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�� Grammar: Case Usage Nominative | Genitive | Dative Accusative | Ablative | Vocative | Locative Nominative Subject:The subject of a finite verb is in the nominative Quintus carrum videt - Quintus sees the cart. Predicate: a. A noun or adjective in the predicate with a linking verb is in the nominative. Sicilia est insula. Sicily is an island. b. Predicate nouns and adjectives are used not only with sum but also with fio and the passive voice of verbs meaning call, choose, appoint, elect, etc. Caesar dux factus est. Caesar was made general Genitive Possession: Possession is expressed by the genitive via insulae The road of the island Predicate: The possessive genitive may be used in the predicate with sum or facio, often translated as it is the part of, the duty of, etc. Sapientiae est videre. It is the part of wisdom to see Description: The genitive, if modified by an adjective, may be used to describe a person or thing. Viri magnae virtutis - Men of great virtue Partitive: The partitive genitive represents the whole to which the part belongs. nihil praesidi - No guard (lit. None of guard) a. This is similar to the English idiom except when the genitive is used with words such as nihil, satis, quid. b. Instead of the partitive genitive, the ablative with ex or de is regularly used with cardinal numbers (except milia) and quidam, often also with other words such as pauci and complures. Subjective:The subjective genitive expresses the subject of the verbal idea of the noun on which it depends. If this noun is turned into a verb, the genitive becomes subject. timor populi - The fear of the people (i.e. The people feared.) Objective:The objective genitive expresses the object of the verbal idea of the noun or adjective on which it depends. If this noun or adjective is turned into a verb, the genitive becomes object. amantissimos rei publicae viros. - Patriotic men. (i.e. they loved the republic) Of the Charge and Penalty: With verbs of accusing, condemning, or acquitting, the genitive is used to indicate the charge or the penalty. capitis damnatum. - Condemned to death (lit. of the head) Of Indefinite Value: The genitive is used with sum and other verbs to express indefinite value. est tanti - It is worth that much With certain adjectives: The genitive is used with certain adjectives. In many cases the English idiom is the same; in others, it is not. rei militaris peritus - skilled in warfare (military things) Of Plenty and Want: With certain adjectives and verbs having the idea of plenty or want, the genitive is regularly used: e.g: plenus, refertus (full of); inanis, inops, expers (devoid of). Dative Indirect Object: The indirect object of a verb is in the dative. It is used with verbs of giving, showing, telling, etc. Quintus Marco carrum dedit - Quintus gave the cart to Marcus. Purpose: The dative is sometimes used to express purpose. Locum castris delegit. - He chose a place for a camp. Of Reference: The dative of reference shows the person concerned or referred to. haec castra erunt praesidio oppido. - These camps will be (for) a protection to the town. *The dative of reference and purpose are often used together (double dative) Of Seperation: The dative of seperation (really reference) is usually confined to persons and occurs chiefly with verbs compounded with ab, de, and ex. scuto uni militi detracto- Having seized a shield from a soldier With Adjectives: The dative is used with certain adjectives , such as amicus, idoneus, par, proximus, similis, utilis and their opposites. In many cases, the English idiom is the same. Hic liber est similis illi. -This book is similar to that (book) With Special Verbs: The dative is used with a few intransitive verbs, such as confido, credo, desum, faveo, ignosco, impero, invideo, minitor, noceo, parco, pareo, persuadeo, placeo, praesto, resisto, servio, and studeo. Tibi paret sed mihi resistit. -He obeys you, but resists me *A neuter pronoun or adjective or an ut clause may be used as a direct object with impero and persuadeo. Hoc mihi persuasit. -He persuaded me of this. With Compound Verbs: The dative is often used with certain compound verbs, especially when the noun goes closely with the prefix of the verb. No general rule can be given. Sometimes, both an accusative and a dative are used when the main verb is transitive. Gallis bellum intulit -He made war against the Gauls. Possession: The possessor may be expressed in the dative with a form of sum. Quid tibi nomen est? - What is your name? Agent: The dative of agent is used with the gerundive (future passive participle) to indicate the person upon whom the obligation rests. Occasionally, it is used with the perfect participle. Hoc opus vobis faciendum est. -This work must be done by you. Accusative Direct Object: The direct object of a transitive verb is in the accusative. Viam paramus. -We are preparing a way. Extent of Space and Duration of Time: Extent of time or space is expressed in the accusative without a preposition Duos annos remansit. -He remained for two years Flumen decem pedes altum est. -The river is 10 feet deep. Motion Toward: The accusative with ad or in expresses motion toward. These prepositions, however, are omitted in the locative. Legatos ad eum mittunt. -They send envoys to him Romam eunt. -They go to Rome Subject of Infinitive: The subject of an infinitive is in the accusative. Pueros esse bonos volumus. -We want the boys to be good Two Accusatives: With traduco and transporto, two accusatives are used. In the passive, the word closely connected with the prefix remains in the accusative. Copias Rhenum traducit -He leads the forces across the Rhine Copiae Rhenum traducuntur -The forces are lead across the Rhine With Prepositions: The accusative is used with prepositions (except those used in the ablative) When in and sub show the direction toward which a thing moves, the accusative is used. Exclamation: The object of an emotion is expressed by the accusative. O tempora! O mores! -O what a time! O what a state of affairs! Respect: In poetry, the accusative of respect is used with verbs and adjectives to indicate the part affected. hirsuta capillos -With shaggy hair (lit. shaggy as to the hair) Ablative Seperation: Seperation may be expressed by the ablative without a preposition, always with careo and libero, often with abstineo, desisto, excedo, and other verbs, and adjectives such as liber and vaccus. Prohibeo is generally used without a preposition, but occasionally with one. Other verbs expressing seperation regularly require the preposition ab, de, or ex. Suis finibus eos prohibent. -They kept them from their own territory Place from Which: The ablative with ab, de, or ex expresses place from which. ex agris -out of the fields Origin: The ablative with or without a prepositon (ab, de, ex) expresses origin. amplissimo genere natus. -Born of most illustrious (family) Agent: The ablative with a or ab is used with a passive verb to show the person (or animal) by whom something is done. Amamur ab amicis. -We are loved by friends. Comparison: After a comparative, the ablative is used when quam is omitted. Nec locus tibi ullus dulcior esse debet patria. -No place ought to be more dear to you than your native land.. Accompaniment: The ablative with cum expresses accompaniment. Cum servo venit. -He is coming with the slave *When cum is used with a personal, reflexive, or relative pronoun, it is attached as an enclitic. e.g: vobiscum, secum, quibuscum *Cum may be omitted in military phrases indicating accompaniment, if modified by an adjective other than a numeral. e.g: omnibus suis copiis, cum tribus legionibus. Manner: The ablative of manner with cum describes how something is done. Cum is sometimes omitted if an adjective modifies the noun. (Cum) magno studio laborat. -He labors with great eagerness. Absolute:A noun in the ablative used with a participle, adjective, or other noun and having no grammatical connection with any other word in its clause is called an ablative absolute. In translating , an ablative absolute should, as a rule, be changed to a clause expressing time, cause, condition, means, or concession, according to the context. At times, it may best be rendered by a coordinate clause. Servo accusati, dominus discessit. -After accusing the slave (lit. with the slave having been accused), the master departed. Means: The means by which a thing is done is expressed by the ablative without a preposition Ratibus transibant. -They were crossing by means of rafts. Special Verbs: The ablative is used with a few verbs, notably fruor, fungor, potior, and utor, whose English equivalents genearlly govern a direct object. Castris positi sunt. -They got possession of the camp. Cause: The ablative of cause is used chiefly with verbs and adjectives expressing feeling. laborare iniuria -To suffer because of the injustice. Degree of Difference: The ablative without a preposition expresses the measure of difference. tribus annis ante -Three years ago (lit. before by three years). Description: The ablative, like the genitive, is used with an adjective to describe a noun. It is regularly used of temporary qualities, such as personal appearance. homines inimica facie -Men with an unfriendly appearance. Place Where: The ablative with in or sub expresses place where. The preposition may be omitted, however, with certain words like loco, locis and parte, also in certain fixed expressions like toto orbe terrarum. In poetry, the omission of the preposition is more frequent. Time When: Time when or time within which is expressed by the ablative without a preposition. paucis diebus -Within a few day Respect: The ablative tells in what respect the statement applies. Nos superant numero. -They surpass us in number (lit. with respect to number) Accordance: The ablative is used with a few words to express the idea in accordance with. more suo -In accordance with his own custom. With Dignus: The ablative is used with dignus and indignus. dignus patre -Worthy of his father. With Prepositions: The ablative is used with the prepositions ab, cum, de, ex, prae, pro, sine; sometimes with in and sub. With Opus Est and Egeo: Opus est meaning there is a need and egeo meaning need may be followed by the ablative. pecunia opus est -There is need of money With Confido: With confido and fido(trust), the ablative may be used. Regularly the dative is used. cum affinitate Pompei confideret. -Since he trusted in his relationship with Pompey. With Refert and Intrest: With refert and intrest (it concerns, it is for the intrest of), the genitive of the person or thing concerned, if a noun, is used; otherwise the femanine ablative singular of the possessive is used. mea video quid intersit. -I see what is to my intrest. Vocative The vocative is used in addressing a person. Unless emphatic, it never stands first. Quid facis, amice? -What are you doing, my friend? Locative Domus, rus and the names of towns, cities and large islands require a seperate case called the locative to express place where. The loacative has the same ending as the genitive in the singular of nouns of the first and second declensions; in has the same ending as the ablative in the plural of these declensions and in the third declension, singular and plural. e.g: domi (at home), Romae (at Rome), Athenis (at Athens) �
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