Chapter 20
We are now at the end of the material for the first semester. We have mastered quite a bit of grammar as well as a lot of vocabulary. In this chapter we will want to look at the fourth declension; and the ablatives of place from which and separation.
The fourth declension doesn’t present much of a problem to learn. Most of the words are masculine, some feminine and a few neuters. Also there are not too many words to learn in the fourth or fifth declensions.
Masculine and feminine
Nom -us -us
Gen -us -uum
Dat -ui -ibus
Acc -um -us
Abl -u -ibus
Neuter
Nom -u -ua
Gen -us -uum
Dat -u -ibus
Acc -u -ua
Abl -u -ibus
Remember that there are “us” nouns in the second declension. You know which declension a noun is in by its genitive singular ending. That’s why you must learn both parts, as well as the gender.
Let’s try declining a few words in the fourth
Sensus sensus, M feeling
Genu genus N knee
Metus metus M fear
Ablative of place from which
With the ablative of place from which, the verb in the sentence is normally a verb of active motion. One is normally going from one place to another place.
Ablative of separation
In this case, the verb usually implies that something is lacking or
being deprived of.
An example would be some one being kept from a place, or to be freed from anxiety.
There is no active motion expressed by the verb “from one place to another”.
Sometimes there will be a preposition. But with verbs which express lack or
depravation, often the preposition is omitted.
Now let’s go back to our workbook