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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-ÊS
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-ÊS
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rês, rês
Rês mihi nuntiâta est.
The matter was reported to me.
Multae rês ad hoc cônsilium
Gallôs hortâbantur.
Many things encouraged the Galls toward this strategy.
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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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-EÎ,
-ÊÎ
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-ÊRUM
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reî, rêrum
Plus acquisisti dignitâtis quam amisistî reî
familiâris.
You have gained more in dignity than you have lost in property.
dê rêrum natûrâ
about the nature of the universe
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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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-EÎ,
-ÊÎ
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-ÊBUS
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reî, rêbus
Huic reî idôneôs
hominês dêligêbat.
She selected people suitable for this matter.
Sed hîs rêbus tantum temporis
tribuit, quantum erat properantî necesse.
But he gave only so much time to these things as was necessary for
one in haste.
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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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rem, rês
ûnam rem ad mê scrîpsistî...
One thing you have written to me...
Rês meliôrês quaerit.
she is looking for better things.
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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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-Ê
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-ÊBUS
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rê, rêbus
Nec eâ rê fruî volêbam
quam furtô appetêbam.
And I did not want to take enjoyment of that thing that I was seeking
in the theft.
Hîs dê rêbus Caesar
certior factus est.
Caesar was informed about these things
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