Ablative Absolute

1. Chapter 37 grammar
Ablative Absolutes

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. 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.

6. 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.

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.