Glossary Word list Grammar table

Lesson 2: Introduction to nouns; first declension nouns; cases of nouns

Six cases of nouns

1. Nominative

Used for the subject of the verb. The subject is the person or thing doing the verb.
For example

The queen is the subject, as she is praying. The queen is in the nominative case.

2. Vocative

Used to call or address someone or something.
For example

The vocative case is the same as the nominative, except in the second declension.

	Latin document points
The vocative case is used in chronicles and in the inscriptions on tombs. You will not find it in many other sources.

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3. Accusative

Used for the object of a verb. The object is the person or thing the verb is done to.
For example

‘the lady’ is the subject and in the nominative. ‘the charter’ is the object and in the accusative.

4. Genitive

Used for nouns that are ‘of’ something else and also to show possession.
For example

5. Dative

Used for nouns that are to or for something.
For example

‘I give’ is the verb – do. ‘land’ is the object – it is in the accusative. ‘to the church’ is in the dative.

6. Ablative

Used for nouns that are by, with or from something.
For example

‘the pope’ is the subject – it is in the nominative. ‘confirms’ is the verb.
‘the church’ is the object – it is in the accusative. ‘by a charter’ is ablative.

Word order in Latin

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Think about the order that words are arranged in sentences.

Often in Latin

However, these rules were not always applied and vary between documents.
You may find that the word order is different in your document. It may even be in the same order as English.

Look out for sentences that do and don’t keep to these rules during the tutorial.

	Checklist: Are you confident with:
	The six cases for nouns and when they are used? Where the subject, verb and object may appear in a Latin sentence?

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