Intermediate Latin

 

Examples of Case Use

 

 

 

 

 

nominative

 

 

1

nominative as subject

 

The subject of a sentence is put in the nominative.

 

Cicerō oratiōnem habuit

Cicero gave a speech

 

 

2

nominative as subject complement

 

The subject complement of a sentence with a linking verb is put in the nominative.

 

Quintus erat laetus

Quintus was glad

 

Cicerō consul creātus est

Cicero was elected consul

 

 

 

 

 

genitive

 

 

3

possessive genitive

 

The genitive is used to indicate the possessor (in a wide sense) of the noun it describes.

 

filius agricolae

the son of the farmer

 

 

4

genitive of place where (locative)

 

To indicate place where for the names of towns, cities, and small islands of the first and second declensions singular, as well as for the words domus house, humus ground, and rus country(side), the locative (genitive of place where) is used (instead of the ablative of place where without preposition). Compare #29 ablative of place where without preposition.

 

Romae habitābāmus

we were living in Rome

 

 

5

genitive with causā or gratiā

 

The genitive case is used with causā or gratiā for the sake, purpose of placed after that genitive, esp. with a gerund or a gerundive.

 

bellī gerendī causā

for the sake of waging war

 

pugnandī causā

for the sake of fighting

 

 

6

partitive genitive

 

The partitive genitive describing another noun is used to indicate the whole and a part of it, respectively.

 

partem hostium interfēcērunt

they killed part of the enemy

 

aliquid novī percēpī

I learned something new

 

 

7

genitive of indefinite value

 

Expressions of indefinite value, often used with the impersonal verbs interest and refert it matters, it is of value are put in the genitive. Examples: magnī much, a lot, parvī little, tantī so much, quantī? how much?, pluris more, and minōris less. Contrast with #43 ablative of price.

 

magnī interest

it is of great interest

 

eum maximī aestimō

I value him very highly

 

 

 

 

 

dative

 

 

8

dative as indirect object

 

The indirect object of a verb is put in the dative case.

 

Marcus patrī donum dēdit

Marcus gave his father a gift; Marcus gave a gift to his father.

 

 

9

dative with special verbs

 

The dative (rather than the accusative) is used with so-called special verbs, such as credō to trust, imperō to order, noceō to harm, pareō to obey, persuādeō to persuade, resistō to resist, and studeō to study.

 

mīlitēs ducī credidērunt

the soldiers trusted their leader

 

 

10

dative with compound verbs

 

Some compound verbs, such as praesum to be in charge of, take the dative (rather than the accusative), or take both a dative and accusative, e.g., praeficiō to put in charge of.

 

praetōrēs copiīs praefēcit

he put the praetors in charge of the troops

 

 

11

dative of agent (with gerundive)

 

In the construction of a gerundive and the verb esse (also known as the passive periphrastic), the dative is used (instead of the ablative of personal agent) to express the agent of the action. Compare with #41 ablative of personal agent.

 

hoc negotium tibi faciendum est

this matter must be done by you

 

 

12

dative of possession

 

The dative is used with esse to indicate the owner.

 

Marcō erat gladius

Marcus had a sword (litt.: for Marcus was a sword)

 

 

13

dative of reference

 

The dative is used to indicate for whose benefit or advantage something is done. Compare with #8 dative as indirect object. See also #15 double dative.

 

vae victīs

woe to the conquered!

 

repente mihī vēnit miles

suddenly a soldier came for me

 

 

14

dative of purpose

 

This dative expresses the purpose of the verb. Nouns most commonly seen in this construction are auxiliō for an aid; of help, curae for a care; a source of worry, impedimentō for a hindrance; cumbersome, praesidiō for a guard; for protection, subsidiō for a support; as a support; a source of support, usuī for a use; of use; useful. See also #15 double dative.

 

id auxiliō futurum esse sperō

I hope that this will be of help

 

 

15

double dative

 

The two datives defined immediately above, i.e. # 13 dative of reference and #14 dative of purpose, are frequently used in one clause, and are then called double dative.

 

equites Caesarī auxiliō erant

the horsemen were of help to Caesar

 

eōs praesidiō oppidō reliquit

he left them behind as a protection for the town

 

 

 

 

 

accusative

 

 

16

accusative as direct object

 

The direct object of a verb is in the accusative.

 

pecuniam invēnērunt

they found the money

 

equum puellae dēdit

he gave the girl a horse

 

 

17

double accusative

 

Some transitive verbs take a second accusative in addition to their direct object. Two types:

17a

predicate accusative

 

A second accusative is used as praedicate accusative, i.e., an accusative that restates the direct object, with verbs of naming (vocō, appellō), choosing (creō), appointing, making (faciō), esteeming (ducō, habeō), and showing (praebeō, ostendō). In the passive voice, these verbs may have two nominatives, i.e., one subject and one praedicate nominative (also known as subject complement).

 

eum consulem creāvērunt

they elected him (as) consul

 

semper tē amīcum habuī

I always considered you a friend

17b

secondary object

 

A second accusative is used with verbs of teaching, such as doceō, and of asking, such as rogō.

 

docēre puerōs elementa

to teach boys the basics

 

Marcum multa rogāvī

I asked Marcus many things

 

 

18

accusative with certain prepositions

 

Certain prepositions, such as ad to, toward, praeter past, extra outside, prope near, ante before, propter on account of, apud at, among, inter between, super over, circum around, ob on account of, trans across, per through, contra against, post after, erga toward, adversus against, infra below, secundum after, circiter about, intra within, iuxta near, supra above, cis this side of, citra this side of, ultra beyond, versus beyond all take the accusative.

 

post cenam discessērunt

they left after dinner

 

post multos dies filium invenī

she found her son after many days

 

 

19

accusative of motion toward

 

Motion towards (place to which) is expressed by the accusative case with the prepositions in into, against, ad toward, per through or sub under. Contrast with #28 ablative of place where for in and sub with the ablative!

 

ad casam festinavit

he hurried to the house

 

sub arborem cucurrit

she ran under the tree

 

 

20

accusative of motion toward without preposition

 

The prepositions of motion toward (see immediately above) are omitted with the names of towns, cities, small islands and the words domus house, humus ground, and rus country(side). Compare with #29 ablative of place where without preposition and #39 ablative of separation without preposition.

 

Rōmam ire vult

he wants to go to Rome

 

rus contendit

he hurried to the countryside

 

 

21

accusative of duration of time

 

This accusative is used to express duration of time; in other words, it answers the question “for how long?” Distinguish from #30 ablative time when or within which; compare with #22 accusative of extent of space.

 

multōs diēs ibi mansērunt

for many days they stayed there

 

 

22

accusative of extent of space

 

This accusative is used to express extent of space; in other words, it answers the question “for how far?” Look for a word in the accusative which denotes some measure of distance, area, or volume. Compare with #21 accusative of duration of time.

 

paucōs pedēs processit

he proceeded for a few feet

 

 

23

accusative as exclamation

 

The accusative is used to express an exclamation.

 

o mē infelicem!

oh, unhappy me!

 

fortunatam rem publicam!

fortunate republic!

 

 

24

accusative as subject of indirect statement

 

The accusative is used to indicate the subject of an indirect statement.

 

dixit coniuratōs confessōs esse

he said that the conspirators had confessed

 

 

 

 

 

ablative

 

 

25

ablative with certain prepositions

 

Certain prepositions, such as ā or ab from, cum with, from, about, ē or ex out of, from, prō for, and sine without, take the ablative. See also its subcategory #38 ablative of separation.

 

prō patriā pugnaverunt

they fought for their fatherland

 

 

26

ablative with certain adjectives

 

Certain adjectives, such as dignus worthy (of), indignus unworthy (of), and plenus full (of) take the ablative.

 

magnō honore dignus erat

he was worthy of great honor

 

 

27

ablative of means or instrument

 

The ablative is used to express means or instrument; in other words, it answers the question “by what means?” It is usually an object. Contrast with #33 ablative of accompaniment (always with cum) and #32 ablative of manner (sometimes with cum); all are usually translated with the preposition with.

 

gladiīs pugnavērunt

they fought with swords

 

 

28

ablative of place where

 

Place where is expressed with the prepositions in in, at, on or sub underneath, below, under with the ablative. Contrast with #19 accusative of motion toward for in or sub with the accusative!

 

in insulā habitant

they live on an island

 

sub arbore sēdeō

I am sitting under a tree

 

 

29

ablative of place where without preposition

 

The ablative of place where is used without a preposition for the names of cities and towns, small islands, and for the words domus house, humus ground, and rus country(side). (Note: for singular names of cities, towns, and small islands of the 1st and 2nd declension #4 genitive of place where [locative] is used.) Compare with #20 accusative of motion toward without preposition and #39 ablative of separation without preposition.

 

Athēnīs remanēbat

he was staying in Athens

 

Carthagine maneō

I am staying in Carthage

 

 

30

ablative of time when or within which

 

The ablative is used to indicate time when or time within which. Contrast with #21 accusative of duration of time.

 

quartā horā vēnit

he came at the fourth hour

 

librum paucīs diēbus lēgit

she read the book within a few days

 

 

31

ablative of degree of difference

 

Degree of difference is expressed by the ablative without a preposition. Contrast with #18 accusative with certain prepositions for post and ante. (in the example below, post and ante are adverbs, not prepositions.)

 

sum multō altior quam Marcus

I am much taller than Marcus

 

multīs post (ante) annīs

many years later (earlier)

 

 

32

ablative of manner

 

The ablative with cum is used to express the manner in which something is done; in other words, it answers the question “how? in what manner?” Cum may be omitted if an adjective modifies the noun. Compare with #33 ablative of accompaniment (always with cum) and #27 ablative of means or instrument (never with cum); all are usually translated with the preposition with.

 

verba cum curā parāvit

he prepared his words with care

 

eōs magnā (cum) laude accēpit

he received them with great honor

 

 

33

ablative of accompaniment

 

The ablative with cum is used to express accompaniment; it generally denotes persons. Compare with #32 ablative of manner (sometimes with cum) and #27 ablative of means or instrument (never with cum); all are usually translated with the preposition with.

 

Rōmam cum Marcō

I went to Rome with Marcus

 

 

34

ablative of cause

 

The ablative answers the question “for what reason? because of what?” Compare with #35 ablative of specification.

 

timōre fūgit

he fled because of fear

 

 

35

ablative of specification

 

The ablative is used to specify or limit the range of the verb. Compare with #34 ablative of cause.

 

virtūte praecedunt

they excel in courage

 

sunt hominēs non sed nomine

they are men not in fact but in name

 

 

36

ablative with certain deponent verbs

 

Certain deponent verbs, such as utor to use, fungor to use, fruor to enjoy, and potior to get possession of, take the ablative.

 

castrīs potiuntur

they take possession of the camp

 

aurō heros potitur

the hero takes the gold

 

 

37

ablative of comparison

 

The person with whom or thing with which a comparison is made is expressed by the ablative.

 

Marcus est sorōre altior

Marcus is taller than his sister

 

 

38

ablative of separation

 

The ablative with the preposition ā or ab, , ē or ex is used to express separation. Compare with #25 ablative with certain prepositions.

 

deus dē caelō vēnit

the god came down from the sky

 

ē silvā cucurrit

she ran out of the forest

 

 

39

ablative of separation without preposition

 

Verbs or adjectives expressing separation generally use the ablative without a preposition; it is also used for the names of cities, towns, small islands, domus house, humus ground, and rus country(side). Compare with #20 accusative of motion toward without preposition and #29 ablative of place where without preposition.

 

oculīs se privāvit

he deprived himself of his eyes

 

curā liberāvit

she freed me from worry

 

urbs nuda praesidiō

a city deprived of protection

 

moenia defensōribus vacua

walls empty of defenders

 

domō festināvistī

you hurried from home

 

 

40

ablative of personal quality

 

The ablative is used to express personal quality.

 

vir parvā prudentiā

a man of little prudence

 

 

41

ablative of personal agent

 

Personal agent is expressed by the ablative with a or ab in passive voice sentences. Compare with #38 ablative of separation (sometimes with a or ab). Compare with #11 dative of agent.

 

ab Antoniō vocābar

I was being called by Antonius

 

 

42

ablative absolute

 

A combination of a (pro)noun in the ablative and a participle in agreement with it is called the ablative absolute. It can also consist of a noun and another (pron)noun, with a present participle being understood.

 

auxiliō allatō servābimur

with help having been brought in, we will be saved

 

mē duce vicistis

with me (being, as) leader, you won

 

 

43

ablative of price

 

Price is put in the ablative. Contrast with #7 genitive of indefinite value.

 

agrum ducentis aureis emit

he buys a field for two hundred gold coins

 

hunc equum centum sestertiis emi

I bought this horse for one hundred sestertii

 

 

44

ablative of origin

 

Origin is expressed by the ablative.

 

vir nobilī genere nātus

a man born of (from) a noble family

 

Quintus lībertīnō patre nātus est

Quintus was born from a freedman father

 

 

 

 

 

vocative

 

 

45

vocative as direct address

 

A vocative is used for direct address. (A vocative looks the same as a nominative, with only two exceptions: a 2nd declension singular word ending in –us has a vocative ending in –e, and a 2nd declension singular word ending in -ius has a vocative ending in -ī.)

 

Anna, ambulā mēcum!

Anna, walk with me!

 

Marce Tullī, quid agis?

Marcus Tullius, what are you doing?