By Means Of: the ablative
A tool or means goes in the ablative, with no preposition.
How It Works
| Ablative | Meaning |
|---|---|
| stilo | with a pen |
| pedibus | on foot |
| navi | by ship |
| aqua | with water |
| verbis | with words |
| oculis | with the eyes |
Compare Marcus cum amico ambulat (with a friend) and Marcus pedibus ambulat (on foot). The friend goes along with Marcus, and the feet are the means.
The case is the same as the ablative after in or ex. Only the meaning changes, so look for a thing that is used and not a place.
When a person does the action in a passive sentence, Latin uses a different pattern, a or ab and the ablative. See the entry on the agent.
Examples (5)
- Iulia stilo scribit.
Iulia writes with a pen.
Stilo is the ablative of stilus.
- Marcus pedibus it.
Marcus goes on foot.
Pedibus is the ablative plural of pes.
- Sacerdos populum verbis docet.
The priest teaches the people with words.
Verbis is the ablative plural of verbum.
- Marcus navi in Graeciam it.
Marcus goes to Greece by ship.
Navi is the ablative of navis.
- Sacerdos aqua infantem baptizat.
The priest baptizes the child with water.
Aqua is the ablative: the water is what the priest uses.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out cum for a person who goes along.
Marcus amico ambulat.Marcus cum amico ambulat.A person who goes with you needs cum. The bare ablative is for a thing that is used, so this sentence does not say that Marcus walks with his friend.
Using the accusative for the tool.
Iulia stilum scribit.Iulia stilo scribit.Stilum is the accusative, the object of scribit, so the sentence says that Iulia writes the pen. A tool takes the ablative: stilo.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The ablative alone can say by what, so the ablative endings come first.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice By Means Of: the ablative in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latin lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
