Shoutbox

Absolute phrases are made of nouns or pronouns followed by a participle and any modifiers of the noun or pronoun. Absolute phrases contain a subject (unlike participial phrases), and no predicate. They serve to modify an entire sentence.

Examples:
     Joan looked nervous, her fears creeping up on her.
          noun/subject:  her fears
          participle:    creeping
          modifier:      up on her
          absolute phrase: her fears creeping up on her

Source: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/sentence/2_4e.htm