Chapter 2 Grammar Flashcards
What is a declension?
a group of nouns that change their forms in the same way when their function in the sentence changes
What are the 3 features of a noun?
number
gender
case
What is the nominative case?
subject of a verb
puella, puellae
What is the accusative case?
object (usually direct object)
puellam, puellās
What is the dative case?
indirect object
puellae, puellīs
“Caesar bought a book for Brutus,” Brutus would also be in the dative
What is the ablative case?
has many functions; used with prepositions usually
puellā, puellīs
What is the genitive case?
usually indicates possession, gives more info about another noun
puellae, puellārum
Our sentence “Caesar is Brutus’ friend” could also be phrased as “Caesar is the friend of Brutus.”
Whatever the phrasing in English, in Latin Brutus is in the genitive.
Common way to structure a sentence in Latin
SOV
OVS
What is a transitive verb?
a verb that takes a direct object
A noun in “apposition” . . .
always agrees in case, and usually also in gender and number, with the noun to which it is in appoisiton
puellae, f īliae agricolae, rosās dat nauta
In Latin, as in English, nouns
in apposition are usually marked off by commas
The prepositions “in” and “sub” govern the accusative case when the situation involves. . .
motion toward someone or something
If no motion is involved, they govern the ablative
Vocative case
used for imperatives
