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English grammar

Weather permitting, the meeting over: absolute clauses

C1 · Advanced Joining sentences Questions 10

The rule

An absolute clause has its own subject but no finite verb, and it attaches to the main clause to give the circumstances, a cause or a time: Weather permitting, we’ll eat outside; The meeting over, everyone went home; Her hands shaking, she opened the letter; There being no objections, the motion was passed. with + noun + participle, adjective or prepositional phrase is the everyday version, used in every register: With prices rising, people are spending less; With the children at school, the house is quiet; He stood there with his hands in his pockets. Several absolutes are fixed phrases: all things considered, weather / time permitting, other things being equal, that said, that being the case. Without the absolute form, two full clauses joined by a comma make a comma splice: Her voice shook, she read the letter is wrong in writing.

Pattern

noun + -ing / past participle / adjective / phrase, main clause · with + noun + -ing / past participle / adjective / phrase · fixed: all things considered · weather / time permitting · that said · that being the case · other things being equal

Examples

  1. Weather permitting, the ceremony will be held in the garden.

  2. With prices rising, many families are cutting back.

  3. The work finished, the builders packed up and left.

  4. All things considered, the trip was a great success.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Weather permits, we will go.

    Right: Weather permitting, we will go.

    The absolute clause has no finite verb: permitting.

  • Wrong: With the prices rise, people spend less.

    Right: With prices rising, people spend less.

    with + noun + -ing.

  • Wrong: All thing considering, it went well.

    Right: All things considered, it went well.

    The fixed phrase is all things considered.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Time permitting, we will also visit the old town.
    2. Time permitted, we will also visit the old town.
    3. If time permitting, we will also visit the old town.
    4. Time permits, we will also visit the old town.
    Show answer

    Answer: A Time permitting, we will also visit the old town.

    time permitting = if there is enough time.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the sentence mean?

    The speeches over, the guests moved to the bar.

    1. The guests moved during the speeches.
    2. The speeches were over the bar.
    3. The guests gave speeches at the bar.
    4. When the speeches had finished, the guests moved.
    Show answer

    Answer: D When the speeches had finished, the guests moved.

    noun + over = when it had finished.

  3. 3Change the sentence.

    Join with with.

    Prices are rising. People are buying less.

    1. With prices to rise, people are buying less.
    2. With prices rising, people are buying less.
    3. With rising prices are, people are buying less.
    4. With prices rise, people are buying less.
    Show answer

    Answer: B With prices rising, people are buying less.

    with + noun + -ing gives the circumstance.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    _____ things considered, I think we made the right choice.

    1. Every
    2. Any
    3. Each
    4. All
    Show answer

    Answer: D All things considered, I think we made the right choice.

    The fixed phrase all things considered.

  5. 5This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Her voice shook, she read the letter aloud.

    1. Her voice was shaking she read the letter aloud.
    2. Her voice shaking, she read the letter aloud.
    3. Her voice shaken, she read the letter aloud.
    4. Her voice to shake, she read the letter aloud.
    Show answer

    Answer: B Her voice shaking, she read the letter aloud.

    Two clauses with only a comma are wrong; make the first an absolute.

  6. 6Put the words in the right order.

    With the children at school the house is quiet

    Show answer

    Answer: With the children at school the house is quiet.

    with + noun + place phrase.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    Which is the most formal?

    Four ways to say what happened after the vote.

    1. They voted and then the chair closed it.
    2. Vote done, meeting closed, basically.
    3. After they voted, the chair closed the meeting.
    4. The vote taken, the chair closed the meeting.
    Show answer

    Answer: D The vote taken, the chair closed the meeting.

    A noun + past participle absolute is formal.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    You are writing an invitation.

    The party will be outdoors, weather _____.

    1. permitting
    2. to permit
    3. permitted
    4. permits
    Show answer

    Answer: A The party will be outdoors, weather permitting.

    The fixed absolute weather permitting.

  9. 9Choose the correct sentence.

    1. He sat by the window, with a book opens on his lap.
    2. He sat by the window, a book was open on his lap.
    3. He sat by the window, a book open on his lap.
    4. He sat by the window, a book opening on his lap it.
    Show answer

    Answer: C He sat by the window, a book open on his lap.

    An absolute can be just noun + adjective + phrase.

  10. 10Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the sentence tell us?

    That said, the plan still has serious weaknesses.

    1. Despite what was just said, there are problems.
    2. Because of what was said, the plan is perfect.
    3. The plan says it has weaknesses.
    4. Nobody has said anything about the plan.
    Show answer

    Answer: A Despite what was just said, there are problems.

    That said = even so, in spite of that.

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