Latin for Beginners · Lesson LXVII · Part 14: Participles, result and description clauses
67. volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute
Goal: Your child conjugates volō, nōlō and mālō and translates the ablative absolute with a natural English clause.
You'll need
- The book (the lesson pages)
- A notebook and pencil
- Index cards from earlier lessons
What's in the book
The irregular verbs volō, nōlō and mālō (§ 379, with full forms in § 497), the ablative absolute with examples (§ 380) and the rule with three notes (§ 381), then a drill on the new verbs, Latin sentences and eight English sentences.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Your child gives the four participles of capiō.
Three irregular verbs
volō (I wish), nōlō (I am unwilling, from nē plus volō) and mālō (I prefer, from magis plus volō). Learn them from § 497. A few forms: volō, vīs, vult; volumus, vultis, volunt. The command nōlī (plural nōlīte) with an infinitive means 'don't'.
The ablative absolute
A noun and a participle in the ablative, loosely attached to the sentence, tell the circumstances:
Proeliō commissō multī vulnerātī sunt
Literally 'the battle having been joined, many were wounded', but say: 'When the battle began, many were wounded.'
Hīs rēbus cognitīs mīlitēs fūgērunt
'When these things were learned, the soldiers fled.' Choose when, after, since, although or if to fit.
Two cautions
Read the § 381 notes. sum has no present participle, so two nouns can stand alone, as in Caesare duce, 'under Caesar's leadership'. And if the noun is the subject or object of the main verb, don't use the ablative absolute.
Drill
Do the drill on volō, nōlō and mālō aloud: for each form, say person, tense and meaning (māvīs, you prefer; nōlumus, we are unwilling).
Latin to English
Translate the sentences. Two of them:
Sōle oriente, avēs cantāre incēpērunt.
Conciliō convocātō, prīncipēs ita respondērunt.
Never leave an ablative absolute in its literal form.
English to Latin and wrap-up
Write the English sentences; several give the literal Latin pattern in parentheses. Memorize volō, nōlō and mālō and the rule in § 381.
Afterwards
Two days: verbs and drill, then the ablative absolute and exercises.
Tip
The book's teacher notes say it plainly: the ablative absolute should never be translated literally in the final answer.
Answers to the book's problems
The Latin sentences, in order (the drill items are not included): When the sun was rising, the birds began to sing. When the shouts were heard, the barbarians refused to advance. After Caesar had encouraged the legions, the soldiers fought a little more bravely. When these things were learned, the Helvetii persuaded their neighbors to march with them. When the labors were finished, the soldiers asked Caesar to give them rewards. When the council had been called together, the chiefs answered as follows. The leader, staying several days in the territory of the Helvetii, burned many villages. When the size of the Germans was learned, some of the Romans were afraid. Although the traders were questioned, Caesar could find out nothing more.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.