Circumstances without a clause
An absolute construction sits loosely before or after the sentence, set off by a comma. It has no conjugated verb and no conjunction, yet says the same as a clause with quand, une fois que or bien que. It sounds more concise and more elevated.
Same statement, two registers
Clause
Quand on prend tous les facteurs en compte, le projet reste rentable.
When you take all the factors into account, the project is still profitable.
Quand vous serez arrivés, appelez-nous.
When you've arrived, give us a call.
Absolute
Tous les facteurs considérés, le projet reste rentable.
All factors considered, the project is still profitable.
Une fois arrivés, appelez-nous.
Once you're there, give us a call.
une fois + participle
Une fois + participle means once or after. Without a noun of its own, the participle belongs to the subject of the main clause and agrees with it. With an imperative, that is the person being addressed.
Une fois installée, elle a appelé sa mère.
Once she had settled in, she called her mother.
installée → elle
Une fois rentrés, nous avons tout raconté.
Once we were home, we told them everything.
rentrés → nous
Une fois inscrit, vous recevrez un code par e-mail.
Once registered, you will receive a code by email.
inscrit → vous, one person
Set phrases for argument
Many absolute constructions have become set phrases. They structure an argument, in careful speech as well as in writing.
Phrase and function
| Phrase | Meaning | Function |
|---|---|---|
| cela dit | that said | qualifying what came before |
| ceci étant | that being so, even so | qualifying, formal |
| tout bien considéré | all things considered | conclusion after weighing up |
| réflexion faite | on second thought | change of mind |
| toutes proportions gardées | relatively speaking | putting a comparison in perspective |
Le loyer est élevé. Cela dit, le quartier est très calme.
The rent is high. That said, the area is very quiet.
Réflexion faite, je ne viendrai pas ce soir.
On second thought, I won't come tonight.
Toutes proportions gardées, notre village est aussi animé que Paris.
Relatively speaking, our village is as lively as Paris.
Several of these match English phrases one to one: cela dit is that said, tout bien considéré is all things considered. Use them just as you would in English.
No participle at all
In narrative, an absolute construction often describes posture or appearance: noun + place phrase or adjective, without avec. It sounds literary and vivid. With avec the sentence is more neutral.
Il est entré, le chapeau à la main.
He came in, hat in hand.
Les mains dans les poches, il attendait le bus.
Hands in his pockets, he waited for the bus.
Elle écoutait, les yeux fermés.
She listened with her eyes closed.
Where English uses a possessive (his hands, her eyes), French uses the definite article for body parts: les mains, les yeux.
