Year 4C · Grade 8: The Ablative Absolute
Read a noun and a participle in the ablative as a scene set beside the main sentence.
What to notice
- noun plus participle
- both words ablative
- time and circumstance
Explanation
An ablative absolute is a little phrase of its own. A noun and a participle, both ablative, set the scene for the main sentence. Re cognita, discessit means the matter having been learned, he left, or when the facts were known, he left. Sole orto means the sun having risen, or at sunrise. His dictis means these things having been said.
The phrase is called absolute because it is loosened from the grammar of the main clause. The noun in the phrase is not the subject or the object of the main verb. If the same person does both actions, Latin usually uses an ordinary participle instead. Hostibus victis, urbs tacuit means the enemy having been defeated, the city was quiet.
Examples
- Re cognita, discessit. — When the matter was known, he left. Re and cognita are both ablative.
- Sole orto — at sunrise The sun having risen.
- His dictis — these things having been said His and dictis are ablative.
- Hostibus victis, urbs tacuit. — The enemy having been defeated, the city was quiet. The enemy is not the subject of tacuit.
Latin in this lesson
- Re cognita — an ablative absolute
- Sole orto — at sunrise
- His dictis — these things having been said
- Hostibus victis — the enemy having been defeated
- both ablative — the case of the noun and the participle
- ut videret — not an ablative absolute