ACCUSATIVE
Used as the object of verbs or adverbially;
sometimes used in a context of forward motion.
SUBSTANTIVAL
USES OF THE ACCUSATIVE:
An accusative functioning as a
substantive, (syntactically as a noun).
ACCUSATIVE OF DIRECT OBJECT Indicates the direct
object of the action of a transitive verb.
Key to Identification: Find the
verb, and ask who or what is the predicate modified by.
They
killed the beast. (The predicate, killed, is
modified by beast, a direct
objective element.)
COGNATE ACCUSATIVE Indicates cognation of the lexical root or
meaning to the verb.
Key to Identification: Functioning as a direct object, the cognate accusative will be related in origin to the verb.
He lived a glorious life. (lexical)
They ran a race. (lexical)
He was the shepherd to his sheep. (conceptual)
He swore an oath. (conceptual)
DOUBLE ACCUSATIVE Indicated by the following classes, certain verbs may be constructed with two direct objects.
1. Verbs taking two direct objects: one of the person, and the other of the thing.
Key to Identification: Verbs of asking/inquiring, demanding, teaching/reminding, clothing/unclothing/anointing, concealing, depriving, and taking away.
He
asked me a question.
Ask
me anything you wish.
He
demanded gold from the Incas.
The
teacher taught his students math.
He
will remind you of all things.
The
clothed him with rags after stripping him
of his fine garments.
The
priest anointed the man with oil.
He
concealed from the king his sons death.
Phoebus Apollo deprived me of Chryseis.
The enemy took away the grain from the people.
2.
Verbs taking an object-complement double accusative:
one is the direct object of the verb and the other complements the object by
predicating it.
Key to
Identification: Verbs of calling/naming/choosing/designating/confessing,
appointing/making, thinking/regarding, sending/expelling, having/taking,
and declaring/presenting.
The
father named/called him John.
He
appointed him general
I will make you kings.
He
considered himself to be smart.
I
regard these thing a loss.
The
king sent the soldier as his representative.
They
cast us out of their city.
Having
her as his queen unified the country.
Take
the law as an example of justice.
whom
the judge declared as innocent
We
shall present ourselves as his heirs.
ACCUSATIVE IN INDIRECT
STATEMENT In the indirect quote,
the verb is put into the infinitive mood while the
subject of that verb is put into the accusative case.
Key to Identification: Indirect statements (discourse) are introduced by verbs of saying, thinking, believing, perceiving, and knowing..
They considered him to be a fool.
She is saying that the guest
is not sleeping.
ACCUSATIVE WITH VERBS OF
SPEAKING Verbs of speaking may
take an accusative of the person spoken to or addressed. This construction is
rare with the simple verbs, but often found with compounds.
Key to Identification: Verbs εἶπον and αὐδάω and their compounds.
He addressed the king.
She spoke to her husband.
ADVERBIAL
USES OF THE ACCUSATIVE:
An accusative functioning as adverbially, (syntactically as an
adverb).
ACCUSATIVE OF MANNER Qualifies the action of the verb, and often
functioning like an adverb of manner.
Key to Identification: Tells us
how something happened. How?
They came in the quickest way.
If you received freely, then give freely.
Seek first the kingdom of
God.
ACCUSATIVE OF MEASURE (or EXTENT OF TIME OR SPACE) Indicates
the extent of the verbal action by how long
(extent of time) or by how far (extent of
space).
Key to Identification: Replace the
reference to time with for the duration
of, and the reference to space with for
the extent of.
We marched ten days. (extent of time)
Why have you been idle the whole day? (extent of time)
We marched ten miles. (extent of space)
They traveled a days journey.
(extent of space)
ACCUSATIVE OF RESPECT (or GENERAL REFERENCE) Restricts the reference of the verbal action by indicating with reference to what the verbal action is true.
Key to Identification: Insert the
words with reference to, or concerning before the accusative.
He was swift of foot. (in reference to feet)
For Moses wrote that, with reference to the righteousness which comes from the law (in reference to righteousness)
a rich man from Arimathea, Joseph by name (concerning the name)
ACCUSATIVE
AFTER CERTAIN PREPOSITIONS:
An accusative governed by certain prepositions.
ACCUSATIVE OF PLACE TO WHICH Expresses
a place to which someone or something comes; whither.
Key to Identification: Before the accusative noun, insert to,
or towards.
They came to
She came towards the house.
Copyright 2008 by Beth
Piepenburg. All rights reserved.