Ablative Absolute Latin II

Ablative Absolute n This construction is used to denote the time or circumstances of an action. Abl. Abs: When I had finished my hamburger, … Main Clause: There was ketchup covering the table and floor.

Ablative Absolute n It usually carries an idea of time, cause, or condition. Time: When the minutes had been read… While Numa was king… Cause: Because the minutes had not been read yet… Since Egeria taught Numa about the gods… Condition: Even though the minutes have been read… Although the boy was punished…

Ablative Absolute n It is grammatically unconnected to the rest of the sentence; has no direct connection with either the subject or the predicate. n “When the minutes had been read, the chairman called for new business.” u Neither the minutes nor the reading of them is connected grammatically to the chairman or the new business – that is, nothing in the “When” clause is an adjective/participle that modifies a NOUN in the MAIN clause. n Equivalent to an English adverbial phrase. u Describes How, When, Why things are done n Literally translated as “With…having been…”

The Three Ways to Construct an Ablative Absolute nNnNoun + Noun nn “With [Noun1] being [Noun2]” nNnNoun + Adjective nn “With [Noun] being [Adjective]” nNnNoun + Participle nn “With [Noun] [Having been Verbed]

Noun + Noun n Two nouns that are both in the ablative case There is no participle for the verb sum esse, so insert being with this construction Caesare duce, ….. With Caesar being the commander …. Since Caesar is the commander…. “With [Noun1] being [Noun2]”

Noun + Adjective n 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, ….. With Caesar being unwilling …. Since Caesar is unwilling…. “With [Noun] being [Adjective]”

Noun + Participle n A noun and a participle (usually the perfect passive participle) that are both in the ablative case This is the most common construction for the ablative absolute! Signō ā Caesare datō, ….. With the sign having been given by Caesar …. Since Caesar gave the sign…. “With [Noun] having been [Participled]” Note the ablative of agent is used to show what would be the subject of the “Since” clause!

How to translate? Start with the formula, “with the noun having been verbed”, “with the noun being noun” or “with the noun being adjective.” The best way to translate the sense of the ablative absolute is to convert the formula translation to some type of adverbial conjunction, such as: when since as because although after with if under

For example His rebus auditis ….. These things having been heard….. When these things were heard….. Since these things were heard….. After these things were heard….. Because these things were heard….. If these things were heard….. Although these things were heard….. and so on…….

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

What’s so “Absolute” about the Absolutely Amazing Ablative Absolute? n “Absolute” means that it is FREE from the rest of the sentence, from the Latin verb “absolvo” meaning “to free”. Therefore, the Ablative Absolute has NO connection GRAMMATICALLY to the rest of the sentence. That is, it does not describe a word in the rest of the sentence the way a regular PPP does. n PPP example: After the money was found, we gave it to Mother. (Pecuniam inventam Matri dedimus.) n Abl. Abs. example: After the money was found, Mother was happy. (Pecuniā inventā, Mater beata erat.)

Absolutely Amazing Practice n Would you use a PPP or an Abl. Abs.? n “This boy, sent to visit his aunt, lost his way.” n Does sent relate to a noun in the main clause? n Yes – the boy was sent. Use a PPP. n “Puer, missus…”

Absolutely Amazing Practice n Would you use a PPP or an Abl. Abs.? n “After the boy was freed, everyone was happy.” n Does was freed relate to a noun in the main clause? n No – it refers to the boy, which is NOT in the main clause! Use an Abl. Abs.. n “Puero liberato, omnes beati erant.”

Absolutely Amazing Practice n Would you use a PPP or an Abl. Abs? n “Having read the books, we returned them to the library.” n Does read relate to a noun in the main clause? n Yes – it relates to them which is a pronoun standing in for the books. Use a PPP. n “Libros lectos ad bibliothecam reddidimus.”

Absolutely Amazing Practice n Would you use a PPP or an Abl. Abs? n “After the prisoner was put in jail, the policewoman went home.” n Does putting relate to a noun in the main clause? (Who/what has been put?) n No – it relates to the prisoner which is NOT in the main clause. Use an Abl. Abs.. n “Captivo in carcere posito….”

Absolutely Amazing Practice n Would you use a PPP or an Abl.Abs? n “After the money was given, the boy was returned to his parents.” n Does was given relate to a noun in the main clause? n No – it relates to the money which is NOT in the main clause. Use an Abl. Abs.. n “Pecuniā datā, puer redditus est parentibus….”

Absolutely Amazing Practice n Would you use a PPP or an Abl. Abs.? n “The boys having been compelled to stop fighting, the principal went back to her office.” n Does having been compelled relate to a noun in the main clause? n No – it relates to the boys which is NOT in the main clause. Use an Abl. Abs.. n “Pueris desistere pugnando coactis….”