1. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    Does this device have a name?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by OurJud, Aug 23, 2016.

    "Noooo, really? Well that's a surprise," she said, her voice oozing sarcasm.

    I'm talking specifically about the part that comes after the 'said,' whether that's a description of the tone as in this example, or an action such as '"I'm going," she said, opening the door to leave.
     
  2. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    In both instances they are a kind of adverbial phrase akin to the ablative absolute, in that it conditions the entirety of the preceding sentence.

    Were you to flip the sequence of the first sentence to...

    Her voice oozing sarcasm, she said, "Noooo, really? Well that's a surprise."

    ... it would more clearly be the typical structure of ablative absolute.

    The second sentence also.

    Opening the door to leave, she said, "I'm going."
     
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  3. SethLoki

    SethLoki Retired Autodidact Contributor

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    Adverbial tags?
     
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  4. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    Ablative... I'm gonna need a bigger dictionary.
     
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  5. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_grammar#Ablative_absolute

    Important to remember that, of all the Germanic Brethren of Languages, English is perhaps the most Latinate because of a) repeated Norman French conquest that injected Latin based concepts into the language on a number of occasions, and b) Latin grammar was also heavily injected into "refined English" through the clergy of England who were, for a stongkingly long time, the only commoners able to read or write. ;)
     
  6. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

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    @Wreybies it's always a pleasure to read your posts about grammar. I've learned so much from your posts.
    (I know this has nothing to do with the thread, just had to say it.)
     
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  7. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    This is a serious question, but look at this first paragraph from that link (I'm addressing anyone who reads this).

    ----------------

    In Latin grammar, the ablative absolute (Latin: ablativus absolutus) is a noun phrase cast in the ablative case. More specifically, it consists of a noun or pronoun and either a past participle, a present participle, an adjective, or an appositive noun, all in the ablative. In the case of sum "to be", a zero morpheme often must be used as the past and present participle do not exist, unlike the future participle.

    -----------------

    Does anyone else read this and hear someone speaking in a foreign language? I'm not dyslexic and I'm not trying to defend any lack of intelligence on my part, but seriously! Talk about blinded.
     
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  8. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    a_tip_of_the_hat_by_jollyjack.jpg
     
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  9. doggiedude

    doggiedude Contributor Contributor

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    Yea ... I didn't understand any of that either.
     
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  10. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

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    Make me the third to have thin (if any) understanding of your post @OurJud.

    That being said, I've been doing a ton of studying lately on the finer mechanics of grammar and hope to be able to understand that in the near future.
     
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  11. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Another fine example of ablative absolute. :-D
     

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