Ablative
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Here are the basic and '''very''' general rules for making a singular ablative: | Here are the basic and '''very''' general rules for making a singular ablative: | ||
| − | *If a word ends in "'''-us'''" then the ablative ends in "'''-o'''". | + | *If a word ends in "'''-us'''" then the ablative ends in "'''-o'''". '''''Tullius''''' becomes '''''Tullio'''''. |
| − | *If a word ends in "'''-a'''", then the ablative ends in long "'''-á'''". | + | *If a word ends in "'''-a'''", then the ablative ends in long "'''-á'''". '''''Livia''''' becomes '''''Liviá'''''. |
| − | *If a word ends in "'''-o'''", then the ablative ends in "'''-one'''". | + | *If a word ends in "'''-o'''", then the ablative ends in "'''-one'''". '''''Cicero''''' becomes '''''Cicerone'''''. |
*Many other nouns change their ending to "'''-e'''" but their rules are more difficult and are not detailed here. Here are some just for example: | *Many other nouns change their ending to "'''-e'''" but their rules are more difficult and are not detailed here. Here are some just for example: | ||
| − | : | + | :'''''Audens''''' in ablative becomes '''''Audente''''', |
| − | : | + | :'''''Laenas''''' in ablative is '''''Laenate''''', |
| − | : | + | :'''''homo''''' in ablative is '''''homine''''', |
| − | : | + | :'''''consul''''' in ablative is '''''consule''''', |
| − | *Some common nouns ending in "'''-us'''" change to "'''-u''' | + | :'''''praetor''''' in ablative is '''''praetore''''', and so on. |
| − | : | + | *Some common nouns ending in "'''-us'''" change to "'''-u''' in ablative, for example: |
| − | : | + | :'''''Senatus''''' in ablative is '''''Senatu''''', |
| + | :'''''exercitus'''''" in ablative is '''''exercitu'''''". | ||
| + | |||
===Usage in practice=== | ===Usage in practice=== | ||
Revision as of 20:39, 26 September 2008
The ablative case in Latin is an inflection[1] that applies to nouns, adjectives and participles. The ablative case is sometimes known as the "case of adverbial relation"[2] and the function of the ablative case is sometimes performed in English by adverbial phrases. Noun phrases in the ablative case are used as the objects of some pronouns. Certain verbs take objects in the ablative as well.
Bennett[3] states that the ablative case represents the merger of three cases and identifies three broad classes of meaning:
- "Genuine" uses
- Instrumental
- Locative (related to place)
The Latin ablative originally marked motion away from something, but later it became a very general adverbial case modifying or limiting nouns by ideas of place, time, manner, cause, instrument, accompaniment etc. Ablative usually, but not always, stands with prepositions (ab, ex, de, cum, in, sub).
Here are the basic and very general rules for making a singular ablative:
- If a word ends in "-us" then the ablative ends in "-o". Tullius becomes Tullio.
- If a word ends in "-a", then the ablative ends in long "-á". Livia becomes Liviá.
- If a word ends in "-o", then the ablative ends in "-one". Cicero becomes Cicerone.
- Many other nouns change their ending to "-e" but their rules are more difficult and are not detailed here. Here are some just for example:
- Audens in ablative becomes Audente,
- Laenas in ablative is Laenate,
- homo in ablative is homine,
- consul in ablative is consule,
- praetor in ablative is praetore, and so on.
- Some common nouns ending in "-us" change to "-u in ablative, for example:
- Senatus in ablative is Senatu,
- exercitus" in ablative is exercitu".
Usage in practice
An average Nova Roman citizen uses the ablative case in the consular dating. Learn more about Roman dates.
