ablative absolute

what's up with the ablative absolute in Latin?
Reading Caesar? Or encountering this construction elsewhere? This video covers how to recognize, understand, and translate the ablative absolute. For a very helpful explanatory video without music or dancing, check out latintutorial's ablative absolute video:
   • Rule 57: The Ablative Absolute  

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LYRICS
A noun and a participle in the ablative case, giving conditions in which the sentence takes place.
Ablative absolute.

The words are removed from the grammar of the sentence. Take them away and the sentence still makes sense.
Ablative absolute.

But they give a little bit of context for the action of the sentence.
Ablative absolute.

The perfect passive participle is common to see. In fact, it’s used most commonly.
Ablative absolute.

A literal translation of these words is “with the [noun] having been [verb]ed.”
Ablative absolute.

sōle ā caelō ereptō (with the sun having been removed from the sky)
tristis eram (I was sad)

fēlibus prope dormientibus (with the cats sleeping nearby)
Magister laetus erat (the teacher was glad)

litterīs acceptīs (with the letter having been received)
gaudēmus (we rejoice)

hāc pelliculā perfectā (with this video having been completed)
vocem audītis (you hear my voice)


The ablative absolute can also be translated with “when,” “since,” or “because.” In other words, the ablative absolute can have a temporal, causal, or concessive meaning. Just infer the relationship between it and the action of the main verb.