2. What is an Ablative Absolute?
• An ablative absolute is a time
construction
• This is unique to Latin and not
used in English
• There are two items included in an
Ablative Absolute
1. A noun in the Ablative
2. A participle in the Ablative
3. Perfect Participles
• A perfect passive participle
denotes an action that happens
prior to the main verb and agrees
with its noun in case, number, and
gender:
puer a puella visus ridet.
The boy, having been seen by the
girl, laughs.
4. Perfect Participles in Ablative
Absolutes
• puero viso,
puella ridet.
• When the boy
was seen, the
girl laughs.
• Perfect Participles are
always passive
• With a perfect
participle, start the
Ablative Absolute with
when
• The subject of the
Ablative Absolute can
not be the subject of
the main clause . . .
EVER
When a perfect participle is used in an
Ablative Absolute, the action is still
happening prior to the main verb.
5. Exercise 21.1
1. Antonius exercitum maximum
collectum ad Graeciam ducebat.
2. exercitus maximus ab Antonio
collectus ad Graeciam
contendebat.
3. Antonius exercitu maximo collecto
ad Graeciam contendit.
6. Present Participles
• A present active participle denotes
an action that happens at the same
time as the main verb and agrees
with its noun in case, number, and
gender:
puer puellam spectans ridet.
The boy, watching the girl, laughs.
7. Present Participles in Ablative
Absolutes
• puero
spectante,
puella ridet.
• While the boy
watches, the
girl laughs.
• Present Participles are
always active
• With a present
participle, start the
Ablative Absolute with
while
• The subject of the
Ablative Absolute can
not be the subject of the
main clause . . . EVER
When a present participle is used in an Ablative
Absolute, the action is still happening at the
same time as the main verb.
8. Exercise 21.2 #1-3
1. Horatius, laboribus confectis, cum
amicis colloquebatur.
2. Horatio cum amicis colloquente,
centurio accessit, qui eum ad
Brutum arcessiuit.
3. Brutus, militibus conuocatis,
orationem habuit.
10. Exercise Translations
21.1.1: Antony led the greatest army, having been gathered, to
Greece.
21.1.2: The greatest army, having been collected by Antony,
marched to Greece.
21.1.3: Antony, when the greatest army was collected, marched to
Greece.
21.2.1: Horatius, when the work was finished, spoke with friends.
21.2.2: While Horatius was talking with friends, a centurion
approached, who summoned him to Brutus.
21.2.3: Brutus, When the soldiers were called together, made a
speech.
21.3.1: When Caesar was killed, Flaccus ordered Quintus to sail
to Athens.
21.3.2: When the long journey was complete, Quintus at last
arrived at Athens.
