How Something Is Done: cum cura

Level 3

A noun alone needs cum. With an adjective, cum is your choice.

How It Works

The ablative of manner answers how. The ablative of means answers with what: stilo scribit (writes with a pen).

Any adjective lets you leave out cum: summa cura (with the greatest care) and omni cura (with every care).

When cum goes with an adjective, it can stand between the two: magna cum cura.

The same idea can also be said with an adverb: diligenter scribit (writes carefully).

Iulia cum cura scribit.
Iulia writes with care.
Cura follows cum, so it is ablative.
Iulia magna cura scribit.
Iulia writes with great care.
An adjective is present, so cum can be left out.
Mater cum amore filium spectat.
The mother looks at her son with love.
Amore is the ablative of manner after cum.
Sacerdos magna voce orat.
The priest prays in a loud voice.
Magna voce is a common phrase with no cum.
Monachi cum gaudio cantant.
The monks sing with joy.
Gaudio follows cum.

Leaving out cum when there is no adjective.
Iulia cura scribit.
Iulia cum cura scribit.
Without an adjective, manner needs cum. A bare cura does not say how Iulia writes. It would more naturally say why, out of worry. The intended meaning was: Iulia writes with care.
Using the accusative after cum.
Iulia cum curam scribit.
Iulia cum cura scribit.
Cum takes the ablative. Curam is the accusative; the ablative is cura.

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

How Something Is Done: cum curaLevel 3

Manner uses the ablative with cum.

Patterns that build on this one.

cum

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