GMAT Sentence Correction
- Bắt đầu Duc Hoai
- Ngày bắt đầu
Hoàng Long
(Death_Creator)
Thành viên danh dự
21e
22c
23d
24e
25A
22c
23d
24e
25A
Phạm Đức Hoài
(Duc Hoai)
Ban quản lý diễn đàn
OA: 21E 22C 23D 24E 25A
Answer to Question 21
Although an "-ing" verb such as trying can sometimes be used as a noun, the phrase the organism's trying to metabolize in A is unidiomatic because trying is used as the object of organism's. In B, trying that it metabolize is ungrammatical. The noun attempt could follow organism's; also, it would parallel the noun enzymes, and parallelism is needed here because the sentence uses the linking verb are to equate enzymes and attempt. In C and D, however, attempt to try is redundant. Choice E, which says attempt to metabolize, is best. The phrase the chemical irritant is also the most concise and precise conclusion for the sentence because it clearly refers to the dioxin mentioned earlier.
Answer to Question 22
The best choice is C. The phrase the more the children should be completed by a parallel phrase that begins with a comparative adjective and a noun phrase, as in the greater their... advantage. Only C correctly completes the structure with a parallel phrase. Choices A. B, D, and E present structures that are unwieldy and awkward in addition to being nonparallel, and that state the relationship between language use and skills development less clearly than C does. Also, underlaying in B and underlay in D are incorrect; the meaning of this sentence requires the present participle of "underlie," underlying, as a modifier of skills.
Answer to Question 23
Choices A and B incorrectly use the plural verb are with the singular noun equipment. In B, C, and E, when used by does not parallel amount... used by and nonsensically suggests that the people are used by the equipment. D, the best choice, correctly parallels the amount... used by with that used by, in which that is the pronoun substitute for amount. Moreover, D solves the agreement problem of A and B by omitting the to be verb used with visible and placing visible before equipment', the phrase visible equipment is also parallel with unobtrusive equipment.
Answer to Question 24
Choice E is best. The pronoun that in A and B should be deleted, since the pronoun one is sufficient to introduce the modifier and the sentence is more fluid without that. In B and C, it and that it are intrusive and ungrammatical: the idiom is "believe x to be y." In the context of this sentence, the infinitive to be is more appropriate than the limited present-tense is in referring to an event that occurred long ago but has been discovered only recently. Finally, A, B, and D lack o/and so illogically equate this particular explosion with the whole class of explosions to which it belongs: it is not a type but possibly one of a type.
Answer to Question 25
A is the best choice. Choices B, C, and D incorrectly omit that after agree; that is needed to create the parallel construction agree that there is waste . . . and that the government... spends. Choice E, though it retains that, is grammatically incorrect: because E starts with an independent rather than a subordinate clause and separates its two independent clauses with a comma, it creates a run-on sentence with no logical connection established between the halves. In B, the agreement ... to the fact is unidiomatic, and B, C, and E alter the sense of the original sentence by saying that voters agree rather than that they may agree.
Answer to Question 21
Although an "-ing" verb such as trying can sometimes be used as a noun, the phrase the organism's trying to metabolize in A is unidiomatic because trying is used as the object of organism's. In B, trying that it metabolize is ungrammatical. The noun attempt could follow organism's; also, it would parallel the noun enzymes, and parallelism is needed here because the sentence uses the linking verb are to equate enzymes and attempt. In C and D, however, attempt to try is redundant. Choice E, which says attempt to metabolize, is best. The phrase the chemical irritant is also the most concise and precise conclusion for the sentence because it clearly refers to the dioxin mentioned earlier.
Answer to Question 22
The best choice is C. The phrase the more the children should be completed by a parallel phrase that begins with a comparative adjective and a noun phrase, as in the greater their... advantage. Only C correctly completes the structure with a parallel phrase. Choices A. B, D, and E present structures that are unwieldy and awkward in addition to being nonparallel, and that state the relationship between language use and skills development less clearly than C does. Also, underlaying in B and underlay in D are incorrect; the meaning of this sentence requires the present participle of "underlie," underlying, as a modifier of skills.
Answer to Question 23
Choices A and B incorrectly use the plural verb are with the singular noun equipment. In B, C, and E, when used by does not parallel amount... used by and nonsensically suggests that the people are used by the equipment. D, the best choice, correctly parallels the amount... used by with that used by, in which that is the pronoun substitute for amount. Moreover, D solves the agreement problem of A and B by omitting the to be verb used with visible and placing visible before equipment', the phrase visible equipment is also parallel with unobtrusive equipment.
Answer to Question 24
Choice E is best. The pronoun that in A and B should be deleted, since the pronoun one is sufficient to introduce the modifier and the sentence is more fluid without that. In B and C, it and that it are intrusive and ungrammatical: the idiom is "believe x to be y." In the context of this sentence, the infinitive to be is more appropriate than the limited present-tense is in referring to an event that occurred long ago but has been discovered only recently. Finally, A, B, and D lack o/and so illogically equate this particular explosion with the whole class of explosions to which it belongs: it is not a type but possibly one of a type.
Answer to Question 25
A is the best choice. Choices B, C, and D incorrectly omit that after agree; that is needed to create the parallel construction agree that there is waste . . . and that the government... spends. Choice E, though it retains that, is grammatically incorrect: because E starts with an independent rather than a subordinate clause and separates its two independent clauses with a comma, it creates a run-on sentence with no logical connection established between the halves. In B, the agreement ... to the fact is unidiomatic, and B, C, and E alter the sense of the original sentence by saying that voters agree rather than that they may agree.
Chỉnh sửa lần cuối:
Phạm Đức Hoài
(Duc Hoai)
Ban quản lý diễn đàn
26. Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early as the sixth century B.C., worshipped a goddess known in Latin as Bona Dea, "the good goddess."
(A) Based on accounts of various ancient writers
(B) Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts
(C) With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis
(D) By the accounts of various ancient writers they used
(E) Using accounts of various ancient writers
27. Formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.
(A) Formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.
(B) Because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses.
(C) Because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, new small businesses are not subject to the same applicability of formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity as established big businesses.
(D) Because new small businesses are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to them in the same way as to established big businesses.
(E) New small businesses are not subject to the applicability of formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity in the same way as established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.
28. State officials report that soaring rates of liability insurance have risen to force cutbacks in the operations of everything from local governments and school districts to day-care centers and recreational facilities.
(A) rates of liability insurance have risen to force
(B) rates of liability insurance are a force for
(C) rates for liability insurance are forcing
(D) rises in liability insurance rates are forcing
(E) liability insurance rates have risen to force
29. Paleontologists believe that fragments of a primate jawbone unearthed in Burma and estimated at 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of a crucial step along the evolutionary path that led to human beings.
(A) at 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of
(B) as being 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of
(C) that it is 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of what was
(D) to be 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of
(E) as 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of what was
30. In his research paper, Dr. Frosh, medical director of the Payne Whitney Clinic, distinguishes mood swings which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis.
(A) mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(B) mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(C) between mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(D) between mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(E) genuine manic-depressive psychosis and mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease
(A) Based on accounts of various ancient writers
(B) Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts
(C) With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis
(D) By the accounts of various ancient writers they used
(E) Using accounts of various ancient writers
27. Formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.
(A) Formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.
(B) Because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to new small businesses in the same way as they do to established big businesses.
(C) Because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, new small businesses are not subject to the same applicability of formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity as established big businesses.
(D) Because new small businesses are growing and are seldom in equilibrium, formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity do not apply to them in the same way as to established big businesses.
(E) New small businesses are not subject to the applicability of formulas for cash flow and the ratio of debt to equity in the same way as established big businesses, because they are growing and are seldom in equilibrium.
28. State officials report that soaring rates of liability insurance have risen to force cutbacks in the operations of everything from local governments and school districts to day-care centers and recreational facilities.
(A) rates of liability insurance have risen to force
(B) rates of liability insurance are a force for
(C) rates for liability insurance are forcing
(D) rises in liability insurance rates are forcing
(E) liability insurance rates have risen to force
29. Paleontologists believe that fragments of a primate jawbone unearthed in Burma and estimated at 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of a crucial step along the evolutionary path that led to human beings.
(A) at 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of
(B) as being 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of
(C) that it is 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of what was
(D) to be 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of
(E) as 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of what was
30. In his research paper, Dr. Frosh, medical director of the Payne Whitney Clinic, distinguishes mood swings which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis.
(A) mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(B) mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(C) between mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(D) between mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(E) genuine manic-depressive psychosis and mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease
Chỉnh sửa lần cuối:
Hoàng Long
(Death_Creator)
Thành viên danh dự
26b
27d
28c
29d
30c
27d
28c
29d
30c
Phạm Đức Hoài
(Duc Hoai)
Ban quản lý diễn đàn
OA: 26E, 27D,28C,29D,30C
Answer to Question 26
In choice A, the introductory clause beginning Based on modifies scholars, the noun that immediately follows it: in other words, A says that scholars were based on the accounts of various ancient writers. Choice B is awkward and imprecise in that the referent for the pronoun it is not immediately clear. C and D are also wordy and awkward, and in D By the accounts... they used is an unidiomatic and roundabout way of saying that scholars used me accounts. E, the best choice, is clear and concise; it correctly uses a present participle (or "-ing" verb) to introduce the modifier describing how the scholars worked.
Answer to Question 27
In A, the they after because is ambiguous; it seems illogically to refer to Formulas because they and Formulas are each the grammatical subject of a clause and because the previous they refers to Formulas. In A and B, do not apply to... in the same way as they do to is wordy and awkward. D, the best choice, says more concisely in the same way as to. Also in B, because they refers to formulas, the introductory clause states confusedly that the formulas are growing. In C and E, subject to the [same] applicability of... is wordy, awkward, and imprecise; furthermore, are is preferable either before or after established big businesses to complete the comparison. Finally, the referent of they is not immediately clear in E.
Answer to Question 28
In choices A and B, rates of is incorrect; when rates means "prices charged," it should be followed by for. Also in B, are a force for does not accurately convey the meaning that the soaring rates are actually forcing cutbacks in the present. In A and E, it is redundant to say that soaring rates have risen. Similarly, the word rises makes D redundant. C, the best choice, is idiomatic and concise, and it correctly uses the progressive verb form are forcing to indicate an ongoing situation.
Answer to Question 29
D, the best choice, correctly follows estimated with to be. The other choices present structures that are not idiomatic when used in conjunction with estimated. Choices B, C, and E all mismatch the singular verb provides with its plural subject, fragments, and in choices C and E, what was is unnecessary and wordy. In choice C, the use of the verb phrase estimated that it is produces an ungrammatical sentence.
Answer to Question 30
The best choice is C because it uses the idiomatically correct expression distinguishes between x and y and because it provides a structure in which the relative clause beginning which may be violent clearly modifies mood swings. The other choices use distinguishes in unidiomatic constructions. Additionally, their in A is intrusive and unnecessary, and the modifier of mood swings in B and D (perhaps violent) is awkward and less clear than the more developed clause which may be violent.
Answer to Question 26
In choice A, the introductory clause beginning Based on modifies scholars, the noun that immediately follows it: in other words, A says that scholars were based on the accounts of various ancient writers. Choice B is awkward and imprecise in that the referent for the pronoun it is not immediately clear. C and D are also wordy and awkward, and in D By the accounts... they used is an unidiomatic and roundabout way of saying that scholars used me accounts. E, the best choice, is clear and concise; it correctly uses a present participle (or "-ing" verb) to introduce the modifier describing how the scholars worked.
Answer to Question 27
In A, the they after because is ambiguous; it seems illogically to refer to Formulas because they and Formulas are each the grammatical subject of a clause and because the previous they refers to Formulas. In A and B, do not apply to... in the same way as they do to is wordy and awkward. D, the best choice, says more concisely in the same way as to. Also in B, because they refers to formulas, the introductory clause states confusedly that the formulas are growing. In C and E, subject to the [same] applicability of... is wordy, awkward, and imprecise; furthermore, are is preferable either before or after established big businesses to complete the comparison. Finally, the referent of they is not immediately clear in E.
Answer to Question 28
In choices A and B, rates of is incorrect; when rates means "prices charged," it should be followed by for. Also in B, are a force for does not accurately convey the meaning that the soaring rates are actually forcing cutbacks in the present. In A and E, it is redundant to say that soaring rates have risen. Similarly, the word rises makes D redundant. C, the best choice, is idiomatic and concise, and it correctly uses the progressive verb form are forcing to indicate an ongoing situation.
Answer to Question 29
D, the best choice, correctly follows estimated with to be. The other choices present structures that are not idiomatic when used in conjunction with estimated. Choices B, C, and E all mismatch the singular verb provides with its plural subject, fragments, and in choices C and E, what was is unnecessary and wordy. In choice C, the use of the verb phrase estimated that it is produces an ungrammatical sentence.
Answer to Question 30
The best choice is C because it uses the idiomatically correct expression distinguishes between x and y and because it provides a structure in which the relative clause beginning which may be violent clearly modifies mood swings. The other choices use distinguishes in unidiomatic constructions. Additionally, their in A is intrusive and unnecessary, and the modifier of mood swings in B and D (perhaps violent) is awkward and less clear than the more developed clause which may be violent.
Phạm Đức Hoài
(Duc Hoai)
Ban quản lý diễn đàn
tiếp nào
31. Unlike a typical automobile loan, which requires a fifteen- to twenty-percent down payment, the lease-loan buyer is not required to make an initial deposit on the new vehicle.
(A) the lease-loan buyer is not required to make
(B) with lease-loan buying there is no requirement of
(C) lease-loan buyers are not required to make
(D) for the lease-loan buyer there is no requirement of
(E) a lease-loan does not require the buyer to make
32. Native American burial sites dating back 5,000 years indicate that the residents of Maine at that time were part of a widespread culture of Algonquian-speaking people.
(A) were part of a widespread culture of Algonquian-speaking people
(B) had been part of a widespread culture of people who were Algonquian-speaking
(C) were people who were part of a widespread culture that was Algonquian-speaking
(D) had been people who were part of a widespread culture that was Algonquian-speaking
(E) were a people which had been part of a widespread, Algonquian-speaking culture
33. Each of Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson. Pauline Pfeiffer. Martha Gelhom. and Mary Welsh --were strong and interesting women, very different from the often pallid women who populate his novels.
(A) Each of Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--were strong and interesting women,
(B) Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhorn, and Mary Welsh--each of them Hemingway's wives--were strong and, interesting women,
(C) Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--were all strong and interesting women,
(D) Strong and interesting women—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--each a wife of Hemingway, was
(E) Strong and interesting women—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--every one of Hemingway's wives were
34. In addition to having more protein -than wheat does, the protein in rice is higher quality than that in wheat, with more of the amino acids essential to the human diet.
(A) the protein in rice is higher quality than that in
(B) rice has protein of higher quality than that in
(C) the protein in rice is higher in quality than it is in
(D) rice protein is higher in quality than it is in
(E) rice has a protein higher in quality than
35. An array of tax incentives has led to a boom in the construction of new office buildings; so abundant has capital been for commercial real estate that investors regularly scour the country for areas in which to build.
(A) so abundant has capital been for commercial real estate that
(B) capital has been so abundant for commercial real estate, so that
(C) the abundance of capital for commercial real estate has been such,
(D) such has the abundance of capital been for commercial real estate that
(E) such has been an abundance of capital for commercial real estate,
31. Unlike a typical automobile loan, which requires a fifteen- to twenty-percent down payment, the lease-loan buyer is not required to make an initial deposit on the new vehicle.
(A) the lease-loan buyer is not required to make
(B) with lease-loan buying there is no requirement of
(C) lease-loan buyers are not required to make
(D) for the lease-loan buyer there is no requirement of
(E) a lease-loan does not require the buyer to make
32. Native American burial sites dating back 5,000 years indicate that the residents of Maine at that time were part of a widespread culture of Algonquian-speaking people.
(A) were part of a widespread culture of Algonquian-speaking people
(B) had been part of a widespread culture of people who were Algonquian-speaking
(C) were people who were part of a widespread culture that was Algonquian-speaking
(D) had been people who were part of a widespread culture that was Algonquian-speaking
(E) were a people which had been part of a widespread, Algonquian-speaking culture
33. Each of Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson. Pauline Pfeiffer. Martha Gelhom. and Mary Welsh --were strong and interesting women, very different from the often pallid women who populate his novels.
(A) Each of Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--were strong and interesting women,
(B) Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhorn, and Mary Welsh--each of them Hemingway's wives--were strong and, interesting women,
(C) Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--were all strong and interesting women,
(D) Strong and interesting women—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--each a wife of Hemingway, was
(E) Strong and interesting women—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--every one of Hemingway's wives were
34. In addition to having more protein -than wheat does, the protein in rice is higher quality than that in wheat, with more of the amino acids essential to the human diet.
(A) the protein in rice is higher quality than that in
(B) rice has protein of higher quality than that in
(C) the protein in rice is higher in quality than it is in
(D) rice protein is higher in quality than it is in
(E) rice has a protein higher in quality than
35. An array of tax incentives has led to a boom in the construction of new office buildings; so abundant has capital been for commercial real estate that investors regularly scour the country for areas in which to build.
(A) so abundant has capital been for commercial real estate that
(B) capital has been so abundant for commercial real estate, so that
(C) the abundance of capital for commercial real estate has been such,
(D) such has the abundance of capital been for commercial real estate that
(E) such has been an abundance of capital for commercial real estate,
Võ Thanh Trọng Nhân
(BabyDino)
New Member
Các bác xem lại hộ em câu 9 tí:
9. Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.
(C) Hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, are dotting the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia.
(E) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.
Ban đầu em đọc qua OA thấy E hợp lý vì absolute phrase bổ nghĩa cho cả câu nên thường được đặt ở đầu hoặc cuối câu. Nhưng khi đọc kỹ lại lý thuyết thấy nó đặt ở giữa như thường. Với lại ban đầu em cũng nghĩ động từ "dot" thì phải dùng ở thể bị động, nhưng mà thật ra người ta vẫn tìm được nó ở thể chủ động và cả ở dạng progressive nữa.
Bác nào chỉ hộ dùm em ra rõ E thì hơn đứt C được chỗ nào nào? Nếu bắt chọn thì em vẫn chọn E, vì trực giác bảo nó tốt hơn. Nhưng giải thích rõ ra thì em ko nghĩ ra cách nào các bác ạ
9. Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.
(C) Hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, are dotting the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia.
(E) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.
Ban đầu em đọc qua OA thấy E hợp lý vì absolute phrase bổ nghĩa cho cả câu nên thường được đặt ở đầu hoặc cuối câu. Nhưng khi đọc kỹ lại lý thuyết thấy nó đặt ở giữa như thường. Với lại ban đầu em cũng nghĩ động từ "dot" thì phải dùng ở thể bị động, nhưng mà thật ra người ta vẫn tìm được nó ở thể chủ động và cả ở dạng progressive nữa.
Bác nào chỉ hộ dùm em ra rõ E thì hơn đứt C được chỗ nào nào? Nếu bắt chọn thì em vẫn chọn E, vì trực giác bảo nó tốt hơn. Nhưng giải thích rõ ra thì em ko nghĩ ra cách nào các bác ạ
Chỉnh sửa lần cuối:
Hoàng Long
(Death_Creator)
Thành viên danh dự
are dotting nghe có vẻ không được xuôi lắm... có phải vì cái này không :-?
Hoàng Long
(Death_Creator)
Thành viên danh dự
ko phải. nếu many of which thì phải là many of which are chiseled.
many of them ở chỗ này là ok 100%.
many of them ở chỗ này là ok 100%.
Võ Thanh Trọng Nhân
(BabyDino)
New Member
Hoàng Long đã viết:
Em cũng đồng ý cái đoạn nàyPhạm Thủy Anh đã viết:
many of which were chứ ạHoàng Long đã viết:
ABSOLUTE PHRASEPhạm Thủy Anh đã viết:
Usually (but not always, as we shall see), an absolute phrase (also called a nominative absolute) is a group of words consisting of a noun or pronoun and a participle as well as any related modifiers. Absolute phrases do not directly connect to or modify any specific word in the rest of the sentence; instead, they modify the entire sentence, adding information. They are always treated as parenthetical elements and are set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma or a pair of commas (sometimes by a dash or pair of dashes). Notice that absolute phrases contain a subject (which is often modified by a participle), but not a true finite verb.
Their reputation as winners secured by victory, the New York Liberty charged into the semifinals.
The season nearly finished, Rebecca Lobo and Sophie Witherspoon emerged as true leaders.
The two superstars signed autographs into the night, their faces beaming happily.
When the participle of an absolute phrase is a form of to be, such as being or having been, the participle is often left out but understood.
The season [being] over, they were mobbed by fans in Times Square.
[Having been] Stars all their adult lives, they seemed used to the attention.
Another kind of absolute phrase is found after a modified noun; it adds a focusing detail or point of focus to the idea of the main clause. This kind of absolute phrase can take the form of a prepositional phrase, an adjective phrase, or a noun phrase.
The old firefighter stood over the smoking ruins, his senses alert to any sign of another flare-up.
His subordinates, their faces sweat-streaked and smudged with ash, leaned heavily against the firetruck.
They knew all too well how all their hard work could be undone — in an instant.
It is not unusual for the information supplied in the absolute phrase to be the most important element in the sentence. In fact, in descriptive prose, the telling details will often be wrapped into a sentence in the form of an absolute phrase:
Coach Nykesha strolled onto the court, her arms akimbo and a large silver whistle clenched between her teeth.
The new recruits stood in one corner of the gym, their uniforms stiff and ill fitting, their faces betraying their anxiety.
A noun phrase can also exist as an absolute phrase:
Your best friends, where are they now, when you need them?
And then there was my best friend Sally — the dear girl — who has certainly fallen on hard times.
Chỉnh sửa lần cuối: