Rule reminder

In an absolute construction, the subject of the participial clause is DIFFERENT from the subject of the main clause. Example: 'Finita la conferenza [subject: la conferenza], i giornalisti [subject: i giornalisti] si dispersero.' When the subjects are the same, Italian uses a participio congiunto or gerund instead: 'Uscita dalla stanza, Maria incontrò il direttore.' Here Maria is subject of both — this is NOT an absolute. The ability to keep the two subjects distinct is the grammatical foundation of the absolute construction.