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Ablative Absolutes
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 Absolute1. A noun in the Ablative2. A participle in the Ablative
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.
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.
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.
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.