Absolute and Participial Phrases

Whistling a tune, Coach Wright walked into the gym to start practice.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

Mr. G, balancing himself carefully, aimed his camera to take a selfie.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

The entire crowd at lunch gathered about the Daniel, urging him to dance.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

The magician patted the hat, holding it quietly, waiting for life to revive.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

High in the air, a little figure, his hands thrust in his short jacket pockets, stood staring out to sea.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

The boy watched, his eyes bulging out of his face.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

Outside, his carpetbag in his hand, he stood for a time in the barnyard.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

Miss Hearne, her face burning, hardly listened to these words.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

He walked with a prim strut, swinging out his legs in a half-circle with each step, his heels biting smartly into the red velvet carpet on the floor.

• Participial Phrase

• Absolute Phrase

An independent clause is

• The part of a sentence that can stand by itself as a complete sentence

• The part of the sentence that cannot stand by itself