Case Name
and Typical Meaning / Use
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Sing./Plural
Endings
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Examples
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Nominative
The "subject case": the subject is the word found by asking WHO or WHAT
before the verb.
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[various endings]
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-ÊS
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rêx, rêgês
Rêx imperium administrat.
The king administers the power.
Rêgês regunt.
The kings rule.
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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.
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-IS
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-UM
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rêgis, rêgum
Magna erat rêgis fâma.
The king's fame was great.
Rêgum virtûs valet.
The excellence of the kings is strong.
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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.
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-Î
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-IBUS
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rêgî, rêgibus
Rêgî pecûniam dat.
He is giving money to the kings.
Rêgibus dôna dat populus.
The people gives gifts to the kings.
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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.
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-EM
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-ÊS
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rêgem, rêgês
Agricolae rêgem laudant.
The farmers are praising the king.
Rêgês videt três.
She sees three kings.
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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.
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-E;
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-IBUS
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rêge, rêgibus
 rêge litterae scrîptae sunt.
The letter was written by the king.
Dê rêgibus multa scrîpsit hic auctor.
This author wrote many things about kings.
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