Getting started on Classical Latin

4.5 The cases in Latin

‘Cases’ indicate the various functions that nouns, pronouns and adjectives can have in a sentence. The case is shown by the word-ending in Latin.

Although learning about cases is not within the scope of this introductory course, it may help to have a short checklist of the cases and how they may be translated into English from Latin.

Case Use Example in English (‘man’)
Nominative (the naming or subjective case) used for the subject of a sentence or clause a man, the man
used for the complement of the verb ‘to be’ (i.e. after the verb ‘to be’)
Vocative (calling case) used when addressing someone Man,…O man, …(normally with a comma before or after, or both)
Accusative (objective case) used for the object of a verb a man, the man
used after some prepositions
Genitive (possessive case) of, ’s, s’ of a man, of the man, a man's, the man's
Dative (giving case, or the indirect object) to, for to a man, to the man, for a man, for the man
Ablative (‘everything else’ case) used after some prepositions For a person: (meaning of preposition) + a man, (meaning of preposition) + the man
used by itself: by, with, from, in, on For a thing: by, with, from, in, on (whichever seems to fit) + the thing

As you can see from the above table, Latin does not normally distinguish between a and the: so when you translate you should choose whichever seems to make better sense.

When you begin studying Latin, you may find it helpful to make your own grammar notebook. You could add the English meanings to the Latin forms. If you make everything as clear and simple as possible, it will be easier to learn – and you will have to learn them!