LATIN 1ABLATIVE CASEREVIEW = ECCE CHAPTER 12
Review the MORPHOLOGY of the ablative case.
singularplural
1st declension nouns (porta, -ae)port -ā-port -is-
2nd declension nouns (servus, -i)serv –ō-serv–is (donum, -i)
3rd deslension nouns (arbor, -is)arbor –e-arbor–ibus-
1.When we were introduced to the ABLATIVE CASE we were told that good WORKING TRANSLATIONS were BY, WITH, AT, FROM, IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH. A WORKING TRANSLATION is a translation which helps to translate the word (in this case, the ablative case). Not all of these WORKING TRANSLATIONS will work in any one place, but as you go through your WORKING TRANSLATIONS one will probably work well enough to allow you to figure out what the meaning of the sentence is and therefore the appropriate translation of that ablative word. The above English prepositions are regularly used to help translate the LATIN ABLATIVE CASE when it is used by itself.
2.Now let's refine the above statement. You know that the ABLATIVE case can be used with particular prepositions, such as IN, AB, SUB, EX, CUM, DE. These PREPOSITION carry a certain meaning and usually "lock" in the meaning of the ABLATIVE CASE. Remember, the PREPOSITIONS IN & SUB also govern the accusative case where they have a slightly different meaning.
Prepositions which govern the ABLATIVE CASE.
IN in, on, at, inside
ABfrom, away from, by
SUBunder, underneath, at the foot of
EXout of, from
CUMwith, along with
DEdown, down from, away, concerning, about
SINEwithout
PROon behalf of, instead of, for
MNEMONIC DEVICE = SIDSPACE = Sub, In, De, Sine, Pro, Ab, Cum, Ex
3.Here is where it becomes tough. It is really nice when the Latin preposition is there so the whole translation becomes easier. When the Latin preposition is not there (and more often it is not there) the reader can either 1) go through the list of various WORKING TRANSLATIONS to determine which one works best or 2) begin to learn the LATIN GRAMMAR associated with the ABLATIVE CASE and recognize what Latin ABLATIVE GRAMMAR you should expect in various syntactical contexts. Number 2 is the better!
Here are 3 ABLATIVE uses which largely do not use a LATIN
PREPOSITION.
1) "ABLATIVE OF TIME WHEN"This grammar answers the question "AT WHAT TIME SOME ACTION WAS DONE"
"In 1999, I studied Latin"
"During the decade of the 60's, the Beatles were the
most popular rock band."
"In the Fall, the leaves turn color."
All you need is a word or expression which indicates some period of time and a sentence in which you wish to indicate "at what specific time" some action was undertaken.
2)"ABLATIVE OF MEANS"This grammar answers the question "BY WHICH PHYSICAL THING SOME ACTION WAS DONE."
"In a pan I fry chicken."
"With a fishing rod I catch fish."
"On a hook hangs the picture."
All you need is a word which indicates the "means" or "instrument" by which some action is accomplished.
3)"ABLATIVE OF ACCOMPANIMENT"This grammar indicates "IN THE PRESENCE OF WHOM OR WITH WHOM SOME ACTION WAS DONE"
"With my friends I walk home."
"Accompanied by Bianca I went to the dance."
The ABLATIVE OF ACCOMPANIMENT is regularly found with the preposition CUM. Since CUM already means "with" you do not have much of a problem here. Please note the ABLATIVE OF ACCOMPANIMENT usually works with people not things. "Walking to school with your friends" is not the same as "Walking to school with your BOOKS."
4)"ABLATIVE OF MANNER"This grammar indicates "IN WHAT MANNER SOME ACTION IS ACCOMPLISHED"
"With speed I go to the market."
"In haste I travel home."
"With care I prepare my Latin lesson."
All you need is a noun which can refer to the MANNER in which some action is accomplished.
The ABLATIVE OF MANNER is a little tricky. This ABLATIVE grammar is usually found with the preposition CUM which means "WITH." If the noun is modified by an adjective, you have the option of omitting the PREPOSITION CUM. For example, Ego lego libros cum cura = I read the books with care (carefully). BUT, Ego lego libros (cum) magna cura = I read the books with great care (very carefully). This CUM is optional. IN ENGLISH THE ABLATIVE OF MANNER IS BEST TRANSLATED AS AN ADVERB. curā= "with care" or better "carefully". irā = "with anger" or better "angrily"
PLEASE NOTE: The difference between "MEANS" and "MANNER" (both of which answer the question "HOW") is that "MEANS" refers to a tangible THING, while "MANNER" refers to something abstract or something you cannot touch! You can touch a "knife", you cannot touch "care".
Latin 1Ablative ReviewNomen
1) Indicate the ablatival expression; 2) translate the whole sentence; 3) indicate whether the ablative expression is MEANS, MANNER, ACCOMPANIMENT, TIME WHEN.
Davus ambulat cum servis ad agros.
Gaius verberat servos baculo.
Sextus cum Marco in Italia habitat.
Vilicus servos cum magna voce reprehendit.
Marcus patrem toga arripit.
Gaius parat ire ad urbem cum familia.
Nobis secunda hora discedere necesse est.
Servi Getam petunt canibus.
Marcus currit nocte.
Flavia clamat magna voce.
Primo anno Davus est vilicus villae Cornelii.
Flavia errat per vias cum Cornelia.
Familia Cornelii parat ire Romam raeda.
Eo ipso tempore Cornelia in viam currit.
Tribus diebus paramus agros laborare.
Magna ira pater reprehendit liberos.
Servos fugitivos inveniunt vestigiis.
Sextus trahit sororem Corneliam coma.
Brevi tempore puellae ambulant ex villa.
Princeps patrem revocat aestate.