Page:Latin for beginners (1911).djvu/289

RULES OF SYNTAX 263
 * 28. The ablative of a noun or pronoun with a present or perfect participle in agreement is used to express attendant circumstance. This is called the ablative absolute. § 381.
 * 29. 1. Descriptions of physical characteristics are expressed by the ablative with a modifying adjective. § 444.
 * 2. Descriptions involving neither numerical statements nor physical characteristics may be expressed by either the genitive or the ablative with a modifying adjective. § 445.
 * 30. The ablative is used to denote in what respect something is true. § 398.
 * 31. The place from which is expressed by ā or ab, dē, ē or ex with the separative ablative. This answers the question Whence? Before names of towns, small islands, domus, and rūs the preposition is omitted. §§ 264, 266.
 * 32. Words expressing separation or deprivation require an ablative to complete their meaning. This is called the ablative of separation. § 180.
 * 33. The word expressing the person from whom an action starts, when not the subject, is put in the ablative with the preposition ā or ab. This is called the ablative of the personal agent. § 181.
 * 34. The comparative degree, if quam is omitted, is followed by the separative ablative. § 309.
 * 35. The time when or within which anything happens is expressed by the ablative without a preposition. § 275.
 * 36. 1. The place at or in which is expressed by the ablative with in. This answers the question Where? Before names of towns, small islands, and rūs the preposition is omitted. §§ 265, 266.
 * 2. Names of towns and small islands, if singular and of the first or second declension, and the word domus express the place in which by the locative. § 268.

Gerund and Gerundive


 * 37. 1. The gerund is a verbal noun and is used only in the genitive, dative, accusative, and ablative singular. The constructions of these cases are in general the same as those of other nouns. § 406. 1.
 * 2. The gerundive is a verbal adjective and must be used instead of gerund + object, excepting in the genitive and in the ablative without a preposition. Even in these instances the gerundive construction is more usual. § 406. 2.
 * 38. The accusative of the gerund or gerundive with ad, or the genitive with causā, is used to express purpose. § 407.