You are dead on as usual.  I see now that calling them absolutes is a much
more logical analysis.  The possibly understood "with" is great!

Thanks, Craig.
John

On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 9:23 AM, Craig Hancock <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> John,
>   I would classify them as "absolutes", which I would define as subject
> bearing participle clauses. (Traditional grammar calls them phrases.)
>   My own preference would be for "he" and "I" in the subject roles, but
> these are also commonly introduced by "with", which could be thought of
> as understood here. "I slipped my backpack off, and we sat down at one
> of the metal tables overlooking the pool, with him sipping his Mountain
> Dew and me groping for pen and paper." Maybe the writer drafted it with
> "with" and then took it out, leaving the objective pronouns.
>   Hope that helps.
>
> Craig
>    >
>
>
> What are the structures appended to the end of the main clause below?
> > They
> > feel like participles, but they have pseudo-subjects.  Is it correct to
> > use
> > the objective pronouns in these structures?
> >
> > *I slipped my backpack off, and we sat down at one of the metal tables
> > overlooking the pool, him sipping his Mountain Dew and me groping for a
> > pen
> > and paper.
> >
> > *I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > John
> >
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