Prepositions

A preposition shows some sort of relation between a noun and some part of the rest of the sentence. Prepositions were originally adverbs which gradually became associated with a specific case until eventually they had to govern a noun in that case. There are only two cases which prepositions can govern: the ablative and the accusative.

Cases Governed
Prepositions which take the Ablative Prepositions which take the Accusative Prepositions which take both the Ablative and the Accusative

**Prepositions which take the Ablative**
a (ab, abs) -- away from, by absque -- without (early Latin only) coram -- face to face with, in the presence of cum -- with de -- down from e (ex) -- out of, from in -- in prae -- in front of pro -- before, in place of sine -- without sub -- under super -- above, during tenus -- to the extent of (post positive: always follows its noun)
RARELY: fine -- up to palam -- in the presence of procul -- as far as simul -- (same as cum: along with) subter -- under

**Prepositions that take the Accusative**
ad -- to, towards, at adversus -- towards, against ante -- before apud -- at the house of, in the presence of circa (circum) -- around circiter -- about cis (citra) -- this side; cf. "Cisalpine" Gaul: to the Italians, it's on "this" (i.e. the Italian) side of the Alps. clam -- secretly contra -- opposite, facing, against (often hostile in sense) erga opposite, towards (usually friendly in sense) extra -- outside of, beside (cf. intra) in -- into, against, for the purpose of (with gerund) infra -- beneath, lower down inter -- between, among intra -- within (cf. extra) iuxta -- adjoining, next to ob -- right before, for, on account of penes -- with, in the hands of per -- through pone -- behind post -- behind (of place), after (of time) praeter -- in front of, past, beyond, except, contrary to prope -- near propter -- on account of, because secundum -- following, close behind sub -- down to, under (with sense of motion) subter -- (same as sub) supter -- above, during trans -- across, on the other side ultra (uls) -- on that side of, beyond usque -- up to versus -- (supplied in English by the suffix "-ward")

Already listed in the other two categories, here they are again:

**Prepositions that take the Ablative and the Accusative**
in: with ablative: in, inside; with accusative: into, towards, against, for the purpose of. sub: with ablative: under, beneath; with accusative: under, underneath, down into. subter: with ablative: (rarer than with acc., same as sub); with accusative: (rare, same as sub). supter: with ablative: above, during, concerning; with accusative: over, above, during, beyond.

The preposition cum affixes itself as a suffix to the personal and relative pronouns and to relative pronouns.

Personal and Reflexive Pronouns
mecum nobiscum

tecum vobiscum

secum secum

Relative Pronouns
quocum OR cum quo

quacum OR cum qua

quibuscum OR cum quibus
Since prepositions were originally adverbs, many can still be used as adverbs:

ante
contra
circum
clam
palam
post
procul
simul

Personal and Reflexive Pronouns
mecum	nobiscum
tecum	vobiscum
secum	secum

Relative Pronouns
quocum OR cum quo
quacum OR cum qua
quibuscum OR cum quibus