Ablative Case (Noun)
Meaning
The case indicating the agent in passive sentences or the instrument or manner or place of the action described by the verb.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The Latin phrase "gladio interfecit" uses the ablative case to indicate the instrument of the action, meaning "he killed with a sword".
- In ancient Greek, the ablative case was used to express the agent in passive sentences, as in "hoi andres hup' autou edidachthēsan", meaning "the men were taught by him".
- The ablative case is also used to indicate the manner of the action, as in "cantat voce clara", meaning "he sings with a clear voice".
- In Sanskrit, the ablative case is used to express the place of the action, as in "nagare vasati", meaning "he lives in the city".
- The phrase "via maris" uses the ablative case to indicate the means by which something is done, meaning "by way of the sea".