Absolute case usage

Absolute case is a case of the case system of a language , which in connection with a special infinite verb form (mostly participle ) can form sentence-valued phrases. Such phrases differ from transgressive phrases, which are also sentence-valued, in that the agent of the infinite verb has no relation to the subject or object of the finite verb . This construction is not integrated into the syntactic structure of the sentence and mostly serves to shorten subordinate clauses.

The Proto-Indo-European language probably already knew the absolute case , as which the Locativus absolutus served in Sanskrit , as did Persian . In Latin there is the ablativus absolutus (lit. "detached ablative"), e.g. B. Tarquinio regnante , tranquillo mari , praesente populo . Its equivalent in ancient Greek is the genitive absolutus , which can also be found sporadically in German (e.g. things that have not been done, heart pounding ). In Old Church Slavonic there was the absolute dative , which also occurs in Lithuanian , here in connection with a quasi-participle (no longer a participle as in old Lithuanian linguistic monuments or in Old Church Slavonic), e.g. B. saulei tekant (at sunrise), laikui bėgant (over time). There are also similar constructions in many modern languages, such as Italian , Spanish or French . B. French La nuit tombée, elle chercha un hôtel .