Latin – Basic Latin Grammar Pt. 1
Latin 1.2.1 Noun cases, first and second declensions
Latin is an inflected language. It changes form or ending of some words when the way in which they are used in sentences changes.
LATIN NOUNS
Gender (masc., fem., neuter) – depends on the suffix attached to the word
The gender of adj. + noun have to match.
*there are no articles in Latin.
The 5 Basic Noun Cases
case – the particular use of a noun in a sentence.
nominative – the subject
genitive – indicates possession
dative – indirect object
accusative – direct object
ablative – expresses how, when, where, or why
subject – the person or thing being described or performing the action
object – the person or thing that is acted upon by the subject
direct object – receives the action of a sentence; whom, what
indirect object – affected by the action; receives the direct object
Jake(subj.) ate the cereal(DO).
Jake gave me(IO) some cereal.
Declining a Latin Noun
declension – a group of nouns that form their cases the same way
to decline a noun – to list all possible case forms for that noun
First-Declension Nouns (only masc./fem., no neuter)
First-Declension Case Endings
Case Singular Plural
nominative -a -ae
genitive -ae -arum
dative -ae -is
accusative -am -as
ablative -a -is
Declining a First-Declension Noun
puella – girl
Case Singular Plural
nominative puēlla puēllae
genitive puēllae puellārum
dative puēllae puēllis
accusative puēllam puēllas
ablative puēlla puēllis
Ex: Terram agricolarum puella amat.
terram: terra (land); -am – accusative; DO
agricolarum: agricola (farmer); -arum –plural genitive; “of the farmer”
puella: (girl); -a – singular nominative; subject
amat: (love); verb; “she loves”
So then: The girl loves the land of the farmers.
Second-Declension Nouns
Second-Declension Masc./Fem. Case Endings
Case Singular Plural
nominative -us (-r) -i
genitive -i -orum
dative -o -is
accusative -um -os
ablative -o -is
Declining a Second-Declension Masc. Noun
amicus – friend
Case Singular Plural
nominative amīcus amīci
genitive amīci amicōrum
dative amīco amīcis
accusative amīcum amīcos
ablative amīco amīcis
Second-Declension Neuter Case Endings
Case Singular Plural
nominative -um -a
genitive -i -orum
dative -o -is
accusative -um -a
ablative -o -is
*underlined endings are different from gendered noun endings
Declining a Second-Declension Neuter Noun
saxum – rock
Case Singular Plural
nominative sāxum sāxa
genitive sāxi saxōrum
dative sāxo sāxis
accusative sāxum sāxa
ablative sāxo sāxis
Ex: Portat saxa puella in agua.
portare (to carry)
saxum (rock) – accusative singular (DO)
puella (girl) – nominative singular (Subj.)
agua (water) – ablative singular (where)
So then: The girl in the water carries rocks.
*a Latin dictionary gives the nominative and genitive singular forms
Next Latin post: Latin 1.2.2 Verbs and Tenses Basics