01.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [9]: with the present active participle

So far, we have looked at the ablative absolute with the perfect passive participle expressing ‘after / when / since something was / has been / had been done’. However, the ablative absolute can also be used with the present active participle which conveys two actions happening at the same time. The literal translation is with X ¦ Y-ing but, as before, there are more fluent alternatives.

• with [1] the boy ¦ [2] sleeping

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] boy [2] sleeping

> [1] puer [2] dormiēns i.e. the present active participle from the verb dormiō, -īre: sleep

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] puerō [2] dormiente = ablative absolute = literally: with X ¦ Y-ing = with the boy sleeping = while (since) the boy is / was sleeping

[i] Puerō dormiente, ¦ [ii] servus pecūniam abstulit. │ [i] With the boy sleeping / while (since) the boy was sleeping ¦ [ii] the slave stole the money.

The participle ends in -e rather than -ī in the ablative singular.

• with [1] the boys ¦ [2] sleeping

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] boys [2] sleeping

> [1] puerī [2] dormientēs i.e. the present active participle from the verb dormiō, -īre: sleep

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] puerīs [2] dormientibus = ablative absolute = literally: with X ¦ Y-ing = with the boy sleeping = while (since) the boy is / was sleeping

[ii] Puerīs dormientibus ¦ [ii] servus pecūniam abstulit. │ [i] With the boys sleeping / while (since) the boys were sleeping ¦ [ii] the slave stole the money.

Again, tense sequence will come into play in translation:

[i] Dominō dormiente ¦ [ii] servī effugiunt │ [i] With the master sleeping / while (since) the master is sleeping, [ii] the slaves escape.

[i] Dominō dormiente ¦ [ii] servī effūgērunt│ [i] With the master sleeping  / while (since) the master was sleeping, [ii] the slaves escaped.

Examples giving different possible translations; note the tense sequences in the translations in the last three examples.

1. Servō in agrō labōrante … │ While the slave is / was working in the field …
2. Feminā epistulam scribente … │While / since / although the woman is / was writing a letter …
3. Canibus in viā lātrantibus …    │ Because the dogs are / were barking in the street …
4. Senātōribus ōrātiōnem Cicerōnis audientibus … │ As the senators are / were listening to Cicero’s speech …
5. Agricolīs pontem trānseuntibus…. │ Since the farmers are / were crossing the bridge …
6. Puerō lacrimante, pater nihil facit. │ Although the boy is crying, the father does nothing.
7. Ancillā cēnam parante, domina in cubiculō dormiēbat. │ While the maid was preparing dinner, the mistress was sleeping in the bedroom.
8. Multīs hostibus urbem oppugnantibus cīvēs fortēs dē salūte nōn dēspērāvērunt. │ Although many enemy were attacking the city, the brave citizens did not despair of (their) safety.