Ablative Absolutes Ablative Absolute n n This construction

Ablative Absolutes

Ablative Absolute n n This construction is used to denote the time or circumstances of an action. It usually carries an idea of time, cause, or condition. It is grammatically unconnected to the rest of the sentence; has no direct connection with either the subject or the predicate. Equivalent to an English adverbial phrase.

I. The present active participle is used • structures that work with active voice verbs • use these conjunctions: • while/ when • as • since • although. • because • if (WASABI) • better English require we convert it into a clause. e. g. Viribus bibentibus vinum, uxores inter se

Nunc traducite: n n principibus servos tenentibus, Caesar urbem intravit. nautis volentibus, dux in insula mansit. mercatoribus tabernas spectantibus, gladiators ad forum ambulaverunt. magistro discipulos docente, servi in agris laboraverunt.

II. The perfect passive participle is used • use when and after as conjunctions • again, the absolute works better in a clause translation, preferably with the verb in pluperfect e. g. Roma visa, viri gaudebant. . Rome having been seen, the men rejoiced. When Rome had been seen, the men rejoiced. OR After Rome had been seen, the men rejoiced

Nunc traducite: omnibus rebus comparatis, discessimus. _____________________ hac re nuntiata, milites servos ad oppidum duxerunt. ______________________ navibus paratis, bellum coepit. ______________________ eo opere confecto, viri pecuniam postulaverunt. ______________________

III. NO PARTICIPLE is used • just a noun or a pronoun in the ablative case. • supply the verb of being. (sum has no present participle. ). • the least often seen ablative absolute e. g. Tyranno duce, populus erant infelices

Type III Ablative Absolute Cont. Noun + Noun n Noun + Adjective n

Noun + Noun Two nouns that are both in the abl. case There is no participle for the verb sum, esse, so insert is/was with this construction Caesare duce, …. . • While Caesar is the commander …. • Since Caesar is the commander….

Noun + Adjective A noun and an adjective that are both in the ablative case There is no participle for the verb sum esse, so insert being with this construction Caesare invito, …. . Because Caesar is unwilling …. Since Caesar is unwilling….

How to translate? The best way to translate the ablative absolute is to use some type of adverbial conjunction, such as: when with as since although after because if

The Ablative Absolute has certain characteristics that you should look for: n n It must contain a noun or pronoun in the ablative case Most of the time it will also contain a perfect passive participle (also in the ablative case!) Because these are regularly declined, you already know what endings to look for: -ā, -ō, -īs It often (but not always) begins a Latin sentence. In most textbooks, the ablative absolutes are set off by commas.

Famous Latin Ablative Absolutes mutatis mutandis (with the things that need to be changed (mutandis) having been changed (mutatis) ceteris paribus with the other things being equal his dictis these things having been said (after these things had been said) vice versa with the alternation turned around to its opposite, reversely lite pendente with the lawsuit pending

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