Latin grammar |
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In Latin grammar, the ablative case (cāsus ablātīvus) is one of the six cases of nouns. Traditionally, it is the sixth case (cāsus sextus, cāsus latīnus). It has forms and functions derived from the Proto-Indo-European ablative, instrumental, and locative. It expresses concepts similar to those of the English prepositions from; with, by; and in, at. [1] It is sometimes called the adverbial case, since phrases in the ablative can be translated as adverbs: incrēdibilī celeritāte, 'with incredible speed', or 'very quickly'.
Some uses of the ablative descend from the Proto-Indo-European ablative case.
Some uses of the ablative descend from the Proto-Indo-European instrumental case.
Some meanings of the ablative descend from the Proto-Indo-European locative case.
The ablative case is very frequently used with prepositions, for example ex urbe "out of the city", cum eō "with him". Four prepositions (in "in/into", sub "under/to the foot of", subter "under", super "over") may take either an accusative or an ablative. In the case of the first two, the accusative indicates motion, and the ablative indicates no motion. For instance, in urbe means "in the city"; in urbem, "into the city". [14] In the case of super, the accusative means "above" or "over", and the ablative means "concerning". [15]
The prepositions which are followed by the ablative case are the following:
Preposition | Grammar case | Comments |
---|---|---|
ā, ab, abs | + abl | from; down from; at, in, on, (of time) after, since (source of action or event) by, of |
absque | + abl | without (archaic) |
clam | + acc & + abl |
without the knowledge of, unknown to (also an adverb). Its use with the ablative is rare. Clanculum is a variant of this preposition. |
cōram | + abl | in person, face to face; publicly, openly |
cum | + abl | with |
dē | + abl | from, concerning, about; down from, out of |
ex, ē | + abl | out of, from |
in | + acc | into, to; about; according to; against |
+ abl | in, at, on, from (space) | |
palam | + abl | without concealment, openly, publicly, undisguisedly, plainly, unambiguously |
prae | + abl | before, in front of, because of |
prō | + abl | for, on behalf of; before; in front, instead of; about; according to; as, like; as befitting |
procul | + abl | far, at a distance |
sine | + abl | without |
sub | + acc | under, up to, up under, close to (of a motion); until, before, up to, about |
+ abl | (to) under, (to) beneath; near to, up to, towards; about, around (time) | |
subter | + acc | under, underneath; following (in order or rank); in the reign of |
+ abl | underneath, (figuratively) below inferior | |
super | + acc | above, over, beyond; during |
+ abl | concerning, regarding, about |
Latin grammar |
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In Latin grammar, the ablative case (cāsus ablātīvus) is one of the six cases of nouns. Traditionally, it is the sixth case (cāsus sextus, cāsus latīnus). It has forms and functions derived from the Proto-Indo-European ablative, instrumental, and locative. It expresses concepts similar to those of the English prepositions from; with, by; and in, at. [1] It is sometimes called the adverbial case, since phrases in the ablative can be translated as adverbs: incrēdibilī celeritāte, 'with incredible speed', or 'very quickly'.
Some uses of the ablative descend from the Proto-Indo-European ablative case.
Some uses of the ablative descend from the Proto-Indo-European instrumental case.
Some meanings of the ablative descend from the Proto-Indo-European locative case.
The ablative case is very frequently used with prepositions, for example ex urbe "out of the city", cum eō "with him". Four prepositions (in "in/into", sub "under/to the foot of", subter "under", super "over") may take either an accusative or an ablative. In the case of the first two, the accusative indicates motion, and the ablative indicates no motion. For instance, in urbe means "in the city"; in urbem, "into the city". [14] In the case of super, the accusative means "above" or "over", and the ablative means "concerning". [15]
The prepositions which are followed by the ablative case are the following:
Preposition | Grammar case | Comments |
---|---|---|
ā, ab, abs | + abl | from; down from; at, in, on, (of time) after, since (source of action or event) by, of |
absque | + abl | without (archaic) |
clam | + acc & + abl |
without the knowledge of, unknown to (also an adverb). Its use with the ablative is rare. Clanculum is a variant of this preposition. |
cōram | + abl | in person, face to face; publicly, openly |
cum | + abl | with |
dē | + abl | from, concerning, about; down from, out of |
ex, ē | + abl | out of, from |
in | + acc | into, to; about; according to; against |
+ abl | in, at, on, from (space) | |
palam | + abl | without concealment, openly, publicly, undisguisedly, plainly, unambiguously |
prae | + abl | before, in front of, because of |
prō | + abl | for, on behalf of; before; in front, instead of; about; according to; as, like; as befitting |
procul | + abl | far, at a distance |
sine | + abl | without |
sub | + acc | under, up to, up under, close to (of a motion); until, before, up to, about |
+ abl | (to) under, (to) beneath; near to, up to, towards; about, around (time) | |
subter | + acc | under, underneath; following (in order or rank); in the reign of |
+ abl | underneath, (figuratively) below inferior | |
super | + acc | above, over, beyond; during |
+ abl | concerning, regarding, about |