volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute
Wish, be unwilling, prefer; and "with Caesar leading", Latin's favourite compact clause.
LatinAdvanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbsAbout 4 min: 2 reading, 2 practiceUpdated
- Conjugate volō, nōlō and mālō in the present
- Recognise an ablative absolute
- Translate it with when, since, although or if
Latin Level 3: constructions: lesson 7 of 14
- Advanced Latin · The subjunctive
- amem, regam, sim: the present subjunctive 4 min
- ut, nē, quī: purpose clauses 3 min
- amārem, essem: the imperfect subjunctive and the sequence of tenses 4 min
- amāverim, amāvissem; indirect commands 3 min
- possim; "I fear that …" 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amāns, amātus, amātūrus, amandus: participles 3 min
- volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- fīō; "so … that": result clauses 4 min
- "The man to lead us": clauses of characteristic 3 min
- cum: when, since, although 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amandī, ad urbem videndam: gerund and gerundive 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- eō; "he said that …": indirect statement 4 min
- ferō; the dative with compounds; indirect questions 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Review
- The cases and the moods: a review 4 min
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson LXVII ("The Irregular Verbs Volō, Nōlō, Mālō · The Ablative with a Participle, or Ablative Absolute"), §§ 379–381
What it is
volō, velle, voluī (wish), nōlō, nōlle, nōluī (be unwilling), mālō, mālle, māluī (prefer):
| Verb | Present |
|---|---|
| volō | volō, vīs, vult, volumus, vultis, volunt |
| nōlō | nōlō, nōn vīs, nōn vult, nōlumus, nōn vultis, nōlunt |
| mālō | mālō, māvīs, māvult, mālumus, māvultis, mālunt |
The other tenses are regular: volēbam, volam, voluī. Subjunctive: velim; vellem. They usually take an infinitive: volunt venīre, they want to come. Nōlī, nōlīte + infinitive is a polite "don't": Nōlī timēre, don't be afraid.
The ablative absolute. A noun and a participle together in the ablative, grammatically separate from the rest of the sentence, set the scene:
- Caesare dūcente nēmō timet. → With Caesar leading (when Caesar leads), no one is afraid.
- Hīs rēbus cognitīs mīlitēs fūgērunt. → When these things were learned, the soldiers fled.
Translate with whatever fits: when, after, since, although, if. Because sum has no present participle, two nouns or a noun and adjective can do the same: tē duce, with you as leader.
Don't use it when the noun is the subject or object of the main verb: Gallī ā Caesare victī domum revertērunt (the Gauls, defeated by Caesar, went home), but Gallīs victīs exercitus domum revertit (the Gauls having been defeated, the army went home).
Quick check
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Oppidō captō, mīlitēs discessērunt. Best translation?
- oppidō captō is an ablative absolute, not the object
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When the town had been taken, the soldiers left.. Ablative absolute: a separate circumstance.
Why it matters
The ablative absolute is everywhere in Latin prose, especially in Caesar: "the battle having been joined", "the camp having been fortified". Spot it, and long sentences break into clear steps.
Worked example
- Lēgātō hortante mīlitēs fortiter pugnāvērunt. → Since the lieutenant was encouraging them, the soldiers fought bravely.
- Urbe captā, rēx fūgit. → After the city was taken, the king fled.
- Mārcō duce, puerī nōn timent. → With Marcus as leader, the boys are not afraid.
Common mistake
Putting the subject in the ablative absolute: wrong: Mīlitibus victīs fūgērunt for "the soldiers, beaten, fled". The beaten soldiers are the subject, so: Mīlitēs victī fūgērunt.
Key terms
- volō, velle, voluī
- wish, want
- nōlō, nōlle, nōluī
- be unwilling, not want
- mālō, mālle, māluī
- prefer
- nōlī, nōlīte + infinitive
- don't …
- ablative absolute
- noun + participle in the ablative, setting the scene
- dux, ducis, m.
- leader
- pugnō, pugnāre
- fight
- discēdō, discēdere, discessī
- leave, go away
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 8 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| volō, velle, voluī | wish, want |
| nōlō, nōlle, nōluī | be unwilling, not want |
| mālō, mālle, māluī | prefer |
| nōlī, nōlīte + infinitive | don't … |
| ablative absolute | noun + participle in the ablative, setting the scene |
| dux, ducis, m. | leader |
| pugnō, pugnāre | fight |
| discēdō, discēdere, discessī | leave, go away |
Practice
Quick quiz
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"they want"
- That is "he wants"
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volunt. volō: … volumus, vultis, volunt.
"Don't be afraid!" (to one person)
- Latin usually says nōlī + infinitive
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Nōlī timēre!. Polite negative command: nōlī + infinitive.
"After the city was taken, the king fled."
- The circumstance goes in the ablative
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Urbe captā, rēx fūgit.. Ablative absolute.
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: volō, vīs, vult, volumus, vultis, volunt, nōlō, nōn vīs, nōn vult, nōlumus, nōn vultis, nōlunt, mālō, māvīs, māvult, mālumus, māvultis, mālunt, nōn, nōlī timēre, urbe captā, oppidō captō, lēgātō hortante, Mārcō duce, rēx, mīlitēs, puerī, fūgit, fūgērunt, timent. First give me a person and I will say the present of volō, nōlō or mālō aloud. Then say English like 'after the city was taken, the king fled' or 'with Marcus as leader, the boys are not afraid', and I will say it in Latin with an ablative absolute. Do 10 rounds. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
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In short
- volō, vīs, vult; nōlō, nōn vīs, nōn vult; mālō, māvīs, māvult.
- nōlī / nōlīte + infinitive: don't.
- Ablative absolute: noun + participle in the ablative, separate from the main clause.
- Translate as when, after, since, although, if.
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Give "we prefer".
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mālumus.
Translate Hīs rēbus cognitīs, lēgātus discessit.
Show answer
When these things were learned, the lieutenant left.
Why is Gallīs victīs not used when the Gauls are the subject?
Show answer
The ablative absolute must be separate from the main clause; the subject stays nominative.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson LXVII, §§ 379–381. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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