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Ablative Absolute

Learn the concept and usage of ablative absolute in Latin grammar. Explore different examples and translations. Improve your understanding of this grammatical structure.

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Ablative Absolute

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  1. Ablative Absolute Ablative Absolute grammatically is absolutely unconnected with the rest of the sentence. The most common ablative absolute has an ablative noun modified by a perfect passive participle. As with cum, you may add ‘when, since, or although’ as an introductory word in the English translation, along with a verb ‘to be’.

  2. CENA PARATA, SCINTILLA FLACCUM VOCAVIT. • literally Dinner having been prepared, Scintilla called Flaccus  When dinner was ready… After the dinner had been prepared … (n.b. the dinner was prepared before she called him) • DUCE INTERFECTO, MILITES FUGERUNT. • literally The leader having been killed, the soldiers fled  When/Since the leader was killed, the soldiers fled. …perhaps the best translation for the context would be Although the leader was killed, the soldiers fled. It’s very likely that the word tamen (nevertheless) will appear in the main clause of the sentence, when although is the best meaning for the introductory word.

  3. Other tenses of participles, or even simple adjectives may be seen from time to time: • SOLE OCCIDENTE, NAUTAE NAVEM DELIGAVERUNT. When/While the sun was setting, the sailors tied up the ship. (n.b. the sun set at the same time as the sailors moored the ship) • FEMINA PULCHERRIMA, HELENA PRAEMIUM ADEPTA EST. Since she was the most beautiful woman, Helen won the prize. (n.b. the deponent adepta est)

  4. Ablatives, ablatives, ablatives milites, oppido liberato, in foro victimas cultro necavit ablative absoluteabl.  place where abl. of means The soldiers, when/after the city was freed, killed victims with a sacrificial knife in the forum et magno cum gaudio celebraverunt. abl. of manner and celebrated with great joy.

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