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.