22.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [2]: formation

Forming the ablative absolute is not unlike an ‘equation’ i.e. there is a consistent step-by-step way of creating it. Examples:

• With [1] the city ¦ [2] having been captured

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] city [2] captured

> [1] urbs [2] capta i.e. the perfect passive participle, the fourth principal part of the verb < capiō, capere, cēpī, captus

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] urbe [2] captā = ablative absolute = with the city having been captured

• With the brother | having been killed.

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] brother [2] killed

> [1] frāter [2] necātus < necō, -āre, -āvī, necātus

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] frātre [2] necātō = ablative absolute = with the brother having been killed

The same approach would also apply to ablative absolutes with plural nouns or pronouns:

• With the soldiers | having been killed.

[i] nominative plural:

[1] soldiers [2] killed

> [1] mīlitēs [2] necātī

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] mīlitibus [2] necātīs = ablative absolute = with the soldiers having been killed