Uses of the Ablative

1. Uses of the Ablative

2. In General • The Ablative Case The Ablative Case is often called the “junk case” in Latin because it has so many uses. It is often used to show the means by which something is done, the manner in which something is done, the respect in which something is done/true, agency, and in a few other ways. • In English we use prepositional phrases, often beginning with by, in, with, or from. BIWOFA

3. Ablative of Means • The Ablatives of Means/Instrument is used to show the thing by or with which the action of the verb is done. It is often translated using the words “with” and “by”. The phrase “by means of” also helps in translation. • Example: oculīsvideō. -> I see with my eyes/by means of my eyes.

4. Ablative of Manner • The Ablative of Manner shows the way, or manner, in which the action of the verb is completed. It is preceeded in the sentence by the preposition “cum”, meaning “with.” Example: cum cūrālabōrat. -> She works with care. • The word in the ablative is often an idea word: care, speed, etc.

5. Ablative of Accompaniment • The Ablative of Accompaniment is used to show the people with whom something is done. It is also used with the preposition “cum” in a sentence. Example: cum am īcīsambulābat. -> He was walking with his friends.

6. Ablative of Respect (or Specification) • The Ablative of Respect is used without a preposition in the sentence. It shows in what respect something is being done. It is often used with the adjectives dīgnusand indīgnus, which mean “worthy” and “unworthy” respectively. Example: dux nōmineerat. -> He was commander in name/in respect to name.

7. Ablative of Agent • The Ablative of Agent is used when there is a passive verb in the sentence and it shows the person that is doing the action. It is used with the prepositions ā and ab followed by a person or animal. • Example: puer bonus ā patrelaudātur. -> The good boy is praised by the (his) father.

8. Ablative Absolute • The Ablative Absolute will have no preposition and it is grammatically unattached to the rest of the sentence. It is similar to a subordinate clause in the sense that it explains the cause or condition of the action of the main clause. • Example: hīsverbīsdictīs, cōnsuldiscessīt. -> After these words were said, the consul departed.

9. Ablatives of Place Where & Place from Which • Ablative Expression of Place: It can be used to show the place where or from which the action is taking place. It uses the prepositions “in” and “pro” commonly to show the place where the action is taking place. It uses the prepositions “ ā” and “ē” to show the place from which the action is taking place. • Examples: in agrō-> in the field; ā turbā->away from the crowd

10. Ablative of Cause • The ablative case can show an expression of cause with or without a preposition. If it does take a preposition to show an expression of cause, the prepositions “ex” and “d ē” are commonly used. Examples: cūrīs-> with worry; ex vulnere-> from a wound/because of a wound

11. Ablative of Source/Origin • This kind of ablative tells us where something came from and may or may not use a preposition. • The Rhine River rises from the country of the Lepontii: Rhēnusoritur ex Lepontiīs.

12. Ablatives of Time When & Time Within Which • Ablative Expressions of Time: The ablative is used in expressions of time without a preposition. It can show time when or time within which a verb’s action is taking place. • Examples: prīmālūce->at first light; tribusannīs->within three years

13. Ablative of Degree of Difference • With the words multo or paulo, Latin tells us how much difference there is between two things. Multo and paulo will always show up with a comparative or superlative. • Multomaior – much bigger (lit. bigger by much) • Paulo minor – much smaller (smaller by a little) • Multominimus – the smallest by far

14. dux cum mīlitibussedēbant. • puergladiō et verbīspugnat. • Quintus cum multedolorescribit. • Deīsvolentibus, bonamfortunamhabebimus.

15. Rex haccalamitatefractussacrisposteaanimumdedit. • Forte in utroqueexercitueranttrigeminifratres, necaetatenecviribusdispares. • VidittresCuriatiosmagnisintervallissequentes. • Alter integer et feroxsuperioribusvictoriiserat; alter defessusvulnere, animofractus in certamenvenit.

16. Ita duo reges, Romulus bello, Numa pace, civitatemauxerunt. • Pax cum civitatibusfinitimissocietate ac foederibusfacta est. • Novum bellum abSabinisortumest, quod multo maximum fuit. • SabiniarcemRomanum in monteCapitolinodoloceperunt.