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Angliholic Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

all chatting noisily--absolute construction

I slowly looked around and realized I could have been anywehre in the world. There were other Western pople at the table nest to us, and a group of African people on the other side of the restaurant, all chatting noisily in languages that I wasn't able to understand.

I doubt if the part in bold is an absolute construction or just another present participle phrase. Your comments? Thanks.
  

Top answer

One of the characteristics of the absolute construction is that it modifies an entire sentence, showing some relationship involving a reason or time. This construction seems to modify only part of the sentence -- the part concerning the group of African people, and it doesn't really explain anything about the sentence in terms of a reason. Still, the resemblance to an absolute construction is so striking that I wouldn't be surprised to hear that many grammarians would label it an absolute construction.

— CalifJim

  • One of the characteristics of the absolute construction is that it modifies an entire sentence, showing some relationship involving a reason or time.
  • This construction seems to modify only part of the sentence -- the part concerning the group of African people, and it doesn't really explain anything about the sentence in terms of a reason.
  • Still, the resemblance to an absolute construction is so striking that I wouldn't be surprised to hear that many grammarians would label it an absolute construction.
  • Maybe it's a sort of hybrid, combining characteristics of a participle phrase and an absolute construction.
  • CJ
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2 Answers
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One of the characteristics of the absolute construction is that it modifies an entire sentence, showing some relationship involving a reason or time. This construction seems to modify only part of the sentence -- the part concerning the group of African people, and it doesn't really explain anything about the sentence in terms of a reason. Still, the resemblance to an absolute construction
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Right on! Jim.

I like your explanation.
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