Ablative Absolute (While): Marco legente

Ablative Absolute: Marco Legente

Level 4

Put the noun and the present participle in the ablative and read the phrase as while.

How It Works

A noun and a present participle in the ablative make a phrase that means while. The action of the participle happens at the same time as the main verb. Marco legente means while Marcus is reading.

LatinEnglish
Marco legentewhile Marcus is reading
sole orienteas the sun rises
te absentewhile you are away

In this phrase the singular participle ends in -e: legente, oriente, absente. The plural ends in -ibus: videntibus illis (while they were watching).

The time comes from the main verb. Marco legente, Iulia cantabat means while Marcus was reading, Iulia was singing.

The noun in the phrase is not the subject of the main verb. It belongs to the phrase, just as in the phrase with a perfect participle.

Examples (5)

  1. Marco legente, Iulia cantat.

    While Marcus is reading, Iulia sings.

    Marco legente is ablative: the reading and the singing happen together.

  2. Sole oriente, pueri surgunt.

    As the sun rises, the boys get up.

    Oriente is the ablative of the present participle of orior.

  3. Te absente, pueri ludunt.

    While you are away, the boys play.

    Te absente is ablative: te is the ablative of tu.

  4. Sacerdote orante, populus tacet.

    While the priest prays, the people are silent.

    Sacerdote orante is ablative singular.

  5. Videntibus illis, elevatus est.

    While they were watching, he was lifted up.

    From Acts 1:9. Videntibus illis is ablative plural.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the noun in the nominative.

    Marcus legente, Iulia cantat.
    Marco legente, Iulia cantat.

    The noun and the participle must both be ablative. Marcus is nominative, so it does not belong with legente. The correct pair is Marco legente.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Ablative Absolute (While): Marco legenteLevel 4Ablative Absolute: Marco Legente

Learn This First

This is the same phrase with a present participle.

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Patterns that build on this one.