THE ABLATIVE CASE

1.  THE OBJECT OF THE "BIG 8" PREPOSITIONS

                (AB, CUM, DE, EX, IN*, PRO, SINE, SUB* ALL TAKE THE ABLATIVE FOR THEIR OBJECT)

{*THESE PREPOSITIONS ALSO TAKE THE ACCUSATIVE WHEN USED WITH MOTION.  THEY TAKE THE ABLATIVE TO SHOW LOCATION.}

                        I am walking with the farmer.  (Ambulo cum agricola.)

2.  ABLATIVE OF MEANS OR INSTRUMENT

              (SHOWS WITH WHAT TANGIBLE OBJECT SOMETHING IS DONE.)

                        The slave killed his master with a sword.  (Servus interfecit dominum gladio.)

3.  ABLATIVE OF MANNER

                (SHOWS HOW SOMETHING IS DONE, BUT IT IS INTANGIBLE!)

                        He walks with dignity.  (Ambulat cum dignitate.)

4.  ABLATIVE OF PERSONAL AGENT

              (ALWAYS WITH A PASSIVE VERB.....SHOWS BY WHOM SOMETHING IS DONE)

                        My friend was killed by a slave.   (Meus amicus interfectus est a servo.)

5.  ABLATIVE OF TIME-WHEN

            (USED TO EXPRESS THE TIME WHEN SOMETHING IS DONE...NO PREPOSITION IS USED IN LATIN...NUMBERS SUCH AS 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, ETC. ARE USED)

                        On the third day......  (Tertio die......)

6.  ABLATIVE ABSOLUTE

            (TWO OR MORE ABLATIVES IN A ROW, POSSIBLY SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE SENTENCE BY COMMAS, ONE OF THE ABLATIVES IS OFTEN A PARTICIPLE)

USE MAGISTRA'S HANDY-DANDY 4-STEP TRANSLATION METHOD:

                        When these things were heard.....  (His rebus auditis.....)

7. DIRECT OBJECT OF SPECIAL "ABLATIVE VERBS"

                (SOME VERBS TAKE THEIR DIRECT OBJECT IN THE ABLATIVE CASE INSTEAD OF THE ACCUSATIVE)

                         I am using a book.  (Utor libro.)