His legs cramping up

The Absolute Phrase in English Grammar

His legs cramping up, Greg got out of bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen. In this sentence, the absolute phrase is "His legs cramping up." An absolute phrase is a group of words that modify an entire sentence. It contains a noun or pronoun and a participial phrase which can stand alone in a sentence. The absolute phrase often provides additional information about the subject of the main clause.

Absolute phrases are often separated from the main clause by a comma and can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. They are used to add more detail, description, or background information to a sentence.

In the example sentence, "His legs cramping up" provides extra information about Greg's condition when he got out of bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen. It gives a more vivid picture of the scene and helps the reader understand the context better.

Understanding absolute phrases and how they function in a sentence can enhance your writing skills and add depth to your composition. By using absolute phrases effectively, you can create more engaging and descriptive sentences.

Which of the following is the absolute phrase?
A. Greg got out of bed
B. walked downstairs
C. His legs cramping up
D. to the kitchen

Answer: C. His legs cramping up
Explanation: The absolute phrase in the sentence is "His legs cramping up." It provides additional information about the condition of Greg before he got out of bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen.