Latin grammar
The ablative absolute
A short phrase in the ablative, a noun and a participle, that sets the scene for the rest of the sentence: hīs rēbus cognitīs, “when these things were known”. It is one of the commonest constructions in Latin prose, and Caesar uses it on almost every page.
What it is
An ablative absolute is a noun or pronoun in the ablative together with a participle that agrees with it (or, as we will see below, with a second noun or an adjective instead of the participle). The pair forms a little clause of its own, giving the time, cause or circumstances of the main action.
Hīs respōnsīs datīs lēgātōs remīsit.
Literally: “These replies having been given, he sent the envoys back.” Naturally: “After giving these replies, he sent the envoys back.”
It is called absolute, from Latin absolūtus, “set free”, because it is grammatically loose from the rest of the sentence. It is not the subject or object of the main verb, and you could remove it and still have a complete sentence: lēgātōs remīsit.
How to spot one
- A noun or pronoun in the ablative, with no preposition governing it (no in, cum, ab, ē).
- A participle in the same case, number and gender (or a second noun or an adjective), often placed right after the noun, or around it: nūllā interpositā morā.
- Set off from the main clause, very often at the start of the sentence, and often with a comma after it in modern editions.
If all three are true, try reading the phrase as “with X …ed” or “X having been …ed”, then turn it into natural English.
The three kinds
1. Perfect passive participle: the action is finished before the main verb. This is by far the commonest kind.
Coāctō senātū iniūriās inimīcōrum commemorat.
“Having called the senate together, he recalls the wrongs done by his enemies.” (Caesar)
2. Present participle: the action is happening at the same time as the main verb.
Palam iam cum hoste nūllō impediente bellum iūstum gerēmus.
“Now we shall wage a just war openly against an enemy, with no one to stop us.” (Cicero)
3. No participle at all: Latin has no present participle of sum (“being”), so two nouns, or a noun and an adjective, can stand on their own, with “being” understood. This is how Romans named the year (“in the consulship of …”).
Cn. Pompēiō, M. Crassō cōnsulibus
“In the consulship of Gnaeus Pompeius and Marcus Crassus” (literally “Pompey and Crassus being consuls”), that is, 55 BC. (Caesar)
Quiētā Galliā Caesar … in Ītaliam … proficīscitur.
“With Gaul quiet, Caesar set out for Italy.” (Caesar)
How to translate it
Start with the literal version so you are sure of the grammar, then choose the English that fits the sense:
- when / after: Foedere ictō “When the treaty had been struck” (Livy)
- since / because: Catilīnā exhaustō “Now that Catiline has been drained off” (Cicero)
- although, and occasionally if, when the sense demands it
- with …: mātre deā mōnstrante viam “with my goddess mother showing the way” (Vergil)
- an active verb, when the person doing the action is the subject of the main verb: Pulsō frātre Amūlius regnat “Having driven out his brother, Amulius reigns” (Livy)
The last one is often the most natural English, and translators reach for it constantly, because most Latin verbs (all but the deponents) have no perfect active participle. “The senate having been called together, he…” becomes “Having called the senate together, he…”.
Common mistakes
- Counting every ablative phrase. A phrase after a preposition is not an ablative absolute (magnā cum multitūdine, dē rēbus gestīs), and neither is a plain ablative of means, manner or time, such as gladiō “with a sword”. Ask whether the phrase contains its own little subject and predicate (a noun plus a participle, or a noun plus a noun or adjective) that could be turned into a clause: “when X had been …ed”, “while X was …ing”.
- Getting the time wrong. A perfect participle means “after”, a present participle means “while”: illō loquente “as he was speaking”, but hymnō dictō “after singing a hymn”.
- Missing a split phrase. The words of an ablative absolute need not stand together. In Receptō Caesar Ōricō … proficīscitur, Caesar is nominative: it sits inside the phrase but is the subject of the main verb. The ablative absolute is receptō Ōricō: “Having taken Oricum, Caesar sets out.”
33 examples from real texts
Every example below is a real sentence from the texts on this site, with our translation. The ablative absolute is highlighted; follow the link to read it in context.
Eā quae secūta est hieme, quī fuit annus Cn. Pompēiō, M. Crassō cōnsulibus, Usipetēs Germānī et item Tencterī magnā cum multitūdine hominum flūmen Rhēnum trānsiērunt, nōn longē ā marī, quō Rhēnus īnfluit.
In the following winter, the year in which Gnaeus Pompeius and Marcus Crassus were consuls, the Usipetes, a German people, and likewise the Tencteri crossed the river Rhine with a great host of people, not far from the sea into which the Rhine flows.
Caesar, De Bello Gallico 4.1
coāctō senātū iniūriās inimīcōrum commemorat.
Having called the senate together, he recalls the wrongs done by his enemies.
Caesar, De Bello Civili 1.32
factā potestāte discēdit.
Permission granted, he leaves.
Caesar, De Bello Civili 1.22
Hīs respōnsīs datīs lēgātōs remīsit.
Having given these replies, he sent the envoys back.
Hirtius, Bellum Alexandrinum 70
Quiētā Galliā Caesar, ut cōnstituerat, in Ītaliam ad conventūs agendōs proficīscitur.
With Gaul quiet, Caesar, as he had decided, set out for Italy to hold the assizes.
Caesar, De Bello Gallico 7.1
Receptō Caesar Ōricō nūllā interpositā morā Apollōniam proficīscitur.
Having taken Oricum, Caesar without any delay sets out for Apollonia.
Caesar, De Bello Civili 3.12
Proelium clāmōre factō committitur.
With a shout raised, battle is joined.
Anonymous, Bellum Hispaniense 30
Ita repente omnibus ex partibus signō datō loca superiōra capiuntur.
So suddenly, at a given signal, the high ground was seized on every side.
Hirtius, De Bello Gallico 8.36
Palam iam cum hoste nūllō impediente bellum iūstum gerēmus.
Now we shall wage a just war openly against an enemy, with no one to stop us.
Cicero, In Catilinam 2.1
num dubitās id mē imperante facere quod iam tuā sponte faciēbās?
Surely you do not hesitate to do at my command what you were already doing of your own accord?
Cicero, In Catilinam 1.6
Ūnō mē hercule Catilīnā exhaustō levāta mihi et recreāta rēs pūblica vidētur.
With Catiline alone drained off, I swear, the state seems to me relieved and refreshed.
Cicero, In Catilinam 2.4
Quibus audītīs, quod mihi magna rēs et iūcunda vīsa est, hunc ad perficiendum adōrnāvī.
When I had heard these verses, since the thing seemed to me important and pleasing, I encouraged him to finish it.
Cicero, Pro Archia 11
Pulsō frātre Amūlius regnat.
Driving out his brother, Amulius reigns.
Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 1.3
—Foedere ictō trigeminī, sīcut convēnerat, arma capiunt.
When the treaty had been struck, the triplets took up their arms, as had been agreed.
Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 1.25
Iubente rēge "sagmina" inquit "tē, rēx, poscō."
When the king ordered it, he said, "I ask you, king, for the sacred herbs."
Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 1.24
Haec illīs volventibus tandem vīcit fortūna reī pūblicae.
As they turned these things over, the good fortune of the Republic at last won.
Sallust, Bellum Catilinae 41
Hāc pugnā pugnātā Rōmam profectus nūllō resistente in propinquīs urbī montibus morātus est.
After fighting this battle he set out for Rome and, with no one resisting, stayed in the hills near the city.
Inclīnātō diē spatiābātur in porticū;
As the day was drawing to a close, he was walking in a colonnade;
Ideō dīlātā cognitiōne ad cōnsulendum tē dēcucurrī.
So I postponed the investigation and have hurried to consult you.
Bis dēnīs Phrygium cōnscendī nāvibus aequor, / mātre deā mōnstrante viam, data fāta secūtus;
With twice ten ships I set out on the Phrygian sea, my goddess mother showing the way, following the fates given to me;
Vergil, Aeneid 1.372–386
cessī, et sublātō montēs genitōre petīvī.
I gave way, and, lifting up my father, I made for the mountains.
Vergil, Aeneid 2.795–804
It portīs iubare exortō dēlēcta iuventūs;
When the sun has risen, a chosen band of youths goes out from the gates;
Vergil, Aeneid 4.129–159
stat ductīs sortibus urna.
there stands the urn, the lots drawn.
Vergil, Aeneid 6.14–41
Hīs āctīs, properē exsequitur praecepta Sibyllae.
This done, he quickly carries out the Sibyl's instructions.
Vergil, Aeneid 6.236–263
Ad nōmen Thisbēs oculōs iam morte gravātōs / Pȳramus ērēxit, vīsāque recondidit illā.
At Thisbe's name Pyramus raised his eyes, already heavy with death, and, when he had seen her, closed them again.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 4.55–166
Respicit et rūrsus nūllō veniente "quid" inquit / "mē fugis?"
He looks back and, again when no one comes, says: "Why do you run from me?"
Ovid, Metamorphoses 3.339–436
Bis sex caelestēs mediō Iove sēdibus altīs / augustā gravitāte sedent.
Twelve heavenly gods sit on high thrones in august majesty, with Jupiter in the middle.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 6.1–86
Ovem rogābat cervus modium trīticī / lupō spōnsōre.
A stag was asking a sheep for a measure of wheat, with a wolf as guarantor.
Lesbia mī praesente virō mala plūrima dīcit: / haec illī fatuō maxima laetitia est.
Lesbia says a great many nasty things about me when her husband is there: this is the greatest joy to that fool.
Et hymnō dictō exiērunt in montem Olīvārum.
And a hymn having been sung, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Vulgate, Mark 14
Mare autem, ventō magnō flante, exsurgēbat.
And the sea, with a great wind blowing, was rising up.
Vulgate, John 6
Haec illō loquente, multī crēdidērunt in eum.
As he was speaking these things, many believed in him.
Vulgate, John 8
Trōiā tandem per īnsidiās captā, Graecī longō bellō fessī domum redīre mātūrāvērunt.
When Troy had at last been taken by a trick, the Greeks, worn out by the long war, hurried to return home.
Ritchie, Fabulae Faciles 81
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