Ch 8 · Lesson 17Latin · Chapter 8 · Lesson 17 · Grammar primer
Unfolding a participle: when, because, although
: the soldiers fled because they had been beaten. A participle is a clause folded into one word; its tense counts from the main verb.
The short version
Unfold a participle into a real English clause
.
Why?Hide
A participle is an adjective, agreeing in case, number and gender, but it is also a compressed subordinate clause, and its tense is relative to the main verb. Translating it as a stiff having been done wastes it. Ask which conjunction the Latin implies, whether when, because, although or who, and write that instead. is better as the soldiers fled because they had been beaten than as the beaten soldiers fled.
Unfold it into a clause
A participle is a clause folded into one word. Word for word, is the soldiers, having been beaten, fled: clear, and bad English. Unfold it:
.- The soldiers fled because they had been beaten.
The participle carries no conjunction, so you choose one:
| Relationship | Latin | English |
|---|---|---|
| time | . | When he saw the city, the king gave the signal. |
| cause | . | The soldiers fled because they were beaten. |
| concession | . | Although beaten, the enemy did not flee. |
| description | . | We heard the words which the king spoke. |
The words around it help. A (however) in the main clause usually means although. A participle right beside its noun, with nothing between them, is usually just describing it: currens, running water.
Tense is relative to the main verb
A participle's tense is measured from the main verb, not from now, just like the infinitives in indirect statement:
victi: beaten before they fled
videns: seeing as he gave the signal
morituri: about to die after they greet him
Timeline from earlier to later, with the main verb marked.
| Time | Latin | English |
|---|---|---|
| same time | . | The king spoke as he was dying. |
| earlier | . | The soldiers fled after they were beaten. |
| later | salutant. | The soldiers who are about to die greet the king. |
So a present participle beside a past main verb turns into an English past: in is seeing in form and when he saw in sense.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| having been taken | an ordinary verb's participle is passive |
ducans | | 3rd and 4th conjugations: -ens |
| | it agrees with its noun |
| was dying (after | present participle: same time as |
Going further: The three participles and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
Practise this lesson
9-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 17 of 33 in this chapter