IS: Lesson - Ablative Absolute Translation

Ablative Absolute Translation

  • Informatione coacta, Selene domi reddidit.
    • With the information gathered, Selene returned home.
    • After the information was gathered, Selene returned home.
    • Because the information was gathered, Selene returned home.
    • Selene gathered the information and returned home.
  • Verbis factis, Maecenas feminae gratias egit.
    • With the speech having been made, Maecenas thanked the woman.
    • After the speech, Maecenas thanked the woman.
    • Because the speech was made, Maecenas thanked the woman.
    • The woman finished speaking and Maecenas thanked her.
  • Imperatore tandem audiente, Maecenas poetam introduxit.
    • With the emperor finally listening, Maecenas brought in the poet.
    • Once the emperor was finally listening, Maecenas brought in the poet.
    • Because the emperor was finally listening, Maecenas brought in the poet.

N.B. Example 3 contains a present participle. Notice the difference in translation: the noun (imperatore) is the agent, performing the action of the verb (audienti) - it is the emperor who listens. Also, as with many present tense subordinate clauses, the tense of the translated participle will match with the tense of the main verb.

Ablative Absolute - implied esse

There is a special type of ablative absolute that does not use a participle. In this instance, a participial form of the verb esse is implied. The Latin irregular verb sum, esse, fui does not have a present or perfect participle. However, the Romans were still able to create an ablative absolute by implying the missing form of the verb to be. Instead of a noun and a participle, both in the ablative case, this special type of ablative absolute contains either:

  • two nouns, both in the ablative case
  • a noun and an adjective, both in the ablative case

Some examples will help demonstrate the concept:

  • Caesare et Bibulo consulibus, res publica magnopere expandit.
    • With Caesar and Bibulus being the consuls, the republic greatly expanded.
    • During the consulship of Caesar and Bibulus, the republic greatly expanded.
    • When Caesar and Bibulus were consuls, the republic greatly expanded.
    • Nota Bene: This expression X et Y consulibus was the common way to express the year, since each set of consuls was elected to a one year term. This phrase is equivalent to saying in the year X.
  • His veris, Pseudolus pro vita sua timuit.
    • With these things being true, Pseudolus feared for his life.
    • Because this was true, Pseudolus feared for his life.
    • Although this was true, Pseudolus feared for his life.

N.B. The basic formula is "With Noun 1 being Noun 2/Adjective", but as with all participles, there are a variety of alternative translations that are allowed.