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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Absolute clause to main clause - small/slight degree of relevancy OK?
Hi. Please help me with this. I think an absolute clause has a lot of freedom as to what kind of role it can play in a sentence, but still I feel (it being a personal opinion) it has to be a role that is relevant to the overall meaning of the sentence, which includes its semantic and contextual meaning (if there are any other, which I can't think of right now), no matter how slight that relevancy might be. But I also think it is OK and correct for an absolute clause to have no referent in a sentence and sort of dangle on its own (I think I might be contradicting myself here - this might be why I need your help).
Do you think this is correct? I think the underlined part serves as an absolute clause, if not incorrectly.
Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, John Doe nailing long wooden boards on the door.
I think the better version might be these.
Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors as John Doe nails long wooden boards on the door.
Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, while John Doe nails long wooden boards on the door.
Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, while John Doe is nailing long wooden boards on the door.
Do you think this is correct? I think the underlined part serves as an absolute clause, if not incorrectly.
Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, John Doe nailing long wooden boards on the door.
I think the better version might be these.
Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors as John Doe nails long wooden boards on the door.
Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, while John Doe nails long wooden boards on the door.
Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, while John Doe is nailing long wooden boards on the door.
Top answer
Anonymous Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, John Doe nailing long wooden boards on the door. I don't think there is one correct answer to your question. To me, this looks like a sentence that some grammarians would accept while others would frown upon it.
- Anonymous Jane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, John Doe nailing long wooden boards on the door.
- I don't think there is one correct answer to your question.
- To me, this looks like a sentence that some grammarians would accept while others would frown upon it.
- Both probably think they are right.
- You are right in assuming that your other versions would meet with general acceptance.
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1 Answers
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AnonymousJane Doe quickly gets out and locks the doors, John Doe nailing long wooden boards on the door.I don't think there is one correct answer to your question. To me, this looks like a sentence that some grammarians would accept while others would frown upon it. Both probably think they are right. You are right in assuming that your other versions would
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