Henle EX 228 #15 & #16

[bygrace28@roadrunner.com]

Short and sweet.
15. Maria est gratia plena. 16. Silva periculorum plenae sunt.

The answer key states: 15. Mary is full of grace. (Gratia, ablative with plena.) 16. The forest is full of dangers. (periculorum, genitive with plenae.)

Why is gratia in 15 ablative? This is confusing, because 16 is such a similar sentence and dangers is genitive.

I love Latin.
Lilli

[pobrien]

The adjective 'plenus', as well as verbs of 'filling', may take either the genitive or the ablative. With the genitive, the sense is 'full of'. With the ablative, the sense is 'filled by'. Whichever you use depends on which sense is more appropriate for the particular noun. Paul.