Unit5 Enjoying Novels

    barring bad weather, we plan to go to the beach tomorrow.
    all things considered, it's not a bad idea.
t: notice that absolute phrases contain a subject (which is often modified by a participle), but not a true finite verb.
e.g. 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.
t: 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.
e.g. 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.
t: 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.
e.g. 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.
t: 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:
e.g. coach nykesha strolled onto the court, her arms akimbo and a large silver whistle clenched between her teeth. the new recruits stood in one comer of the gym, their uniforms stiff and ill fitting, their faces betraying their anxiety.
t: a noun phrase can also exist as an absolute phrase:
e.g. 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.
t: it might be useful to review the material on misplaced modifiers because it is important not to confuse an absolute phrase with a misplaced modifier.

step ⅲ consolidation
choose some exercises to practice, show the exercises on the powerpoint.
1.         production up by 60%,the company has had another excellent year. ( nmet )
    a. as    b. for    c. with    d. through