Third Declension: Ablative -e, -ibus

Level 3

-e for one and -ibus for several, after a preposition or on its own.

How It Works

NominativeAblative singularAblative plural
rexregeregibus
paterpatrepatribus
urbsurbeurbibus
nomennominenominibus
corpuscorporecorporibus

Compare the dative singular -i with the ablative singular -e: regi (to the king) and rege (with the king). The preposition cum always takes the ablative: cum rege.

The ablative follows many prepositions: in urbe (in the city) and cum patre (with the father).

A few i-stem nouns take -i in the ablative singular, such as the neuter mari (in the sea). The i-stem entry shows them.

The ablative plural -ibus looks like the dative plural. The preposition tells you which one it is.

Examples (5)

  1. Marcus cum patre ambulat.

    Marcus walks with his father.

    Patre is the ablative singular after cum.

  2. Iulia in urbe habitat.

    Iulia lives in the city.

    Urbe is the ablative singular after in.

  3. Pueri ab urbe veniunt.

    The boys come from the city.

    Ab means from and takes the ablative: urbe.

  4. Cives in urbibus habitant.

    The citizens live in cities.

    Urbibus is the ablative plural.

  5. In nomine Patris.

    In the name of the Father.

    Nomine is the ablative singular of nomen, and Patris is the genitive.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the dative -i after cum.

    Marcus cum patri ambulat.
    Marcus cum patre ambulat.

    Patri is the dative. The preposition cum takes the ablative, so the word is patre.

  • Using the accusative after ab.

    Pueri ab urbem veniunt.
    Pueri ab urbe veniunt.

    Ab means from and takes the ablative: urbe. The accusative urbem follows ad, which means to.

How It Connects

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Third Declension: Ablative -e, -ibusLevel 3

Learn This First

The ablative plural is the same as the dative plural, and the singular differs from the first two families.

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Patterns that build on this one.