1. Week 13 Review Topic: The Ablative Case

2. The Ablative Case
The Ablative Case in Latin is really a combination of THREE of the original Proto Indo-European cases:
The Ablative: which contains the “genuine ablative” uses = “from…”
The Ablative of Separation The Ablative of Comparison
The Ablative of Personal Agent The Ablative of Source
The Instrumental: which is basically the “with…” case
The Ablative of Means The Ablative of Degree of Difference
The Ablative of Manner The Ablative of Description/Quality
The Ablative of Accompaniment The Ablative of Price
The Ablative of Cause The Ablative of Specification
The Ablative of Attendant Circumstance The Ablative Absolute
The Locative: which is the “place where…” case
The Ablative of Place Where The Ablative of Place from Which
The Ablative of Time When The Ablative of Time Within Which
We will learn each of the uses of the ablative as organized under these three categories.

3. Genuine Ablatives
Ablative of Separation (with ab, dē, or ex or w/o preposition)
Occurs with a verb that contains the sense of separation (to free, lack, deprive, prevent, etc.) to indicate the thing being prevented, removed, or lacking
Translation depends on context, but you can often use “from”
Metū eōs līberāvit = He freed them from fear.
Pecuniā careō. = I lack money.
Ab urbe eōs prohibuit = He kept them from the city.
You should learn the verbs that commonly take an Ablative of Separation.
Ablative with Cardinal Numerals (w/prepositions dē, or ex)
This is related to both the Ablative of Separation and the Partitive Genitive, which also frequently occurs after Cardinal Numerals
Translate with “of”
Tres ex navibus discessērunt = Three of the ships departed.

4. Genuine Ablatives Ablative of Personal Agent (w/preposition ab)
Occurs with passive verbs, indicates the person who performs the action
Translate with “by”
Ab eius amicō id scrīptum est = It was written by his friend.
A Caesare accusatus est. = He was accused by Caesar.
Ablative of Source (usually w/o preposition)
Occurs after participles or adjectives to describe one’s parentage. The participles most commonly used are: ortus and natus.
This type of ablative usually occurs without a preposition, but occasionally ab is used, especially to denote more remote descent. The preposition ex often occurs with pronouns.
Translate with “from...”
Jove natus est. = He was born from Juppiter.
Nobili genere ortus est. = He was born from a noble family.
Ab Ulixe ortus est. = He was descended from Ulysses.

5. Genuine Ablatives Ablative of Comparison (w/o preposition)
Occurs after an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree.
This type of ablative is used in place of the quam (+ same case) construction to describe the thing compared to whatever is modified by the comparative, and usually only when that first element stands in the nominative or accusative case.
Translate with “than...”
Filia eius pulchrior uxore erat. = His daughter was prettier than his wife.
Servī sunt miseriorēs līberīs. = Slaves are more miserable than free men.
Omnēs sciunt fortius esse verbum gladio. = Everyone knows that the word is stronger than the sword.
Compare, instead, the quam (+ same case) construction:
Hic vir est clārior quam Caesar. = This man is more famous than Caesar.

6. Instrumental Ablatives
Ablative of Means (w/o preposition)
Indicates the means or instrument used to complete the action of the verb.
Translate with “with…” or “by means of…” or “by…”
Suā manū id scrīpsit = He wrote it with his own hand.
Alexander sagittā vulneratus est. = Alexander was wounded by an arrow.
A special set of 5 deponent verbs take an ablative of means that functions similar to the direct object in English. We sometimes call them the “PUFFV” verbs to remember them.
Potior, potīrī, potītus sum – to possess*
Ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum – to use**
Fruor, fruī, fructus sum – to enjoy
Fungor, fungī, functus sum – to perform, do
Vescor, vescī, [vescus] – to eat
Ferrō ūtitur = He uses a sword.
(lit. “he benefits himself by means of a sword”)
Nōn audent ūtī nāvibus = They do not dare to use the ships.
There are several other subtypes of the Ablative of Means covered in Bennett #218. You should look them over, especially the Abl. of Way by Which.
What case and why?
“Abl. obj. of utor”
“Abl. of means w/utor”

7. Instrumental Ablatives
Ablative of Manner (with cum or with adjective)
Describes how the action occurs. This is the most adverbial use of the ablative
Uses cum or, if an adjective modifies the ablative, the preposition is optional.
When the preposition is used with the adjective, it usually appears in this order:
[Adjective [cum] Ablative Noun]
Remember: You want to graduate “summa cum laude.”
Rule: “The ablative of manner needs to be composed of at least two words,” which is why the cum is necessary when there is no adjective.
Cum curā id scrīpsit. = He wrote it with care.
Magnā (cum) curā id scrīpsit. = He wrote it with great care.
Magnā gravitate loquitur. = He speaks with great dignity.
When deciding if an ablative that you encounter is an Ablative of Manner, you can confirm this by changing the noun phrase into an adverb. If you can do this without greatly changing the meaning of the phrase, then it is likely the Ablative of Manner.
There are some uses related to the Ablative of Manner; be sure the check them out in Bennett 220 (especially the Ablative of Accordance) and 221 (Ablative of Attendant Circumstance).

8. Instrumental Ablatives
Ablative of Accompaniment (w/preposition cum)
Indicates a person, group, or thing that accompanies the action, often with verbs of motion.
The preposition cum is usually required, but in early authors or in military narratives, when the noun is modified by an adjective the cum is optional.
Translate with “with…”
Cum amicō profectus est. = He set out with his friend.
Sequebatur omnibus copiis -or- Sequebatur cum omnibus copiis. = He follows with all his troops.
Ablative of Degree of Difference (w/o preposition)
After comparative adjectives/adverbs or words implying comparison (for instance post, ante, infra, or supra), the Ablative of Degree of Difference is used to describe the difference between the two things being compared.
Eius frater tribus pedibus altior est. = His brother is taller by three feet.
Paulo post profectus est. = He set out a little later.

9. Instrumental Ablatives
Ablative of Description/Quality (w/o prep., always modified by an adjective)
This is related to the Genitive of Description and is used to denote the characteristics or quality of another noun.
While the Abl. and Gen. of Description both express characteristic, quality, or size, the Ablative is typically used to denote physical characteristics.
Translate with “of…” or “with…”
Vir est magnā prudentiā. = He is a man of great wisdom.
Est miles firmā manu. = He is a soldier with a strong hand.
Ablative of Price (w/o preposition)
After verbs or selling or buying (for instance, ēmo or vendo), the Ablative of Price designates the price or value of the thing bought or sold.
Some adjectives (for instance, magno, plurimo, parvo, minimo) in the ablative will designate indefinite price, as though modifying an implied pretio.
Servum quinque minis emit. = He bought the slave for five minae.
Aedes magno vendidit. = He sold the house for a high price.
See Bennett #225 and #203.4 for a comparison to the Genitive of Price.

10. Instrumental Ablatives
Ablative of Respect/Specification (w/o preposition)
This use of the Ablative denotes in what respect the verb or adjective holds true.
Adjectives that describe worth (dignus or indignus, for example).
Translate with “in…” or “in respect to…” of “of…” (with adj. of worth)
Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se differunt. = These all differ from one another in language, customs, and laws.
Sunt digni honore. = They are worthy of honor.
Ablative of Cause (w/o preposition)
The ablative can be used to designate the cause or reason for the action.
This use of the ablative can occur with any type of action, but it is especially common with verbs denoting mental states: gaudeo, laetor, glorior, fido, confido, etc.
Translate with “because of…” or “with…” or “from…” or something else that makes sense from the context.
Multa gloriae cupiditate fecit. = He did many things because of a desire for glory.
Aper dentibus timetur. = The boar is feared because of his teeth.
Fortuna amici gaudeo. = I rejoice because of the fortune of my friend.

11. Instrumental Ablatives
Ablative Absolute (w/o preposition)
The Ablative Absolute also falls under the category of the Instrumental Ablative.
The noun subject and the participle (or other predicate adjective/noun) of the Ablative Absolute will always stand in the ablative case.
The Ablative Absolute usually shows the general circumstances behind the action of the main verb, but the A2 can also describe Time, Cause, Opposition, or Condition.
For other details on the A2, consult the review PPT that covers uses of Participles.
Beyond the basic translations of the A2 (“with the noun…,” you can also render it to show Time (“When…”), Cause (“Because…”), Opposition (“Although…”), or Condition (“If…”).
Caesare duce, nihil timebimus. = With Caesar as leader, we will fear nothing.
His rebus auditis, coepit timere. = With these things having been heard, he began to fear.

12. The Ablatives developed from the Locative
Ablative of Time When (no preposition, but occasionally in)
Nouns that describe time stand in the ablative to indicate the time when the action occurs.
If the noun is a “time word” (tempus, hora, dies, etc.), no preposition is required, but in will be used if the noun does not directly indicate time.
Translate using “at…” or “in…” or “on…”
Eō tempore iit. = He went at that time.
Quartā horā mortuus est. = He died at the fourth hour.
Multi in bello moriuntur. = Many die in war.
Ablative of Time Within Which (no preposition)
Indicates a single point in time within a larger period in which the action occurs.
Again, the noun will be some sort of “time word” = tempus, hora, annus etc.
Translate using “within…”
Paucis horis domum ibit. = He will go home within a few hours.
Tribus diēbus Cicero rem publicam ē periculo eripiet. = Within three days Cicero will save the Republic from danger.
Very rarely the Ablative of Time cannot denote Duration (instead of the usual Accusative).

13. The Ablatives developed from the Locative
Place constructions in Latin use prepositions or not according to this rule:
“ALL place constructions require prepositions except for the names of cities, towns, small islands, domus, humus, and rus.” [LEARN THIS RULE!]
Ablative of Place Where (w/prepositions in or sub)
This use of the ablative describes the place where something exists or action occurs.
Translate using “at…” or “in…” or “on…” or “under…”
In illa urbe visa est. = She was seen in that city.
Nihil sub sole est novum. = There is nothing new under the sun.
For the names of cities, towns, small islands, domus, humus, and rus, Latin uses the remnants of the actual Locative Case to denote Place Where:
The Locative Case is identical to the Ablative for all plurals and nouns in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th declensions.
For singular nouns of the 1st and 2nd declension, the Locative will match the genitive.
Romae visus est. = He was seen at Rome.
Athenis habitat. = He lives in Athens.

14. The Ablatives developed from the Locative
Remember: “ALL place constructions require prepositions except for the names of cities, towns, small islands, domus, humus, and rus.” [LEARN THIS RULE!]
Ablative of Place from Which (w/prepositions ab, de, or ex or w/o preposition)
This use of the ablative describes the place from which a person or thing departs. As such, it usually occurs with a verb of motion.
Like ALL place constructions, prepositions will be used if the place is something other than the name of a city, town, small island, or domus, humus, and rus.
Translate using “from…” or “out of…” or “down from…”
Multi ex agris in urbem venient. = Many will come from the fields into the city.
Cicero hostes ab urbe misit. = Cicero sent the enemy away from the city.
Romā profectus est. = He set out from Rome.

15. Learning Ablative Uses
When learning the various uses of the Ablative, be sure to remember which uses require prepositions (and which prepositions they use).
Keep in mind things that regularly occur with each use of the Ablative (specific types of verbs, adjectives, etc.).
For your review quiz, be ready to list the common structures of each use of the ablative (including prepositions, adjectives, verbs, etc.) and to describe how each use functions.