Time and Place Expressions

By the end of this lesson, you will express time when, duration of time, and time within which in Latin, and form all four types of place expressions using the correct case and preposition.

Time Expressions

Latin uses case alone (no preposition) to express most time relationships. The three patterns:

1. Time When (Ablative, No Preposition)

When something happens — "at what time":

eo die — on that day (die = ablative of dies) prima luce — at first light illo tempore — at that time tertia hora — at the third hour

Rule: ablative without a preposition answers "when?"

2. Duration of Time (Accusative, No Preposition)

How long something lasts — "for how long":

multos annos — for many years (annos = accusative pl. of annus) tres horas — for three hours decem dies — for ten days

Rule: accusative without a preposition answers "for how long?"

3. Time Within Which (Ablative, No Preposition)

The span of time within which an action occurs — "within how long":

tribus diebus — within three days uno anno — within one year paucis horis — within a few hours

Distinguishing duration from time within which:

• Duration (tres horas): the action lasted three hours — the whole span is filled
• Time within which (tribus diebus): the action was completed at some point within a three-day window

Summary Table: Time

Type	Case	Preposition	Answers
Time when