How Much It Costs
Ablative for what something cost, genitive for how much it is worth.
How It Works
| Case | Words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ablative (price) | magno, parvo, pretio magno, asse | villam magno emit |
| genitive (value) | magni, parvi, tanti, pluris | hoc magni aestimo |
| question | quanti | quanti hunc librum emisti? |
The genitive words are a closed list, so learn them whole: magni, parvi, tanti, quanti, pluris, minoris, plurimi, minimi, nihili.
Matthew 10:29 puts the price of two sparrows in the ablative: asse, a coin.
A low price is parvo or vili, and a high price is magno. Verbs of selling use the same ablative.
Examples (5)
- Hoc magni aestimo.
I think much of this.
Magni is the genitive of value with aestimo.
- Villam magno emit.
He bought the villa at a high price.
Magno is the ablative of price with emit.
- Quanti hunc librum emisti?
How much did you pay for this book?
Quanti is the genitive that asks the price.
- Empti enim estis pretio magno.
For you have been bought at a great price.
1 Corinthians 6:20. Pretio magno is the ablative of price.
- Nonne duo passeres asse veneunt?
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?
Matthew 10:29. Asse is the ablative of price.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Price uses the ablative as means does, and value uses the genitive, so the ablative of means comes first.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice How Much It Costs in Bubblegum
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