Cases
Cases are like "subcategories" to every declension. Cases are used to tell what role the noun is playing in a sentence. Each case has a set of endings, which vary from declension to declension. This is the basic rundown about cases and their endings. In Latin, you have 5 main cases-- in which I will talk about now. For now-- only masculine and feminine forms will be shown.
Nominative
- Subject case; used to show who is doing an action
e.g Greg throws the football
| Declension | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | -a | -ae |
| 2nd | -us, -r, | -i |
| 3rd | varies | -es |
*neuter nouns end in -a.
Genitive
-Posessive; used to show ownership of something.
e.g. The dog's bone OR the bone of the dog.
| Declension | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | -ae | -arum |
| 2nd | -i | -orum |
| 3rd | -is | -um |
Dative
-Indirect Object; used to show what something is to or for
e.g. I cooked dinner for Cornelia
| Declension | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | -ae | -is |
| 2nd | -o | -is |
| 3rd | -i | -ibus |
Accusative
-Direct Object; used to show what is the direct recipient of the actione.g. I threw the ball
| Declension | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | -am | -as |
| 2nd | -um | -os |
| 3rd | -em | -es |
Ablative
-By means of; used to show in what way something happens, uses a set prepositions. (SIDSPACE: Sub, In, De, Sine, Pro, A(b),Cum, E(x) )e.g. I ate my hamburger under the table.
| Declension | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | -a | -is |
| 2nd | -o | -is |
| 3rd | -e | -ibus |