# Ablative (Latin)

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{{Short description|One of the six grammatical cases of nouns in Latin}}
{{Latin grammar}}

In [Latin grammar](/source/Latin_grammar), the '''ablative case''' ({{lang|la|cāsus ablātīvus}}) is one of the six [noun](/source/noun) [cases](/source/grammatical_case). Traditionally, it is the sixth case ({{lang|la|cāsus sextus, cāsus latīnus}}). It has forms and functions derived from the [Proto-Indo-European](/source/Proto-Indo-European_nominals) [ablative](/source/ablative_case), [instrumental](/source/instrumental_case), and [locative](/source/locative_case). It expresses concepts similar to those of the English [prepositions](/source/Adposition) ''from''; ''with'', ''by''; and ''in'', ''at''.<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§398, 399: origin and overview of functions; common translations}}</ref>  It is sometimes called the [adverbial case](/source/adverbial_case), since phrases in the ablative can be translated as [adverb](/source/adverb)s: {{lang|la|incrēdibilī celeritāte}}, 'with incredible speed', or 'very quickly'.

==Uses==
===Ablative proper===
Some uses of the ablative descend from the [Proto-Indo-European](/source/Proto-Indo-European_language) ablative case.

* Ablative of separation implies that some person or thing is separated from another. No active movement from one location to the next occurs; furthermore, ablatives of separation sometimes lack a preposition, particularly with certain verbs like {{lang|la|careō}} or {{lang|la|līberō}}. For example, {{lang|la|Cicerō hostēs ab urbe prohibuit}}, "Cicero kept the enemy away from the city"; {{lang|la|eōs timōre līberāvit}}, "he freed them from fear".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§401}}</ref>
* Ablative of place from which describes active motion away from a place. Nouns, either proper or common, are almost always used in this sense with accompanying prepositions {{lang|la|ab/ā/abs}}, "from"; {{lang|la|ex/ē}}, "out of"; or {{lang|la|dē}}, "down from". For example, {{lang|la|ex agrīs}}, "from the fields"; {{lang|la|ex Graeciā in Italiam nāvigāvērunt}}, "They sailed from Greece to Italy."

:It can also be used for the whole to which a certain number belongs or is a part. Example: {{lang|la|ex eīs ūnus}} "one of them".

:Cities and small islands, as well as the word ''domus'', use this ablative even without a preposition: {{lang|la|Athēnīs discessit}} "he departed from Athens".

* Ablative of personal agent marks the agent by whom the action of a passive verb is performed. The agent is always preceded by {{lang|la|ab/ā/abs}}. Example: {{lang|la|Caesar ā deīs admonētur}}, "Caesar is warned by the gods".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§405}}</ref>
* Ablative of comparison is used with comparative adjectives, where English would use the conjunction "than". Example: {{lang|la|aere perennius}} "longer-lasting than bronze".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§406}}</ref>
* Ablative of cause marks the reason why the subject performs an action: {{lang|la|exsiluī gaudiō}}, "I jumped with joy".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§404}}</ref>

===Instrumental ablative===
Some uses of the ablative descend from the [Proto-Indo-European](/source/Proto-Indo-European_language) [instrumental case](/source/instrumental_case).

* Ablative of instrument or of means marks the means by which an action is carried out: {{lang|la|oculīs vidēre}}, "to see with the eyes". This is equivalent to the [instrumental case](/source/instrumental_case) found in some other languages. [Deponent verb](/source/Deponent_verb)s in Latin sometimes use the ablative of means idiomatically: {{lang|la|ūtitur stilō}} literally means "he is benefiting himself by means of a stylus (writing instrument)"; however, the phrase is more aptly translated "he is using a stylus".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§409}}</ref>
* Ablative of agent is a more generalized version of the ablative of personal agent, used when the agent is an inanimate object. When the agent is a person, the preposition {{lang|la|ā/ab}} is used, for example {{lang|la|rēx ā mīlitibus interfectus est}} "The king was killed by the soldiers"; but when the agent is a thing, the preposition is omitted and the ablative case is sufficient, for example: {{lang|la|rēx armīs mīlitum interfectus est}} "the king was killed by the weapons of the soldiers".
* Ablative of manner describes the manner in which an action was carried out. The preposition {{lang|la|cum}} (meaning "with") is used:
** when no adjective describes the noun ({{lang|la|cum cūrā}}, "with care"), or 
** optionally after the adjective(s) and before the noun: {{lang|la|magnā (cum) cūrā}}, "with great care".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§412}}</ref>
* Ablative of attendant circumstances is similar: {{lang|la|magnō cum clāmōre cīvium ad urbem perveniunt}} ("They reach the city to the great clamour of the citizens")
* Ablative of accompaniment describes with whom something was done. Nouns and pronouns in this construction are always accompanied by the preposition {{lang|la|cum}}: {{lang|la|cum eīs}}, "with them"; {{lang|la|cum amīcīs vēnērunt}}, "They came with friends."<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§413}}</ref>
* Ablative of degree of difference is used with comparative adjectives and words implying comparison: {{lang|la|aliquot ante annīs}} "a few years earlier" (lit. "earlier by a few years").<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§414}}</ref>
* Ablative of specification denotes the thing in respect to which something is specified: {{lang|la|maior nātū}} "older by birth".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§418}}</ref>
* Ablative of description or of quality is an ablative modified by an adjective or genitive that expresses a quality that something has: {{lang|la|vir summā virtūte}} "a gentleman of highest virtue".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§415}}</ref>
* Ablative absolute describes the circumstances accompanying an action; e.g., ''urbe captā cīvēs fūgērunt,'' "with the city having been captured, the citizens fled."; ''Deō volente,'' "God willing".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§419}}</ref><ref>Aalto, P. (2015). On the Absolute Instrumental in Sanskrit. Studia Orientalia Electronica, 59, 40–48.</ref>

===Locative ablative===
Some meanings of the ablative descend from the Proto-Indo-European [locative case](/source/locative_case).

* Ablative of place where marks a location where an action occurred. It usually appears with a preposition, such as ''in'', but not always; e.g., ''hōc locō'' "in this place"<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§421}}</ref>
* Ablative of time when and within which marks the time when or within which an action occurred. E.g., ''aestāte'', "in summer"; ''eō tempore'', "at that time"; ''paucīs hōrīs id faciet'', "within a few hours he will do it."<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§423}}</ref> Compare with the [accusative of time](/source/accusative_of_time), which was used for duration of time and—in classical Latin, following [Greek](/source/ancient_Greek_language)—for dates of the form ''ante diem N. Kal./Non./Id.'' (In early Latin, such dates were given in the ablative instead.)

===Ablative with prepositions===
The ablative case is very frequently used with prepositions, for example {{lang|la|ex urbe}} "out of the city", {{lang|la|cum eō}} "with him". Four prepositions (''in'' "in/into", ''sub'' "under/to the foot of", ''subter'' "under", ''super'' "over") may take either an [accusative](/source/accusative_case) 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".<ref>Wheelock, Frederic M. ''[Wheelock's Latin](/source/Wheelock's_Latin)'', HarperCollins, 2005. {{ISBN|0-06-078371-0}}</ref> In the case of ''super'', the accusative means "above" or "over", and the ablative means "concerning".<ref>{{Harvnb|Allen|Greenough|2001|loc=§221.24}}</ref>

The prepositions which are followed by the ablative case are the following:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Prepositions with the ablative
|-
! Preposition
! Grammar case
! Comments
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|a|ā}}, {{wikt-lang|la|ab}}, {{wikt-lang|la|abs}}
| + abl
| from; down from; at, in, on, (of time) after, since (source of action or event) by, of
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|absque}}
| + abl
| without (archaic)
|-
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|clam}}
| + acc &<br />+ abl
| without the knowledge of, unknown to (also an adverb). Its use with the ablative is rare. {{lang|la|Clanculum}} is a variant of this preposition.
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|coram|cōram}}
| + abl
| in person, face to face; publicly, openly
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|cum}}
| + abl
| with
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|de|dē}}
| + abl
| from, concerning, about; down from, out of
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|ex}}, {{wikt-lang|la|e|ē}}
| + abl
| out of, from
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{wikt-lang|la|in}}
| + acc
| into, to; about; according to; against
|-
| + abl
| in, at, on, from (space)
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|palam}}
| + abl
| without concealment, openly, publicly, undisguisedly, plainly, unambiguously
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|prae}}
| + abl
| before, in front of, because of
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|pro|prō}}
| + abl
| for, on behalf of; before; in front, instead of; about; according to; as, like; as befitting
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|procul}}
| + abl
| far, at a distance
|-
| {{wikt-lang|la|sine}}
| + abl
| without
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{wikt-lang|la|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)
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{wikt-lang|la|subter}}
| + acc
| under, underneath; following (in order or rank); in the reign of
|-
| + abl
| underneath, (figuratively) below inferior
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{wikt-lang|la|super}}
| + acc
| above, over, beyond; during
|-
| + abl
| concerning, regarding, about
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book | last1=Allen | first1=Joseph A. | last2=Greenough | first2=James B. | author-link2=James B. Greenough | orig-year=1903 | editor-last=Mahoney | editor-first=Anne | year=2001 | title=New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges | location=Newburyport, Massachusetts | publisher=R. Pullins Company | isbn=1-58510-042-0 |display-editors=0 |display-authors=1 }}

Category:Latin declension
Category:Latin grammar
Category:Grammatical cases

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ablative (Latin)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ablative_(Latin)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ablative_(Latin)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.