Degree of Difference

The ablative without a preposition can be used to express the degree to which a comparative adjective or adverb is more or less comparative. The ablative of degree of difference patterns with (and modifies) a comparative adjective or adverb. Here are some examples:

	puella multo prudentior est , "the girl is much wiser". The ablative of degree of difference tells to what degree the girl is wiser
	puella paulo prudentio est, "the girl is a little wiser"
	Quintus paulo diutius mansit, "Quintus waited a little longer."
	Tarquinius id multo magis risit, "Tarquinius laughed at this much more."

The ablative of degree of difference can be looked at in conjunction with the ablative of comparison because both pattern with comparative adjectives and adverbs. The ablative of degree of difference expresses how much more or less the subject is than the ablative of comparison:

puella multo prudentior est puero, "the girl is much more prudent than the boy"; "multo": ablative of degree of difference; "puero": ablative of comparison

Other Ablative Uses

Ablatives with Prepositions
Ablative of Comparison
Degree of Difference
Ablative of Manner
Ablative of Means
Ablative Object
Ablative of Origin
Ablative of Place from Which
Ablative of Price
Ablative of Quality
Ablative of Separation
Ablative with Adjectives
Ablative of Time When
Ablative of Time Within Which

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Main Index

Syllabus
Handouts
Latin Reference

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Related Topics

Noun Syntax

Lesson Chapter 40

Ablative of Comparison

Ablatives with Prepositions

Last Updated March 18, 2003

Questions, comments and corrections should be sent to Brian K. Harvey, Kent State University