← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! Novam partem hodiē incipimus: Praepositiōnēs. Hae sunt vōculae parvae quae positiōnem et mōtum rērum exprimunt — ad, ā, cum, ante, pōne, et multae aliae.
Greetings, dearest students! Today we begin a new part: Prepositions. These are little words which express the position and motion of things — to, from, with, before, behind, and many others.
Praepositiōnēs parvae sunt sed potentēs! Sine eīs, ubi rēs sint aut quō eant dīcere nōn possumus. Discāmus hās vōculās ūtilissimās!
Prepositions are small but powerful! Without them, we cannot say where things are or where they are going. Let us learn these most useful little words!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Pergāmus, let us proceed, rogō I ask tē. you. Nunc now tibi to you parvās small vōculās words expōnam. I shall explain. Ad towards nōs us trahimus; we draw; ā from nōbīs us trūdimus. we push. Cum with nōbīs us dūcimus; we lead; ante before nōs us pellimus; we drive; pōne behind nōs us raptāmus. we drag.
Pergāmus, rogō tē — Let us proceed (pergāmus), I ask (rogō) you (tē). The hortatory subjunctive pergāmus invites continuation. This introduces the new section on prepositions.
Nunc tibi parvās vōculās expōnam — Now (nunc) I shall explain (expōnam) the small (parvās) words (vōculās) to you (tibi). The diminutive vōcula (from vōx) means “little word” — a charming term for prepositions.
Ad nōs trahimus; ā nōbīs trūdimus — We draw (trahimus) towards (ad) us (nōs); we push (trūdimus) from (ā) us (nōbīs). Ad + accusative indicates motion toward; ā/ab + ablative indicates motion away from.
Cum nōbīs dūcimus — We lead (dūcimus) with (cum) us (nōbīs). Cum + ablative indicates accompaniment.
Ante nōs pellimus; pōne nōs raptāmus — We drive (pellimus) before (ante) us (nōs); we drag (raptāmus) behind (pōne) us (nōs). Ante + accusative = “before, in front of”; pōne + accusative = “behind.”
Pergāmus, rogō tē. Let us proceed, I ask you.
Nunc tibi parvās vōculās expōnam. Now I shall explain the small words to you.
Ad nōs trahimus; ā nōbīs trūdimus. We draw towards us; we push from us.
Cum nōbīs dūcimus. We lead with us.
Ante nōs pellimus; pōne nōs raptāmus. We drive before us; we drag behind us.
Pergāmus, rogō tē. Nunc tibi parvās vōculās expōnam. Ad nōs trahimus; ā nōbīs trūdimus. Cum nōbīs dūcimus; ante nōs pellimus; pōne nōs raptāmus.
A preposition is a word placed before a noun (or pronoun) to show its relationship to another word in the sentence — position, direction, time, or manner.
Prepositions govern either the accusative or the ablative case (a few govern both, with different meanings).
Praepositiō Significātiō Exemplum ad to, towards Ad nōs trahimus ante before, in front of Ante nōs pellimus pōne behind Pōne nōs raptāmus per through Per silvam ambulō in into (motion) In urbem eō
Praepositiō Significātiō Exemplum ā / ab from, away from Ā nōbīs trūdimus cum with Cum nōbīs dūcimus ē / ex out of Ex urbe veniō dē down from, about Dē monte dēscendō in in, on (location) In urbe sum
-
Ā before consonants; ab before vowels and h: ā mē, ab amīcō -
Ē before consonants; ex before vowels (and often consonants too): ē domō, ex urbe
Verbum Partēs Prīncipālēs Significātiō trahō trahō, trahere, trāxī, tractum to draw, drag trūdō trūdō, trūdere, trūsī, trūsum to push, thrust dūcō dūcō, dūcere, dūxī, ductum to lead pellō pellō, pellere, pepulī, pulsum to drive raptō raptō, raptāre to drag, snatch
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō pergō, pergere, perrēxī verbum to proceed, continue vōcula, -ae (f.) nōmen little word expōnō, expōnere verbum to explain, set forth ad praepositiō (+ acc.) to, towards ā / ab praepositiō (+ abl.) from, away from cum praepositiō (+ abl.) with ante praepositiō (+ acc.) before, in front of pōne praepositiō (+ acc.) behind trahō, trahere, trāxī verbum to draw, drag trūdō, trūdere, trūsī verbum to push, thrust pellō, pellere, pepulī verbum to drive raptō, raptāre verbum to drag, snatch
Canis a dog ossa bones invēnit. found. “Haec “these ad to mē me trahō!” I draw!” inquit. he said. Ossa the bones ad towards sē himself trāxit he drew et and in into angulum a corner portāvit. he carried.
Alter another canis dog appropinquāvit. approached. “Abī!” “go away!” latrāvit barked prīmus. the first. “Haec “these ossa bones mea mine sunt! are! Tē you ā from mē me trūdō!” I push!”
Sed but alter the other canis dog maior bigger erat. was. Prīmum the first canem dog pepulit he drove et and ossa the bones rapuit. he snatched.
Prīmus the first canis dog trīstis sad sēdit. sat. “Heu!” “alas!” inquit. he said. “Modo “just now ossa the bones ante before mē me erant were — nunc — now pōne behind mē me sunt! they are! Modo just now cum with ossibus bones eram I was — nunc — now sine without ossibus bones sum!” I am!”
Vulpēs a fox praeterībat. was passing by. “Nōlī “do not dolēre,” grieve,” inquit. she said. “Melius “better est it is sine without ossibus bones vīvere to live quam than prō for ossibus bones pugnāre! to fight! Quī he who omnia all things ad towards sē himself trahit, draws, saepe often omnia all things āmittit!” loses!”
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Quī he who nimis too much cupit, desires, saepe often nihil nothing tenet. holds. Melius better est it is pauca few things cum with pāce peace habēre to have quam than multa many things cum with bellō! war!
Canis ossa invēnit. A dog found bones.
“Haec ad mē trahō!” inquit. “These I draw to me!” he said.
Ossa ad sē trāxit et in angulum portāvit. He drew the bones towards himself and carried them into a corner.
Alter canis appropinquāvit. Another dog approached.
“Abī!” latrāvit prīmus. “Haec ossa mea sunt!” “Go away!” barked the first. “These bones are mine!”
“Tē ā mē trūdō!” “I push you from me!”
Sed alter canis maior erat. But the other dog was bigger.
Prīmum canem pepulit et ossa rapuit. He drove the first dog and snatched the bones.
Prīmus canis trīstis sēdit. The first dog sat sad.
“Heu!” inquit. “Modo ossa ante mē erant — nunc pōne mē sunt!” “Alas!” he said. “Just now the bones were before me — now they are behind me!”
“Modo cum ossibus eram — nunc sine ossibus sum!” “Just now I was with bones — now I am without bones!”
Vulpēs praeterībat. “Nōlī dolēre,” inquit. A fox was passing by. “Do not grieve,” she said.
“Melius est sine ossibus vīvere quam prō ossibus pugnāre!” “It is better to live without bones than to fight for bones!”
“Quī omnia ad sē trahit, saepe omnia āmittit!” “He who draws all things towards himself, often loses all things!”
Haec fābula docet: Quī nimis cupit, saepe nihil tenet. This fable teaches: He who desires too much, often holds nothing.
Melius est pauca cum pāce habēre quam multa cum bellō! It is better to have few things with peace than many things with war!
Canis ossa invēnit. “Haec ad mē trahō!” inquit. Ossa ad sē trāxit et in angulum portāvit.
Alter canis appropinquāvit. “Abī!” latrāvit prīmus. “Haec ossa mea sunt! Tē ā mē trūdō!”
Sed alter canis maior erat. Prīmum canem pepulit et ossa rapuit.
Prīmus canis trīstis sēdit. “Heu!” inquit. “Modo ossa ante mē erant — nunc pōne mē sunt! Modo cum ossibus eram — nunc sine ossibus sum!”
Vulpēs praeterībat. “Nōlī dolēre,” inquit. “Melius est sine ossibus vīvere quam prō ossibus pugnāre! Quī omnia ad sē trahit, saepe omnia āmittit!”
Haec fābula docet: Quī nimis cupit, saepe nihil tenet. Melius est pauca cum pāce habēre quam multa cum bellō!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable uses the prepositions of the lesson (ad, ā, cum, ante, pōne) to tell a story about greed and loss. The dog’s lament contrasts ante mē (before me) with pōne mē (behind me), cum ossibus (with bones) with sine ossibus (without bones).
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Prepositions with pronouns: ad mē, ā mē, cum ossibus, sine ossibus -
Reflexive sē: ad sē trāxit — “he drew towards himself” -
Prō + ablative: prō ossibus — “for bones” (on behalf of)
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō os, ossis (n.) nōmen bone angulus, -ī (m.) nōmen corner latrō, latrāre verbum to bark rapiō, rapere, rapuī, raptum verbum to snatch vulpēs, vulpis (f.) nōmen fox praetereō, praeterīre verbum to pass by prō praepositiō (+ abl.) for, on behalf of sine praepositiō (+ abl.) without pāx, pācis (f.) nōmen peace bellum, -ī (n.) nōmen war
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quid what est is praepositiō? a preposition?
MAGISTER: Praepositiō a preposition est is vōcula a little word quae which ante before nōmen a noun pōnitur is placed ut so that relātiōnem the relationship inter between rēs things ostendat. it may show. Exemplī of an example grātiā: for the sake: ad to mōtum motion versus towards aliquid something significat; signifies; ā from mōtum motion ab from aliquō something significat. signifies.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo how scīmus do we know quem which cāsum case praepositiō a preposition regat? governs?
MAGISTER: Discendum it must be learned est! is! Aliae some praepositiōnēs prepositions accūsātīvum the accusative regunt govern — ut — such as ad, to, ante, before, pōne, behind, per. through. Aliae others ablātīvum the ablative regunt govern — ut — such as ā/ab, from, cum, with, ē/ex, out of, dē, about, sine. without.
DISCIPULUS: Suntne are there praepositiōnēs prepositions quae which utrum either cāsum case regant? govern?
MAGISTER: Ita yes vērō! indeed! In in et and sub under utrumque each regunt! govern! Cum with accūsātīvō, the accusative, mōtum motion significant: they signify: “in “into urbem the city eō” I go” — intrō! — I enter! Cum with ablātīvō, the ablative, locum place significant: they signify: “in “in urbe the city sum” I am” — maneō! — I remain!
DISCIPULUS: Hoc this difficile difficult est! is!
MAGISTER: Prīmum at first difficile difficult vidētur, it seems, sed but ūsū by use facile easy fit! it becomes! Mementō: remember: accūsātīvus the accusative saepe often mōtum motion indicat; indicates; ablātīvus the ablative saepe often locum place aut or statum a state indicat. indicates.
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid est praepositiō? Master, what is a preposition?
MAGISTER: Praepositiō est vōcula quae ante nōmen pōnitur ut relātiōnem inter rēs ostendat. A preposition is a little word which is placed before a noun to show the relationship between things.
Exemplī grātiā: ad mōtum versus aliquid significat; ā mōtum ab aliquō significat. For example: “to” signifies motion towards something; “from” signifies motion from something.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo scīmus quem cāsum praepositiō regat? How do we know which case a preposition governs?
MAGISTER: Discendum est! It must be learned!
Aliae praepositiōnēs accūsātīvum regunt — ut ad, ante, pōne, per. Some prepositions govern the accusative — such as “to,” “before,” “behind,” “through.”
Aliae ablātīvum regunt — ut ā/ab, cum, ē/ex, dē, sine. Others govern the ablative — such as “from,” “with,” “out of,” “about,” “without.”
DISCIPULUS: Suntne praepositiōnēs quae utrum cāsum regant? Are there prepositions which govern either case?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! In et sub utrumque regunt! Yes indeed! “In” and “under” govern each!
Cum accūsātīvō, mōtum significant: “in urbem eō” — intrō! With the accusative, they signify motion: “I go into the city” — I enter!
Cum ablātīvō, locum significant: “in urbe sum” — maneō! With the ablative, they signify place: “I am in the city” — I remain!
DISCIPULUS: Hoc difficile est! This is difficult!
MAGISTER: Prīmum difficile vidētur, sed ūsū facile fit! At first it seems difficult, but by use it becomes easy!
Mementō: accūsātīvus saepe mōtum indicat; ablātīvus saepe locum aut statum indicat. Remember: the accusative often indicates motion; the ablative often indicates place or state.
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid est praepositiō?
MAGISTER: Praepositiō est vōcula quae ante nōmen pōnitur ut relātiōnem inter rēs ostendat. Exemplī grātiā: ad mōtum versus aliquid significat; ā mōtum ab aliquō significat.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo scīmus quem cāsum praepositiō regat?
MAGISTER: Discendum est! Aliae praepositiōnēs accūsātīvum regunt — ut ad, ante, pōne, per. Aliae ablātīvum regunt — ut ā/ab, cum, ē/ex, dē, sine.
DISCIPULUS: Suntne praepositiōnēs quae utrum cāsum regant?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! In et sub utrumque regunt! Cum accūsātīvō, mōtum significant: “in urbem eō” — intrō! Cum ablātīvō, locum significant: “in urbe sum” — maneō!
DISCIPULUS: Hoc difficile est!
MAGISTER: Prīmum difficile vidētur, sed ūsū facile fit! Mementō: accūsātīvus saepe mōtum indicat; ablātīvus saepe locum aut statum indicat.
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains the basic concept of prepositions, the distinction between accusative-governing and ablative-governing prepositions, and the special case of in and sub which take both cases with different meanings.
Which case does each preposition govern? -
ad + __________ -
ā/ab + __________ -
cum + __________ -
ante + __________ -
pōne + __________
Match:
Praepositiō Significātiō 1. ad a. with 2. ā b. behind 3. cum c. before 4. ante d. to, towards 5. pōne e. from
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We draw towards us. -
We push from us. -
We lead with us. -
We drive before us. -
We drag behind us.
-
Ad nōs trahimus. -
Ā nōbīs trūdimus. -
Cum nōbīs dūcimus. -
Ante nōs pellimus. -
Pōne nōs raptāmus.
-
Ad + acc. = towards; ā/ab + abl. = from -
Cum + abl. = with; sine + abl. = without -
Ante + acc. = before; pōne + acc. = behind -
In + acc. = into (motion); in + abl. = in (place)
-
ad + accusative -
ā/ab + ablative -
cum + ablative -
ante + accusative -
pōne + accusative
-
d (ad = to, towards) -
e (ā = from) -
a (cum = with) -
c (ante = before) -
b (pōne = behind)
-
Ad nōs trahimus. -
Ā nōbīs trūdimus. -
Cum nōbīs dūcimus. -
Ante nōs pellimus. -
Pōne nōs raptāmus.
-
We draw towards us. -
We push from us. -
We lead with us. -
We drive before us. -
We drag behind us.
In proximā lectiōne plūrēs praepositiōnēs discēmus! Secundum flūmen facile est natāre. Adversus illud impossibile. Apud altāre sacerdōs habet penēs sē diāconum. Discēmus secundum, adversus, apud, et penēs!
In the next lesson we shall learn more prepositions! It is easy to swim with the stream. Against it is impossible. The priest at the altar has his deacon in his power. We shall learn “according to,” “against,” “at,” and “in the power of”!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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