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ZoeZ42
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absolute phrase

by ZoeZ42 Wed Sep 21, 2016 6:16 am

dear instructors

I read absolute phrase on MANTAHHAN 6 th, P169-171 ,

following excerpt:

"Absolute Phrases
A few GMAT sentences use a sophisticated modifier called an absolute phrase. Absolute phrases are composed of a noun plus a noun modifier. These phrases do not have to modify what they touch; rather, they modify the main clause in some way. For example:

Right:
His head held high, Owen walked out of the store.

The absolute phrase His head held high is composed of a noun (His head) and a noun modifier (held high) that describes the noun. The phrase His head held high describes how Owen walked out of the store. Thus, this absolute phrase acts as an adverbial modifier.

You might argue that the noun Owen is directly described by His head held high, especially since the pronoun His refers to Owen. Note, though, that you could move the modifier to the end of the sentence; you cannot do so with normal noun modifiers:

Right: Owen walked out of the store, his head held high.
Right: Owen walked out of the store with his head held high.

Consider another example:
Right:
Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world, results that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.

The absolute phrase in this sentence, results that suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago, is composed of the noun results and the noun modifier that suggest … years ago. Notice that the noun results does not modify world, the closest noun in the main clause. The noun results refers to either high levels of iridium or the act of finding these levels. The absolute phrase construction provides a way to link a second part of the sentence to the first. Consider this example:

Right:
Scientists have found high levels of iridium in certain geological formations around the world. These results suggest the cataclysmic impact of a meteor millions of years ago.


i have an incorrect sentence from OA:
[redacted]
RonPurewal
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Re: absolute phrase

by RonPurewal Sun Sep 25, 2016 1:35 am

your analysis doesn't apply to the sentence you quoted, because that sentence describes something that happens "in turn"—in other words, NEXT in sequence.

the problem is the same as the issue described here:
post108571.html#p108571

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beyond this, we cannot discuss that problem any further, because that's an OG problem. do not EVER quote ANY OG problem, or ANY piece of one, on this forum.
thank you.