Roman Heroics - Handout C

Ablative Absolutes!

Nömen mihi est:_____________________

An ablative absolute is a participial phrase (i.e. a participle and noun) in the ablative case which is independent of the rest of the sentence. Here's an example:

nostrï omissïs pïlïs gladiïs rem gerunt. - Caesar, De bello Gallico

The ablative absolute can be used with not only the perfect passive participle, as in omissïs above, but also with the present active participle. This is used when the action of the construction takes place at the same time as the action of the main verb, rather than being completed beforehand.

Lüciö mürum ascendente hostës centurionës interfaciëbant.

Pars Una: Find the absolutes!

Underline the ablative absolutes in the sentences below and translate the absolute only in the space provided.

1.) Caesar hostibus interfectïs exercitum ad castra düxit.

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2.) Mïlitës më dücente mürum ascendërunt.

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3.) Aeduïs a Caesare missïs exercitus hostës vincere nön potest.

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4.) Marcus Petrönius mïlitibus servätïs pugnans concidit.

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5.) Mïlitës Petröniö pugnante së recipere potuërunt.

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Now find two ( 2 ) ablative absolutes in your reading selection, write them below, and give a translation:

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Pars Secunda: Forming Ablative Absolutes


Often, what English considers a subordinate clause using when or after, Latin likes to use an ablative absolute. Turn the subordinate clauses in the sentences below into ablative absolutes to get a feel for how this works.

Example:
Cum Aeduï ab latere vïsï essent, nostrï vehementer perterruërunt.
Aeduïs ab latere vïsïs ,

1.) Cum Aeduï dextrös humerös exseruerant, in proelium agressï sunt.

______________ ____________ ä Aeduïs ____________ ,

2.) Cum Caesar Aeduös mïserat, mïlitës illös hostës esse existimäbant.

_____________ ä Caesare ______________ ,

3.) Postquam hostës centurionës interfëcërunt, Petrönius portam excïdere cönätus est.

_____________ ä hostibus ____________ ,

4.) Cum Petrönius portam excïdisset, hostës Römänös opprimërunt.

______________ ä Petröniö ____________ ,

5.) Dum mïlitës auxiliärï cönäntur, Petrönius eös abïre atque ad legiönem recipere dïcit.

______________ auxiliärï ______________ ,

6.) Dum Petrönius multa vulnera accipit, mïlitës së ad castra recipere possunt.

______________ ä Petröniö ____________ _____________ ,

Pars Tertia: Make your own!

Using the words below and the vocabulary from the passage, make up three (3) of your own sentences with ablative absolutes in them and give a translation.
equus -ï (horse) asellus -ï (donkey) mimus, -ï (mime) situla, -ae (bucket)
ululö, -äre (to wail) insinuö, -äre (to sneak in) revëlö, -äre (to reveal, uncover) farciö, -ïre, farsï, fartum (to stuff, gorge)

1.) _______________________________________________________________________________

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2.) _______________________________________________________________________________

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3.) _______________________________________________________________________________

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