Chapter III: in silvā      Back to Chapter 3 contents

Introduction to Case

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In English, nouns tell us what role they play in the sentence by the word order. Subjects usually come first, then verbs, and then objects. In Latin, nouns change form to tell us what their role is. The following chart lists the Latin cases and some of their common uses. (There are other uses besides these, but this list will do for now.)

Case

Use

Example

Nominative

Subject

Mārcus arborem vidit.

Marcus sees the tree.

Predicate nominative

Cornēlia puella est.

Cornelia is a girl.

Genitive

Possession

Haec est villa Flaviae .

This is Flavia's house.

This is the house of Flavia.

Dative

Indirect object

Sextus canī cibum dat.

Sextus gives the dog food.

Sextus gives food to the dog.

Accusative

Direct object

Caledōnia cenam coquit.

Caledonia cooks dinner.

Ablative

After various prepositions

Aurēlia in atriō sedet.

Aurelia sits in the atrium.

Cornēlius ēx hortō currit .

Cornelius runs out of the garden.

Cornēlia cum Flāviā ambulat .

Cornēlia walks with Flavia.

Vocative

Direct address

Sexte , ubi es?

Sextus , where are you?