Lectio vicesima prima

Revision and Notes

1. At the end of this third week of study, you now know that the majority of Latin words (nouns, adjectives, pronouns) change form, not only according to their gender (masculine, feminine or neuter), and according to their number (singular or plural), but also according to their function in the sentence (subject, direct object, possessive phrase, etc.), i.e., as grammarians say, according to their case.

We say that these words are declined. Declension is a sort of adjustment, which makes it possible to adapt the instrument which is the word to its function in the sentence. Also, you are now like the carpenter's apprentice who tries to learn how to handle the carpenter's plane by watching the master work, but who has not yet been told how to adjust the blade. You should therefore not be surprised that the wood shavings of the apprentice are not as regular as those of the master.

Admittedly, one could have explained the theory of the carpenter's plane mathematically and have prohibited the apprentice to touch the slightest piece of wood as long as he does not know this theory by heart. It would be the surest means to bring about in him an aversion to carpentry, simply because such a method is not natural. Now, a natural method is, for instance, the one which everyone uses to learn their mother tongue, without even realizing it. When you were a baby, you did not wait to know your grammar by heart before beginning to speak…, but when you became older, you were taught grammar so that you would be more quickly able to express yourself correctly.

With Latin, it is much the same: a lot of listening, speaking, reading and writing is necessary first. It is only when one has at one’s disposal a reasonable stock of words that it is wise to devote oneself to a grammatical reorganization.

2. The Cases.— How shall we organize all the so different forms we have met, both for the pronouns and for the nouns and adjectives? Simply by sticking to them some labels called cases.

In Latin, there are five important cases (one less than in Russian) which you must absolutely know, and two others which are used less frequently.

The nominative is the case of subject. In the singular, it can take very different forms. For example, here are some nouns which we already know: RAEDa, CIBus, PUer, VEHICULum, VESTis, LEPus, URBs, NOMen, MANus, DIes (car, food, boy, vehicle, garment, hare, city, name, hand, day).

NOTE: The first part of the word will not change in the course of declension: only the letters in bold will change. So as not further to complicate reading, the tonic accent will not be indicated in this revision.

In the nominative plural, the possible forms are already less numerous: RAEDae, CIBi, PUERi, VEHICULa, VESTes, LEPores, URBes, NOMina, MANus, DIes.

NOTE: The letters in bold italic (6th and 8th words) are stable in cases other than the nominative singular (and the neuter accusative sg.).

Examples of the use of the nominative: RAEDa NIGRa EST, the car is black, PLURes LEPores ABEUNT, several hares leave.

II) The accusative is the case of the direct object, the subject of the infinitive clause, and of some other complements which will be learned through usage, such as the adverbial phrase of place when there is movement (towards that place).

In the singular, it always ends in an m for both masculine and feminine, but the neuters keep the form of the nominative: RAEDam, CIBum, PUERum, VEHICULum, VESTem, LEPorem, URBem, NOMen, MANum, DIem.

In the plural, it ends in s (os, as, es, us) for masculines and feminines; for the neuters it is always in a (or ia): RAEDas, CIBos, PUERos, VEHICULa, VESTes, LEPores, URBes, NOMina, MANus, DIes.

Examples: INVENIO LEPorem, I find the hare; VIDES RAEDam, you see the car.

III) The genitive is the case of the possessive phrase.

In the singular, there are five characteristic endings: #1 ae – #2 i – #3 is – #4 us – #5 ei:

#1 RAEDae – #2 CIBi, PUERi, VEHICULi – #3 VESTis, LEPoris, URBis, NOMinis – #4 MANus – #5 DIei.

In the plural, these endings become respectively: #1 arum – #2 orum – #3 um (or ium) – #4 uum – #5 erum:

#1 RAEDarum – #2 CIBorum, PUERorum, VEHICULorum – #3 VESTium, LEPorum, URBium, NOMinum – #4 MANuum – #5 DIerum.

Examples: ROTA RAEDae, the wheel of the car; CURSUS LEPoris, the running of the hare.

IV) The dative is the case of the indirect object and of the complement of certain verbs which will be learned through use: RAEDae, CIBo, PUERo, VEHICULo, VESTi, LEPori, URBi, NOMini, MANui, DIei.

In the plural, it is always in is or in bus (ibus, ebus, and sometimes abus, obus, or ubus): RAEDis, CIBis, PUERis, VEHICULis, VESTibus, LEPoribus, URBibus, NOMinibus, MANibus, DIebus.

Examples: CURRUS RAEDae DISSIMILIS EST, a racecar (chariot) is different from a private car (from a car); DAS HERBAM LEPoribus, you give grass to hares.

V) The ablative is the case of a great many adverbial phrases, whether preceded or not by prepositions: adverbial phrase of place (without movement), of origin, of agent, etc.

In the singular, it ends in a vowel, generally long: RAEDa, CIBo, PUERo, VEHICULo, VESTe, LEPore, URBe, NOMine, MANu, DIe.

In the plural, it is identical to the dative: RAEDis, CIBis, PUERis, VEHICULis, VESTibus, LEPoribus, URBibus, NOMinibus, MANibus, DIebus.

Example: EPISTULA A PUERo SCRIPTA EST, the letter was written by the boy.

3. Here finally are two less important cases:

The vocative, which differs from the nominative only for the nouns whose nominative ends in us and the genitive is in i (as well as for some nouns of Greek origin). It is used to call (vocare) someone. E.g.: MARCe, Mark! MARi, Marius! ANDREa, Andrew!

The locative makes it possible to indicate the place where one is. But this case exists only for some particular nouns: MASSILIAE, in Marseilles; LUGDUNI, in Lyons; DOMI, at home.

This review was intended to give you a first overview on the five declensions. Do not try yet to learn them in detail. A more detailed examination of these will be the main purpose of the lessons of the next two weeks.