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
Lüciö mürum ascendente hostës centurionës interfaciëbant.
1.) Caesar hostibus interfectïs exercitum ad castra düxit.
_________________________________________________________________________
2.) Mïlitës më dücente mürum ascendërunt.
_________________________________________________________________________
3.) Aeduïs a Caesare missïs exercitus hostës vincere nön potest.
_________________________________________________________________________
4.) Marcus Petrönius mïlitibus servätïs pugnans concidit.
_________________________________________________________________________
5.) Mïlitës Petröniö pugnante së recipere potuërunt.
_________________________________________________________________________
Now find two ( 2 ) ablative absolutes in your reading selection, write them below, and give a translation:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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 ____________ _____________ ,
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.) _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2.) _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3.) _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________