Prepositions

Prepositions and the Ablative Case

Prepositions followed by nouns or pronouns in the Ablative Case

Sub, under (with verbs of rest)
In, in, on
Dê, down from, concerning

Sine without
Pro, in front of, in behalf of
Â, ab, from, by
Cum, with
Ê, ex, out of, from

Hints

Sub = under, beneath
derivatives are SUBway, SUBmarine
Notice the 'b' - suB is usually followed by the aBlative

In = IN or ON with the ablative only!
When this word has an accusative after it it means INTO. Ad also means to or toward and takes an accusative so the 'to' words need an accusative but just in or on use the ablative.
Notice the loop on the 'd' goes towards the 'a'.

De = from, down from.
All 'from' words are followed by the ablative case.

Sine = without
Notice that 'cum' means 'with' and remember this parallel.

Pro = for
If you are pro something, you are for it, in favor of it etc.

A or Ab = from, away from
as with 'de', a 'from' word thus the need for an ablative
Also notice that the 'b' goes away from the 'a' and that 'AB' takes the 'ABlative'.
One uses the ab from as one uses 'an' in English, when the word precedes a word that begins with a vowel as in ab arbore.

Cum = with
Accompaniment...think acCUMpaniment and the parallel with SINE

E or EX = from, out of
another 'from' word.

While the above explanation has some exceptions, learning the Sid Space 'rule' will make learning prepositions much easier.
If you need more practice:

Click here for a fun Prepositions Practice Activity!

• See how much you have learned by trying the FAQ quiz:
• Latin 1 Regular
• Latin 1 Virtual

Joan Jahnige, January 2006

Grammatica