Tolkien generally referred to nouns ending in a vowels as “vocalic” nouns, for example on PE14/42 (1920s) and PE21/76 (1950s). Nouns can end in any of the five vowels: i, e, a, o, u. Since many noun inflections begin with a consonant, such inflections simply add the suffix to the
Paul Strack
Quenya Grammar P12: Noun Classes
Posted out of order because I wanted to write up noun cases before noun classes. Things will be in the correct order in the next Eldamo release. Most of the differences in how Quenya nouns are inflected depend on whether the noun ends in a vowel or consonant. Thus, Quenya
Quenya Grammar P34: Comitative
The comitative case is one that Tolkien abandoned in his later writings. Indeed, the function of this case is not entirely clear, though its name implies that it indicates an “accompanying” noun. In its first appearance, the comitative case used the suffix -iko (PE16/113), and in this form it may
Quenya Grammar P33: Similative
This noun is one that Tolkien abandoned in his later writings. In the Early Quenya Grammar (EQG) he called it the “Manner” case (PE14/46, 78), but in declension tables from the late 1920s through 1930s he often labeled it the “Adverb” case (PE16/113; PE21/4, 53) and in a couple places
Quenya Grammar P32: Instrumental
The Quenya instrumental is formed with the suffix -nen and is roughly equivalent to English “with, by (means of)”. It indicates the instrument or means by which an action occurred, and hence cannot be used for “with” in the English sense of “accompanying” or “by” in the sense of “beside”:
Quenya Grammar P31: Assimilated Locative
Although the adverbial suffixes often used a joining vowel when combined with consonantal nouns, in cases where the final consonant of the noun matched the first consonant of the suffix, the suffix was usually assimilated to the noun: Amanna “to Aman” (VT49/26), menello “from heaven (menel)” (VT43/13). In a set
Quenya Grammar P30: Locative
The locative suffix -sse indicates location at the specified place, and is variously glossed “at, in, on”. Sometimes Tolkien also used the term inessive (“in”) and adessive (“on”) to refer to this case (PE21/68); the exact meaning is contextual. Thus Lóriendesse “in Lórien” (RGEO/58), ondolisse “on rocks” (MC/222), mahalmassen “on
Quenya Grammar P29: Ablative
The ablative suffix -llo indicates motion away from the declined noun, and is usually glossed “(away) from”. Thus Ambarello “from the World” (MS, Merin Sentence), Melcorello “away from Melkor” (VT49/24), Rómello “from the East” (LotR/377). The ablative suffix can also be used temporally, of motion through time away from a
Quenya Grammar P28: Allative
The allative suffix -nna indicates motion towards the declined noun, and is variously glossed “to, towards, onto, upon”. Thus Endorenna “to Middle Earth” (LotR/967), tielyanna “upon your path” (Let/448), Amanna “towards Aman” (VT49/26). It is not restricted to horizontal movement: nai laure lantuva parmastanna lúmissen tengwiesto “may (a) golden light
Quenya Grammar P27: Adverbial Cases
There are three Quenya noun cases that have to do with the motion or location of the declined noun: The allative case indicating motion towards the noun: -nna. The ablative case indicating motion away from the noun: -llo. The locative case indicating location at/in/on the noun: -sse. Tolkien often collectively