Preposition Songs (Ablative only)

Note:  The first song contains all the ablative prepositions.  I find these are best learned together with their meanings.  You need to clarify however that ab can also be "a" and ex can also be "e". Later, when you get to accusative prepositions,  you can explain why it is "sometimes sub and in." Also, if students are confused about whether a preposition is ablative or accusative - simply ask them to sing the song.  if it's in the song - it's ablative. If it's not in the song, it's accusative. 


The Ablative Preposition Song (To the tune of London Bridges)
Lyrics by: unknown

Cum, ab, ex, de, sine, pro

Sine pro (2x)

Cum, ab, ex de, sine, pro and sometimes sub and in

 
Ablative Use Song (To the Tune of Bingo)
Lyrics by Jocelyn Demuth

When you see a noun in the ablative

Without a preposition

Add a word before the noun

Let the sense guide your decision

In, with from or by (3X)

One of those will fit just fine!

Note:  To some people, this many seem blasphemous - reducing all the myriad of uses of the ablative to a children's song.  In my experience, these names, ablative by means, manner, place from etc. do very little to help students understand how to translate. I tell students to insert the preposition that makes sense first and then assign a name to the use of the ablative. Teaching the titles first is unnecessarily confusing.  I pay my heating bill every year with the money I make from tutoring students clearing up just this one point of confusion.