nominative absolute

noun

Grammar.

1. a construction consisting in English of a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun in the nominative case followed by a predicate lacking a finite verb, used as a loose modifier of the whole sentence, as the play done in The play done, the audience left the theater.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nominative absolute¹

First recorded in 1835–45; by analogy with ablative absolute

Example Sentences

Such a noun is in the nominative case, and is called nominative absolute, because it has no grammatical relation to any other part of the sentence; as, Mr. Brown having gone, we told the gentleman to see Mr. Jones.

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Other idioms, which have generally been confounded with those last mentioned, have the indeterminate pronoun preceded by a nominative absolute.

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A real nominative absolute is as illogical as a real accusative case governing a verb.

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The nominative of direct address, and phrases in the nominative absolute construction are cut off by commas.

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The construction is nominative absolute.

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