Unlike the typical modifying phrase, however, this absolute phrase modifies neither the noun "honeybees" nor the verb "died" in the main clause. Instead, it modifies the whole main clause, "the honeybees simply died," to give context to that idea. And, in some cases, the absolute phrase drops even the participle itself and just implies its presence: "Their pollen sources [being] no longer there, the honeybees simply died." In sum, absolute phrases are subtler and smoother combiners of ideas than all the other types of modifying phrases. Next week, June 16, 2022: The four forms that absolute phrases takeVisit Jose Carillo's English Forum, http://josecarilloforum.com.

Source: Manila Times June 08, 2022 16:46 UTC