Collins introduces us to Latin propositions here. But first, what is a preposition? Our old Latin teacher used to say it is anything a squirrel can do to a tree or a bird can do to a cloud. Meaning a squirrel can run UP a tree, AROUND a tree, maybe INTO the tree (if there is a hole) and then it would be INSIDE the tree. Same with the cloud imagery - the bird can fly THROUGH the cloud, UNDER the cloud, ABOVE the cloud.
The official definition of a preposition is: a word governing and usually preceding a noun or pronoun that expresses a relation to another word or element in the clause. Click here to go to a list of English prepositions.
So what do we mean by 'governing' a noun. How does a preposition 'govern?' Well, again in English we don't do a lot of case endings so it is harder to see. But an example would be: I stood behind them. The basic sentence there is: I stood. But where did I stand? Behind (a preposition) them. But why is them not they? Why the objective ending? Because it is an object of the proposition. That's the preposition 'governing' the noun or substantive that follows it.
In Latin we have two cases that follow prepositions. They are accusative and ablative.
Governing the accusative case - these prepositions often have the idea of motion toward in them. For example, 'ad' means to, toward, for the purpose of. It can also mean 'at'
Governing the ablative case - one thing that helps me here is to realize that word ablative begins with the word 'ab' which mean away from or from. That's the opposite of the accusative which is movement towards something. So ablative often expresses no motion or motion away from. However, while that helps a little bit, things get complicated so it is only guideline and not a definitive way of figuring if a preposition is ablative or not.
Apparently, and I didn't know this before, in ecclesiastical Latin they use more prepositions than in classical Latin. Classical Latin often just puts something in the ablative case and you figure out what is going on from the context. Church Latin seems to be more specific by sticking in prepositions so you know more exactly the meaning being conveyed.
Ablative of Accompaniment - when using the prepositions 'cum' and 'sine' the noun following (usually a personal noun) will be in the ablative case.
Here are some prepositions in Latin. Each one is followed by whether it governs the ablative or accusative case.
ā - (ab, abs - you stick a 'b' on the end if it precedes a noun that begins with a vowel) - prep + abl. = from, away from
ad (prep + acc.) to, toward, for (the purpose of), at
cōram (prep + abl) in the presence of
cum (prep + abl) with
de (prep + abl) from, down from, about, concerning
ē (ex - again you stick an 'x' on the end if it precedes a noun with a vowel) (prep + abl) from, out of
prõ (prep + abl) in front of, in behalf of, instead of, on behalf of
sine (prep + abl) without
There are 2 prepositions that can govern either the accusative or the ablative depending on their meaning.
in (prep + acc) when it means into, onto, against, for (the purpose of)
in (prep + abl) when it means in, on, among, by means of, with
super (prep + acc) when it means above, upon, over
super (prep + abl) when it means about, concerning
The little example that for some reason helps me remember this is:
in urbem amblo (I walk into the city) (urbem is accusative)
in urbe amblo (I walk in or around the city) (urbe is ablative)
So it is the difference between not being in the city but then walking into it or already being in the city and just walking around it!
So that is an illustration of how changing the case of the govern substantive (noun) can change the idea trying to be conveyed.
Anyway, prepositions become a lot clearer once you start trying to translate them.
Two more words Collins introduces here on p. 10.
et = and - this is its usually meaning. But it can also act as an intensifying adverb like 'even' or 'too' If you encounter et . . . . .et (two 'ets' separated by words) that means 'both . . . .and'
-que - this is an enclitic! What is an enclitic, you might ask? Well, it has to do with pronunciation. But here it really means a little ending you tack onto to the end of a word in a sentence to mean 'and'
Here is the Our Father in Latin.
Pater noster, quī es in caelis, sānctificētur nōmen tuum; adveniat rēgnum tuum, fiat voluntās tua, sicut in caelō et in terrā. Pānem nostrum cotīdiānum* dā nõbis hodiē, et dimitte nōbīs dēbita nostra, sīcut et nōs dimittimus dēbitōribus nostris, et nē nōs indūcās in tentātiōnem; sed līberā nōs ā malō. Amen.
Read (and pray!) it to practice pronunciation. Examine it to see if you see any 1st declension nouns in there in one of their forms or cases. Do you see an prepositions?
Here is an audio of the Pater Noster.
* Sometimes this is written as quotidianum.
Next up - we'll do some of the exercises at the end of Unit 1
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