Antessive case

The antessive case (abbreviated ANTE)^[1] is used for marking the spatial relation of preceding or being before. The case is found in some Dravidian languages. For example, in Tamil, the antessive case has three primary meanings.^[2]

• In front of something or someone

Eṅkaḷ

1PL.GEN

vīṭṭiṟku

home

muṉṉāl

ANTE

oru

INDEF

kōyil

temple

irukkiṟatu

EXIST

Eṅkaḷ vīṭṭiṟku muṉṉāl oru kōyil irukkiṟatu

1PL.GEN home ANTE INDEF temple EXIST

There is a temple in front of our home

• To present someone or something in front of someone or something

Tir-uṭaṉ

thief-SOC

nītipati-kku

judge-DAT

muṉṉāl

ANTE

koṇṭu

INS

varappa-ṭṭ-aṉ

come-PST-3SG.MASC

Tir-uṭaṉ nītipati-kku muṉṉāl koṇṭu varappa-ṭṭ-aṉ

thief-SOC judge-DAT ANTE INS come-PST-3SG.MASC

The thief was brought before the judge

• Being 'at front' with reference to position

Avaṉ

3SG

eḻutuvatil

write-DEF-LOC

ellā:ru-kkum

everyone-DAT

muṉṉa:L

ANTE

iruk-kiṟ-āṉ

EXIST-PRES-3SG.MASC

Avaṉ eḻutuvatil ellā:ru-kkum muṉṉa:L iruk-kiṟ-āṉ

3SG write-DEF-LOC everyone-DAT ANTE EXIST-PRES-3SG.MASC

He is in front of all in writing