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Ablative Absolute

The document explains the ablative absolute, a grammatical construction consisting of a noun and a participle in the ablative case that provides background information independent of the main clause. It outlines common translations, the tenses that the participle can take (present active, perfect passive, and future active), and provides examples of translations and Latin sentences. Additionally, it includes rules for declining participles in the ablative case.

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99 views2 pages

Ablative Absolute

The document explains the ablative absolute, a grammatical construction consisting of a noun and a participle in the ablative case that provides background information independent of the main clause. It outlines common translations, the tenses that the participle can take (present active, perfect passive, and future active), and provides examples of translations and Latin sentences. Additionally, it includes rules for declining participles in the ablative case.

Uploaded by

aryanshekar2012
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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20 April 25

What is the ablative absolute?

● Grammatical construction made up of a noun + participle, both of which are in the


ablative case
● The ‘absolute’ part means that it is grammatically independent from the rest of the
sentence. It gives background information surrounding the main clause
● Usually found at the beginning of the sentence
● [noun in ablative] + [participle in ablative]

Common English translation:

● "With [noun] having been [verb]ed"

● "When/since/after [noun] [verb]ed"

● "[Noun] [verb]ing"

Eg.
Urbe capta, cives fugerunt → With the city having been captured, the citizens fled.
Duce monente, milites paraverunt→ With the leader warning, the soldiers prepared.

What tenses can the participle be in?

PRESENT ACTIVE: Discipulīs librōs legentibus → With the students reading the books…

Present stem + -nt + -e for singular or -ibus for plural

PERFECT PASSIVE: Libṛīs ā discipulīs lectīs → With the books having been read by the
students…)

Declined like 1st/2nd declension adjectives in ablative case:

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine -ō -īs

Feminine -ā -īs

Neuter -ō -īs

FUTURE ACTIVE: Discipulīs librōs lecturīs → With the students about to read the books…
20 April 25

Declined like 1st/2nd declension adjectives in ablative case (above) but add -ur- before the
adjective ending

EX.1 Translate into English and state which tense the participle is in

1. Tempore dato, milites discesserunt. With time having been given, the soldiers departed.
2. Luce orta, viatores iter coeperunt. When the light had risen, the travellers begin their
journey.
3. Cicerone orationem habente, senatores audiverunt. While Cicero has the speech, the
senators listened.
4. Consule interfecto, senatus timuit. Having killed the consul, the senator was scared.
5. Hostibus victis, Romani gaudebant. When the enemies had been conquered, the
Romans rejoiced.
6. Caesare duce, exercitus vicit. With Caesar as its leader, the army was conquered.
7. Pace facta, legati redierunt. Having made peace, the envoys returned.

EX.2 Write a sentence in Latin using the following prompts

1. Describe something that happened after a battle.


Pugna victo, Caesar miles interfecit.
2. Describe a situation while a leader was speaking.
Duce dicente, vir ducem occidit.
3. Describe a moment when peace had been made.
Pace facta, Romani pacem frangerunt.

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