Lesson 3 - Instrumental case of masculine nouns ending in -a

Question 1

How is the instrumental case formed?

Answer 1

The case ending -ena is added to the nominal base to form the instrumental singular.

The case ending -ehi is added to form the instrumental plural;

-ebhi is another archaic case ending that is sometimes added.

A noun thus inflected expresses the idea ‘by’, ‘with’ or ‘through’.

Question 2

ins. sg. of

nara

Answer 2

narena

nara + ena

e.g. Samaṇo narena saddhiṃ gāmaṃ gacchati.
The monk goes to the village with the man.

Question 3

ins. sg. of

mātula

Answer 3

mātulena

mātula + ena

e.g. Putto mātulena saha candaṃ passati.
The son sees the moon with his uncle.

Question 4

ins. sg. of

kassaka

Answer 4

kassakena

kassaka + ena

e.g. Kassako kakacena rukkhaṃ chindati.
The farmer cuts the tree with a saw.

obs. kassaka replaced by kakaca in example

Question 5

ins. pl. of

nara

Answer 5

narehi (narebhi)

nara + ehi

e.g. Samaṇā narehi saddhiṃ gāmaṃ gacchanti.
Monks go to the village with men.

Question 6

ins. pl. of

mātula

Answer 6

mātulehi (mātulebhi)

mātula + ehi

e.g. Puttā mātulehi saha candaṃ passanti.
Sons see the moon with uncles.

Question 7

ins. pl. of

kassaka

Answer 7

kassakehi (kassakebhi)

kassaka + ehi

e.g. Kassakā kakacehi rukkhe chindanti.
Farmers cut trees with saws.

obs. kassaka replaced by kakaca in example

Question 8

saddhiṃ

non declinable

Answer 8

together with

Question 9

saha

non declinable

Answer 9

together with