Module 3 - Expressions of Place and Time


Prepositional Phrases | Expressions of Place | Practice Opportunity |
    Expressions of Time | Practice Opportunity


Prepositional Phrases

In Latin, prepositions (like “in”, “into”, “with”, “to”, English) are indeclinable words followed by a noun in the ablative or accusative (called the object of the preposition). This unit consisting of preposition and the object of the preposition is called a prepositional phrase.

Prepositional phrases add more information about the main action of the sentence by answering questions like where, why, which, and how:


Expressions of Place

Latin uses the accusative and ablative case, frequently with prepositions, to express ideas related to space and place.

Below are the different expressions of place used in Latin:

1) Place to which (ad, trāns, or in + accusative):

NB: In the case of cities, small towns, and the words domus (“home”) and rūs (“countryside”), Latin uses the accusative without a preposition. No need to worry about this now, but just something to keep in mind.

2) Place where (in or prō + ablative):

NB: In the case of cities, small towns, and the words domus (“home”) and rūs (“countryside”), Latin uses the locative case without a preposition. No need to worry about this now, but just something to keep in mind.

3) Place from which (ā/ab or ē/ex + ablative):

4) Accusative of extent of space (no preposition):


Practice Opportunity

Identify the bolded expression of place and translate the sentence.

  1. Ex magnā urbe fēminās movēbant.

  2. Monstra centum pedes alta sunt.

  3. Rex et rēgīna ad castra cucurrērunt.

  4. Puerī et puellae in rēgnō vīxērunt.

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Expressions of Time

The accusative and ablative cases (without prepositions) can also be used to express ideas related to time.

Below are the ways that Latin expresses ideas of time:

1) Length of time in the accusative (no preposition):

2) Time when in the ablative (no preposition):

3) Time within which (no preposition):


Practice Opportunity

Identify the bolded expression of time and translate the sentence.

  1. decimā horā fēminās ex magnā urbe movēbant.

  2. Puerī et puellae in rēgnō septem annōs vīxērunt.

  3. Rex et rēgīna ad castra quattuor horīs vēnērunt.

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