Ch 10 · Lesson 11Latin · Chapter 10 · Lesson 11 · Grammar primer
Sole oriente, Cicerone consule
The present participle runs alongside the main verb and ends in -e: . And with no participle at all, two nouns: Cicerone , when Cicero was .
The short version
A present participle means at the same time
, .
Why?Hide
, as the sun was rising: the present participle runs alongside the main verb. Inside an ablative absolute it ends in -e, never -i, so , not . , with everyone listening, works the same way in the plural.
It works with no participle at all
Why?Hide
Latin has no present participle of , so the construction runs on two nouns instead. Cicerone is in Cicero's consulship, Caesare is with Caesar in command, me is when I was a boy. Translating any of these well means refusing the literal version and picking a real English conjunction: when, after, because, although, or a plain and then.
The present participle: at the same time
The present participle means the action was going on when the main verb happened. In an ablative absolute it ends in -e, not -i.
urbe capta (perfect: over before)
milites redierunt (the main verb)
sole oriente (present: going on at the time)
Timeline from past to now, with now marked.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| as the sun was rising |
| with everyone listening |
regnante | while the king was reigning |
The future participle is rare in an ablative absolute: Cicero and Caesar almost never use it, Livy and later writers occasionally do. If you meet , the city being about to fall, recognise it; do not write it.
No participle: Cicerone consule
Latin has no present participle of : there is no word for being. So it drops the participle and puts two nouns in the ablative side by side.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
Cicerone | when Cicero was |
Caesare | with Caesar in command |
| when I was a boy |
| on your initiative |
invito | against my will |
The last one has an adjective in the participle's slot. With no participle there is no tense: Cicerone is past because is. Romans dated years this way, by the two consuls: Cicerone Antonio , in the consulship of Cicero and Antonius (63 BC).
Horace makes a whole rallying cry of it:
desperandum Teucroauspice Teucro.There is nothing to despair of with Teucer as leader and under Teucer's auspices. (Horace, Odes 1.7.27)
Going further: The shape and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
Practise this lesson
8-question session
One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
Latin · Free printables
Worksheets for this lesson
Worksheets with answer keys built in. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekLesson 11 of 36 in this chapter