Case Name
and Typical Meaning / Use |
Sing./Plural
Endings |
Examples |
Nominative
The "subject case": the subject is the word found by asking WHO or WHAT before the verb. |
-A |
-AE |
porta, portae Porta magna est.
The gate is large.
Patent portae.
The gates are open.
|
Genitive
The "possession case": The genitive word corresponds to the word that takes an apostrophe in English. If (A) is in the genitive, (A) possesses something else (B), with the emphasis falling on (B), so that (A) is somewhat like a modifier of (B): in student's book (= discipuli liber), the possession-word qualifies the meaning of the noun book. |
-AE |
-ÂRUM |
portae, portârum magnitûdo portae
The size of the gate
portârum magnitudo
The size of the gates
|
Dative
The "indirect object case": the indirect object is found by asking TO / FOR WHOM? or TO / FOR WHAT? after the verb. Certain verbs govern the dative. |
-AE |
-ÎS |
portae, portîs
Nullus est portae custos.
There is no guard for the gate.
Nullus est portîs custos.
There is no guard for the gates.
|
Accusative
The "direct object case": the direct object is usually found by asking WHO or WHAT after an action-verb whose action has a receiver. "We hold these truths." The accusative is also used after certain prepositions. |
-AM |
-ÂS |
portam, portâs
Ante portam oppidî.
Before the town's gate
Portâs clausêrunt.
They shut the gates.
|
Ablative
The "by-with-from case": Certain prepositions and certain verbs govern objects in this case. Used alone it can have an adverbial meaning, for example, to indicate by what means something is done. |
-Â |
-ÎS |
portâ, portîs
In portâ consistit.
He made a stand in the gateway.
Prô portîs castrôrum
In front of the camp's gates.
|
