Editing Ablative case

{{Short description|Grammatical case}}
{{for-multi|the physical process|Ablation|the spacecraft technology|Ablative armor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2013}}
[[File:Ablative case.png|thumb|upright=1.3|Introduction to the ablative case from a 1903 Latin textbook]]

In [[grammar]], the '''ablative case''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|b|l|ə|t|ɪ|v|}} {{respell|AB|lə|tiv}}; [[list of glossing abbreviations|abbreviated]] {{smallcaps|'''abl'''}}) is a [[grammatical case]] for nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in the [[grammar]]s of various languages. It is used to indicate motion away from something, make comparisons, and serve various other purposes. The word "ablative" derives from the [[Latin]] {{Lang|la|ablatus}}, the ([[Suppletion|suppletive]]) perfect, passive participle of ''auferre'' "to carry away".<ref name="latindict">{{cite web |title=The Ablative |website=The Latin Library |url=http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/101/ablative3.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/101/ablative3.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date=2006-01-14}}</ref>

The ablative case is found in several language families, such as [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] (e.g. [[Sanskrit]], [[Latin]], [[Albanian language|Albanian]], [[Armenian language|Armenian]],  [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]), [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] (e.g. [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]], [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]], [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]], [[Kazakh language|Kazakh]], [[Kyrgyz language|Kyrgyz]], [[Tatar language|Tatar]]), [[Tungusic languages|Tungusic]] (e.g. [[Manchu language|Manchu]], [[Evenki language|Evenki]]), [[Uralic languages|Uralic]] (e.g. [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]), and the [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] languages. There is no ablative case in modern [[Germanic languages]] such as [[German language|German]] and [[English language|English]]. There was an ablative case in the early stages of [[Ancient Greek]], but it quickly fell into disuse by the [[Classical Greece|classical period]].

==Indo-European languages==
===Latin===
{{Main|Ablative (Latin)}}

The ablative case in [[Latin]] ({{lang|la|cāsus ablātīvus}}) appears in various grammatical constructions, including following various prepositions, in an [[Latin grammar#Ablative|ablative absolute]] clause, and adverbially. The Latin ablative case was derived<ref>{{cite web |title=Case in Decline |page=1 |url=https://org.uib.no/iecastp/IECASTP/CaseInDecline.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021065929/https://org.uib.no/iecastp/IECASTP/CaseInDecline.pdf |archive-date=2018-10-21}}</ref> from three [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] cases: ablative (from), instrumental (with), and locative (in/at).

===Greek===
In [[Ancient Greek]], there was an ablative case ({{Lang|grc|ἀφαιρετικὴ πτῶσις}} {{Transliteration|grc|aphairetikē ptōsis}}) which was used in the Homeric, pre-Mycenaean, and Mycenean periods. It fell into disuse during the [[Classical Greece|classical period]] and thereafter with some of its functions taken by the [[genitive case|genitive]] and others by the [[Dative case|dative]].<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Herbert Weir Smyth |first=Herbert Weir |last=Smyth |title=Greek Grammar |at=¶1279 |article=Composite or mixed cases}}</ref> The genitive case with the prepositions {{Lang|grc|ἀπό}} {{Transliteration|grc|apó}} {{gloss|away from}} and {{Lang|grc|ἐκ/ἐξ}} {{Transliteration|grc|ek/ex}} {{gloss|out of}} is an example.

===German===
[[German language|German]] does not have an ablative case but, exceptionally, Latin ablative case-forms were used from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century after some [[preposition and postposition|prepositions]], for example after {{lang|de|von}} in {{lang|de|von dem Nomine}}: ablative of the Latin loanword {{lang|la|nomen}}. Grammarians at that time, [[Justus Georg Schottel]], [[Kaspar von Stieler]], Johann Balthasar von Antesperg and [[Johann Christoph Gottsched]], listed an ablative case (as the sixth case after nominative, genitive, dative, accusative and vocative) for German words. They arbitrarily considered the dative case after some prepositions to be an ablative, as in {{lang|de|von dem Mann[e]}} {{gloss|from the man, of the man}} and {{lang|de|mit dem Mann[e]}} {{gloss|with the man}}, while they considered the dative case after other prepositions or without a preposition, as in {{lang|de|dem Mann[e]}}, to be a dative.

===Albanian===
The ablative case is found in [[Albanian language|Albanian]]; it is the fifth case, {{lang|sq|rasa rrjedhore}}.

===Sanskrit===
In [[Sanskrit]], the ablative case is the fifth case ({{Transliteration|sa|pañcamī}}) and has a similar function to that in Latin. Sanskrit nouns in the ablative often refer to a subject "out of" which or "from" whom something (an action, an object) has arisen or occurred: {{Transliteration|sa|pátram '''vṛkṣā́t''' pátati}} {{gloss|the leaf falls '''from the tree'''}}. It is also used for nouns in several other senses, as for actions occurring "because of" or "without" a certain noun, indicating distance or direction. When it appears with a comparative adjective, ({{Transliteration|sa|śreṣṭhatamam}} {{gloss|the best}}), the ablative is used to refer to what the adjective is comparing: {{gloss|better than X}}.

===Armenian===
The modern [[Armenian language|Armenian]] ablative has different markers for each main dialect, both originating from [[Classical Armenian]]. The [[Western Armenian]] affix {{lang|hyw|-է}} {{Transliteration|hyw|-ē}} (definite {{lang|hyw|-էն}} {{Transliteration|hyw|-ēn}}) derives from the classical singular; the [[Eastern Armenian]] affix {{lang|hy|-ից}} {{Transliteration|hy|-ic’}} (both indefinite and definite) derives from the classical plural. For both dialects, those affixes are singular, with the corresponding plurals being {{lang|hyw|-(ն)երէ(ն)}} {{Transliteration|hyw|-(n)erē(n)}} and {{lang|hy|-(ն)երից}} {{Transliteration|hy|-(n)eric’}}.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Western !! Eastern !! [[Gloss (annotation)|Gloss]]
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|մարդ'''է'''|mart'''ē'''|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|մարդ'''ից'''|mard'''ic’'''|}}
| from (a) man
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|մարդ'''էն'''|mart'''ēn'''|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|մարդ'''ից'''|mard'''ic’'''|}}
| from the man
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|(տուն) > տան'''է'''|(dun) > dan'''ē'''|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|(տուն) > տն'''ից'''|(tun) > tn'''ic’'''|}}
| from a house/from home
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|(տուն) > տան'''էն'''|(dun) > dan'''ēn'''|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|(տուն) > տն'''ից'''|(tun) > tn'''ic’'''|}}
| from the house
|}

The ablative case has several uses. Its principal function is to show "motion away" from a location, point in space or time:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Western !! Eastern !! Gloss
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|''քաղաք'''էն''''' եկայ|k’aġak’'''ēn''' yega|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|''քաղաք'''ից''''' եկա|k’aġak’'''ic’''' yeka|}}
| I came ''from the city''
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|''այստեղ'''էն''''' հեռու կը բնակէի|aysdeġ'''ēn''' heṙu gě pnagēi|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|''այստեղ'''ից''''' հեռու էի բնակվում|aysteġ'''ic’''' heṙu ēi bnakvum|}}
| I used to live far ''from here''
|}

It also shows the agent when it is used with the passive voice of the verb:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Western !! Eastern !! Gloss
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|''ինծ'''մէ''''' միշտ կը սիրուէիր|''inc'''mē''''' mišd gě sirvēir|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|''ինձն'''ից''''' միշտ սիրվում էիր|''injn'''ic’''''' mišt sirvum ēir|}}
| You were always loved ''by me''.
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|''ազատիչներ'''էն''''' ազատեցանք|''azadič’ner'''ēn''''' azadec’ank’|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|''ազատիչներ'''ից''''' ազատվեցինք|''azatič’ner'''ic’''''' azatvec’ink’|}}
| We were freed ''by the liberators''.
|}

It is also used for comparative statements in colloquial Armenian (including infinitives and participles):

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Western !! Eastern !! Gloss
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|Ի՞նչ ''մեղր'''էն''''' անուշ է|Inč’ ''meġr'''ēn''''' anuš ē|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|Ի՞նչն է ''մեղր'''ից''''' անուշ|Inč’n ē ''meġr'''ic’''''' anuš|}}
| "What is sweeter ''than honey''?" (proverb)
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|Մարիամ ''եղբօր'''մէն''''' պզտիկ է|Mariam ''yeġpōr'''mēn''''' bzdig ē|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|Մարիամն ''եղբոր'''ից''''' փոքր է|Mariamn ''yeġbor'''ic’''''' p’ok’r ē|}}
| Mary is younger (lit. smaller) ''than her brother''
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|թզեր համտեսել ''տեսնել'''է''''' աւելի լաւ է|t’ëzer hamdesel ''desnel'''ē''''' aveli lav ē|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|թուզ համտեսելը ''տեսնել'''ուց''''' լավ է|t’uz hamteselë ''tesnel'''uc’''''' lav ē|}}
| Figs are better to taste ''than to see''
|}

Finally, it governs certain postpositions:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Western !! Eastern !! Gloss
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|''ինծմէ'' վար|''incmē'' var|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|''ինձնից'' վար|''indznic’'' var|}}
| below ''me''
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|''քեզմէ'' վեր|''k’ezmē'' ver|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|''քեզնից'' վեր|''k’eznic’'' ver|}}
| above ''you''
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|''անոնցմէ'' ետք|''anonc’mē'' yedk’|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|''նրանցից'' հետո|''nranc’ic’'' heto|}}
| after ''them''
|-
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hyw|''մեզմէ'' առաջ|''mezmē'' aṙač|}}
| {{fs interlinear|lang=hy|''մեզնից'' առաջ|''meznic’'' aṙadž|}}
| before ''us''
|}

==Uralic languages==
===Finnish===
In [[Finnish language|Finnish]], the ablative case is the sixth of the locative cases with the meaning "from, off, of": ''pöytä&nbsp;– pöydältä'' "table&nbsp;– off from the table". It is an outer locative case, used like the [[adessive]] and [[allative]] cases, to denote both being on top of something and "being around the place" (as opposed to the inner locative case, the [[elative case|elative]], which means "from out of" or "from the inside of"). With the locative, the receding object was near the other place or object, not inside it.

The Finnish ablative is also used in time expressions to indicate times of something happening (''kymmeneltä'' "at ten") as well as with verbs expressing feelings or emotions.

The Finnish ablative has the ending ''-lta'' or ''-ltä'', depending on [[vowel harmony]].

====Usage====
; away from a place:

*''katolta'': off the roof
*''pöydältä'': off the table
*''rannalta'': from the beach
*''maalta'': from the land
*''mereltä'': from the sea

; from a person, object or other entity:

*''häneltä'': from him/her/them

; with the verb ''lähteä'' (stop):

*''lähteä tupakalta'': stop smoking (in the sense of putting out the cigarette one is smoking now, lit. 'leave from the tobacco')
*''lähteä hippasilta'': stop playing tag (''hippa''=tag, ''olla hippasilla''=playing tag)

; to smell/taste/feel/look/sound like something:

*''haisee pahalta'': smells bad
*''maistuu hyvältä'': tastes good
*''tuntuu kamalalta'': feels awful
*''näyttää tyhmältä'': looks stupid
*''kuulostaa mukavalta'': sounds nice

===Estonian===
The ablative case in Estonian is the ninth case and has a similar function to that in Hungarian.

===Hungarian===
The ablative case in Hungarian is used to describe movement away from, as well as a concept, object, act or event originating from an object, person, location or entity. For example, one walking away from a friend who gave him a gift could say the following:

:''a barátom'''tól''' jövök'' (I am coming (away) from my friend).
:''a barátom'''tól''' kaptam egy ajándékot'' (I got a gift from my friend).

When used to describe movement away from a location, the case may only refer to movement from ''the general vicinity'' of the location and not from inside of it. Thus, ''a postától jövök'' would mean one had been standing ''next to'' the post office before, not inside the building.

When the case is used to refer to the origin of a possible act or event, the act/event may be implied while not explicitly stated, such as {{lang|hu|Meg foglak védeni a rabló'''tól'''}}: I will defend you from the robber.

The application of [[vowel harmony]] gives two different suffixes: ''-tól'' and ''-től''. These are applied to back-vowel and front-vowel words, respectively.

Hungarian has a narrower [[delative case]], similar to ablative, but more specific: movement off/from a surface of something, with suffixes ''-ról'' and ''-ről''.

==Turkic languages==
===Azerbaijani===

The ablative in [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]] ({{Lang|az|çıxışlıq hal}}) is expressed through the suffixes {{lang|az|-dan}} or {{lang|az|-dən}}:

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=az
|ev  ev-dən
|house house-ABL
|'house' 'from/off the house'}}

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=az
|aparmaq aparmaq-dan
|carry carry-ABL
|'to carry' 'from/off carrying'}}

===Tatar===
The ablative in [[Tatar language|Tatar]] ({{Lang|tt|чыгыш килеше}}) is expressed through the suffixes {{lang|tt|-дан}},{{lang|tt|-дән}}, {{lang|tt|-тан}}, {{lang|tt|-тән}}, {{lang|tt|-нан}}, or {{lang|tt|-нән}}:

{{fs interlinear|indent=3|lang=tt
|өй өй-дән
|öy öydän
|house house-ABL
|'house' 'from/off the house'}}

===Turkish===
The ablative in [[Turkish language|Turkish]] ({{lang|tr|-den hali}} or {{lang|tr|ayrılma hali}}) is expressed through the suffix {{lang|tr|-den}} (which changes to {{lang|tr|-dan}}, {{lang|tr|-ten}}, or {{lang|tr|-tan}} to accommodate the [[Vowel harmony|vowel]] and [[Voice (phonetics)|voicing]] harmony):

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=tr
|ev  ev-den
|house house-ABL
|'house' 'from/off the house'}}

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=tr
|at at-tan
|horse horse-ABL
|'horse' 'from/off the horse'}}

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=tr
|taşımak taşımak-tan
|carry carry-ABL
|'to carry' 'from/off the horse'}}

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=tr
|ses ses-ten
|volume volume-ABL
|'sound/volume' 'from/off sound/volume'}}

In some situations simple ablative can have a "because of" meaning; in these situations, ablative can be optionally followed by the postposition {{lang|tr|dolayı}} {{gloss|because of}}.

{{interlinear|indent=3|lang=tr
|Yüksek sesten (dolayı) rahatsız oldum.
|high volume (because.of) uneasy be.1.SG.PST.PFV.IND
|I was uneasy because of high volume.}}

== Tungusic ==

=== Manchu ===
The ablative in [[Manchu language|Manchu]] is expressed through the suffix {{lang|mnc|-ci}} and can also be used to express comparisons. It is usually not directly attached to its parent word.

{{interlinear|lang=mnc|indent=2
|boo-ci tuci-ke
|house-ABL go.away-PAST
|"(Someone) went away from the house"}}

=== Evenki ===
The ablative in [[Evenki language|Evenki]] is expressed with the suffix {{lang|evn|-duk}}.

{{interlinear|lang=evn|indent=2
|e:kun-duk
|who-ABL
|from whom/where?}}

==See also==
* [[Allative case]]
* [[Delative case]]
* [[Locative case]]

==Further reading==
{{wiktionary|ablative case}}
* {{cite book |last=Karlsson |first=Fred |year=2018 |title=Finnish – A Comprehensive Grammar |location=London and New York |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-138-82104-0}}
* {{cite journal |last=Anhava |first=Jaakko |year=2015 |title=Criteria for case forms in Finnish and Hungarian grammars |journal=Journal.fi |publisher=Finnish Scholarly Journals Online |place=Helsinki, Finland |url=https://journal.fi/store/article/view/52392/16242}}

== References ==
{{reflist|25em}}

{{Grammatical cases}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ablative Case}}
[[Category:Grammatical cases]]