Certain abstract nouns can take the dative case to express purpose or means (especially with the verb esse). This use of the dative has several names:
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The Predicative Dative (because the dative noun takes a predicative position).
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The Dative of Purpose (because it conveys a sense of purpose).
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The Double Dative (because it usually appears alongside another dative noun – a dative of reference).
The basic translation of this dative is “as a…. (to/for something.)”
| e.g. | tertiam aciem nostris auxilio misit. |
| He sent the third line as a help to our men. |
A better translation of auxilio would be as a source of help or in order to help. The following phrases involving the predicative dative are formed from AS vocabulary words:
| auxilio esse | to be a source of help (to help) |
| bono esse | to be a benefit (to benefit) |
| curae esse | to be a matter of concern (to worry) |
| dolori esse | to be a cause of grief |
| dono (dare) | (to give) as a gift |
| exemplo esse | to be an example |
| exitio esse | to be a cause of destruction (to destroy) |
| honori esse | to be an honour |
| laudi esse | to be a credit |
| malo esse | to be a source of harm (to harm) |
| muneri | as a service, present |
| odio esse | to be an object of hatred (to be hated) |
| periculo esse | to be a source of danger (to endanger) |
| praesidio esse | to be a means of protection |
| pudori esse | to be a cause of shame |
| saluti esse | to be the salvation (to save) |
| usui esse | to be of use (to benefit) |
Practice exercises
- patriae nostrae magno exitio fuit id bellum.
That war was a great cause of destruction for our country.
- illa femina, quae liberos suos interfecit, odio omnibus est.
That woman, who killed her own children, is hated by everyone.
- cui bono scelus erat?
Who benefited from the crime?
- equos principi hostium dono misit.
He sent horses to the enemy chieftain as a gift.
- suis saluti fuit.
He was the salvation of his men.
- magno usui nostris consilium erat.
The advice was of great use to our men.
- periculo est civibus in viis media nocte ambulare.
It is dangerous for the citizens to walk the streets in the middle of the night.
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