Comma with a Nominative Absolute
The Comma
Rulebase Summary
Use a comma to separate a nominative absolute from the rest of the sentence. A nominative absolute is a noun or pronoun followed by a participle that is not grammatically related to the sentence content. It has the feel of an adverb but is grammatically independent from the sentence. When the nominative absolute is in the middle of the sentence, it is surrounded with commas.
Examples
A. The evidence having been reviewed the jury began deliberations.
A. The evidence having been reviewed, the jury began deliberations.
Comma separates the nominative absolute from the main clause.
A. She returned to work her injury having fully healed after the accident.
A. She returned to work, her injury having fully healed, after the accident.
Nominative absolute in the middle is surrounded with commas.
Transcript Notes
A nominative absolute is always separated from the sentence with punctuation regardless of its position — beginning, middle, or end. It is not grammatically related to the sentence content even though it has the feel of an adverb.
Style Guide References (2)
BGGP
BGGP