Transcript Ablative Absolutes
Ablative Absolutes
Look at how we have translated each of the following phrases:
• • omnes clientes, occulis in ianua defixis , patroni favorem exspectabant.
All the clients, their eyes fixed on the doorway , waited for the favour of their patron.
• • puella, servo adstante , in extrema parte mutitudine constitit.
The girl, her slave standing by her , stopped at the furthest part away of the crowd.
• • ianua subito aperta , in limine apparuit praeco.
The door suddenly being opened , there appeared on the threshold a herald.
• • clientes, praecone viso , clamare statim coeperunt.
The clients, the herald being seen , straightaway began to shout.
• • omnibus tandem silentibus , praeco ita coepit.
All at last falling silent , the herald began as follows.
• • •
The words underlined are made up of an ablative noun and an ablative participle
Perfect Passive Participles omnes clients, occulis in ianua defixis , patroni favorem exspectabant.
All the clients, their eyes fixed on the doorway , waited for the favour of their patron.
• • ianua subito aperta , in limine apparuit praeco.
The door suddenly being opened , there appeared on the threshold a herald.
• • clientes, praecone viso , clamare statim coeperunt.
The clients, the herald being seen , straightaway began to shout.
• • • Present Active Participles puella, servo adstante , in extreme parte mutitudine constitit.
The girl, her slave standing by her , stopped at the furthest part away of the crowd.
• • omnibus tandem silentibus , praeco ita coepit.
All at last falling silent , the herald began as follows.
We can take the whole phrase out and it has no effect on the meaning of the rest of the sentence.
• puella, servo adstante, in extrema parte multitudinis constitit.
• The girl, her slave standing by her , stood at the furthest part away of the crowd.
• Could just be…..
This sort of grammar feature is called the Ablative Absolute • puella in extrema parte multitudinis consitit.
• The girl stood at the furthest part away of the crowd.
The ablative absolute often expresses
WHEN
or
WHY
something happened.
• When (temporal) • clientes, praecone viso , clamare statim coeperunt.
• The clients, when they saw the herald , started to shout straightaway.
• Why (causal) • clientes, praecone viso , clamare statim coeperunt.
• The clients, because they saw the herald , started to shout straightway.
Some examples to try out with WHEN (temporal) or WHY (causal) or something else… • clientes, nominibus suis auditis, celeriter progressi domum intraverunt.
• The clients, ---------------------------, quickly went forward and entered the house.
• • ceteri autem, oculis in vultu praeconis defixis, spe favoris manebant.
But the rest, ---------------------------------, stayed out of hope of favour.
• his verbis dictis, paucos denarios in turbam sparsit.
• ------------------------------, he threw a few coins into the crowd.