label the absolute.

Calvin, his hand trembling, did not relax his hold.

—Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle in Time


Imitate absolutes from literature:Write a sentence about a different subject, imitating the structure of the model sentence. Underline and label the absolute phrase.

I’m helpless as the first hunter crashes through the trees, spear lifted, poised to throw.

—Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games


Imitate absolutes from literature:Write a sentence about a different subject, imitating the structure of the model sentence. Underline and label the absolute phrase.

A few hot-air balloons pulled at their tethers against the darkening pink sky, their passengers shooting safety fireworks at other balloons and passing parasailers.

—Scott Westerfeld, Uglies


Combine with absolutes:Combine the sentences below to make one sentence with an absolute phrase. Underline and label the absolute phrase.

Kurt was waiting for them by the X-ray arch.+

His arms were folded across a chest the size of a rhino’s.

=Kurt was waiting for them by the X-ray arch, arms folded across a chest the size of a rhino’s.

—Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception



Each room was comfortably furnished.+

The floors were covered with thick carpeting.=

Each room was comfortably furnished, the floors covered with thick carpeting.

—Lois Lowry, The Giver



Klaus stepped forward and knocked on Count Olaf’s door.

+Klaus’s knuckles rapped right in the middle of the carved eye.

=Klaus stepped forward and knocked on Count Olaf’s door, his knuckles rapping right in the middle of the carved eye.

—Lemony Snicket, The Bad Beginning


Expand with absolutes:Write the sentence below, adding an absolute phrase in place of each caret (^). Underline and label each absolute phrase.

They all fell silent, ^ and ^.—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

They all fell silent, the hobbit standing by the grey stone and the dwarves watching impatiently.

—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings



A convoy of ambulances, police cars, and fire engines turned into the entranceway, ^ and ^.

—Edward Bloor, Tangerine

A convoy of ambulances, police cars, and fire engines turned into the entranceway, their sirens wailing and their lights flashing.

—Edward Bloor, Tangerine



He’s still two feet from the water, lying there, ^, ^.


He’s still two feet from the water, lying there, teeth gritted, tears cutting trails in the dirt on his face.



Compose with absolutes:In response to the following picture prompts, write your own sentences with absolutes. Underline and label each absolute phrase.

L. Alicia Monroe 2009 Oklahoma Writing Project Teacher Consultant Painting with Parts of Speech Absolutes Adapted from Harry Noden’s Image Grammar (1999),

Documents

absolutes absolutes

parts of speech absolutes

absolutes sentence

eragon slide

twilight slide

absolute phrases

bad beginning slide

city of ember slide