Our goal now is to learn about 'cases.' English is a positional language, i.e. (id est, 'that is' in Latin) the meaning of its words depends on the positions of the words in the sentence. E.g. (exempli gratia,'for example' in Latin) 'dog bites man' is different from 'man bites dog.' The difference is the positions of the words determines the meaning of the words in the sentence.
Latin places the verb at the end and the subject, usually, as the first word, everything else is between. So how do you tell the object of the verb?--by the spelling on the end of the noun. In other words, the spelling slightly changes and it is easy.
If you have any trouble with Latin, it will be getting used to the different linguistic logic of this language. This logic is called 'inflection' and most ancient languages are inflected. Most modern languages are positional but many retain their ancient roots and contain inflections, such as German that still has a dative case. More about this later. English retains cases in its pronouns but again more later.
Right now we are learning about two cases: Nominative (the subject of the sentence) and the Accusative (the object of the verb or the direct object). This video explains it wonderfully. If necessary, watch this more than once to get the lesson. This material is also on page 20: "Building The Meaning--Direct Objects and the Ending -m."
And, the words 'me' in Latin means 'me' and 'te' means 'you.' So where do you think English gets the word 'me'? That's right. Both Latin words are also accusative case or objects of the verb.
Latin places the verb at the end and the subject, usually, as the first word, everything else is between. So how do you tell the object of the verb?--by the spelling on the end of the noun. In other words, the spelling slightly changes and it is easy.
If you have any trouble with Latin, it will be getting used to the different linguistic logic of this language. This logic is called 'inflection' and most ancient languages are inflected. Most modern languages are positional but many retain their ancient roots and contain inflections, such as German that still has a dative case. More about this later. English retains cases in its pronouns but again more later.
Right now we are learning about two cases: Nominative (the subject of the sentence) and the Accusative (the object of the verb or the direct object). This video explains it wonderfully. If necessary, watch this more than once to get the lesson. This material is also on page 20: "Building The Meaning--Direct Objects and the Ending -m."
And, the words 'me' in Latin means 'me' and 'te' means 'you.' So where do you think English gets the word 'me'? That's right. Both Latin words are also accusative case or objects of the verb.
A practice will help on this point. Do this link focusing on how the ending changes depending on how the word is used in the sentence.
Accuative case
Now let's try identifying both Nominative (subject) and Accusative (direct object) words in sentences:
Nominative and Accuative
To really learn this, try your hand at writing sentences using pictures of the vocabulary words found on page 19 and the proper case (Nominative or Accusative) of the word. This is a great way to get the concepts -- who is acting (Nominative/subject) and who is receiving the action (Accusative/direct object).
Sentences and cases
It you are having trouble with this, please go back and watch the video. Then try again. The concept of case operation in Latin is very important. But don't go overboard, if you still don't get it, stay tuned and be patient. You must, however, continue to do the exercises and in time the logic will come to you.
Let's learn vocabulary now, since we will be using it in our exercises. Look at the words on page 19. Go over each and determine as many derivatives as you can. There are many and many words have several derivatives. When done practice with this:
vocabulary 1
vocabulary 2
You are doing well, the exercises get you there. At this point, read the bottom of page 20 about 'Transitive and Intransitive Verbs.' (BIG BTW -- transitive and intransitive verbs are explained in the last video listed in the 'Our Textbook' chapter listed on the left column. You may want to watch that if you did not before.) Then do the comprehension link for an exercise on transitive and intransitive verbs. Next do the direct object link for the accusative case noun exercise. Remember you may have to tug the page-down on the side of the window to get the software to load.
comprehension
direct objects
We are now going to translate a story about the children in the Cornelii Family who are enjoying life in their Villa near Baia.
Accuative case
Now let's try identifying both Nominative (subject) and Accusative (direct object) words in sentences:
Nominative and Accuative
To really learn this, try your hand at writing sentences using pictures of the vocabulary words found on page 19 and the proper case (Nominative or Accusative) of the word. This is a great way to get the concepts -- who is acting (Nominative/subject) and who is receiving the action (Accusative/direct object).
Sentences and cases
It you are having trouble with this, please go back and watch the video. Then try again. The concept of case operation in Latin is very important. But don't go overboard, if you still don't get it, stay tuned and be patient. You must, however, continue to do the exercises and in time the logic will come to you.
Let's learn vocabulary now, since we will be using it in our exercises. Look at the words on page 19. Go over each and determine as many derivatives as you can. There are many and many words have several derivatives. When done practice with this:
vocabulary 1
vocabulary 2
You are doing well, the exercises get you there. At this point, read the bottom of page 20 about 'Transitive and Intransitive Verbs.' (BIG BTW -- transitive and intransitive verbs are explained in the last video listed in the 'Our Textbook' chapter listed on the left column. You may want to watch that if you did not before.) Then do the comprehension link for an exercise on transitive and intransitive verbs. Next do the direct object link for the accusative case noun exercise. Remember you may have to tug the page-down on the side of the window to get the software to load.
comprehension
direct objects
We are now going to translate a story about the children in the Cornelii Family who are enjoying life in their Villa near Baia.
Baths still exist today from Roman times; indeed, the name 'bath' is the name of the British town of the same: Bath, England. At these baths, sometimes a tourist will jump into the waters. It's a bad idea, the water is green with bacteria, notice -- at the end of this amusing video -- how the guard tells the jumper she has a 'form' for him meaning a warning on the many illnesses that can come from his stunt.
Jump into this and make a translation of the story from page 19 in your notebook. As before, number every sentence as you translate it. You are doing very well.
Pen/paper exercise
Chapter 4 Noun Practice Part A
Give the case and number of each noun:
1. puellae
2. puerum
3. viros
4. villas
5. Cornelia
6. arborem
7. servum
8. pueri
9. puella
10. viri
11. branches as a subject
12. crash as a direct object
13. Flavia as a direct object
14. voices as direct objects
15. trees as subjects
16. Marcus as direct object
17. gardens as subjects
18. slaves as direct objects
19. boy as a subject
20. Sextus as direct object
Noun Practice “B”
I. Make each of the following a direct object:
1. girl
2. tree
3. Cornelia
4. pictures
5. country houses
6. Flavia
7. male friend
8. female friends
9. slave
10. Marcus
11. Sextus
12. boys
13. fishpond
14. voice
15. man
II. Make the following nouns plural in the same case:
16. puer
17. puellam
18. virum
19. villa
20. feminam
21. servus
22. picturam
23. arborem
24. puella
25. hortus
III. Give the Latin for each underlined noun:
1. The man shouts.
2. The girl hears the loud crash.
3. Davus see the boys in the garden.
4. The country houses are in Italy.
5. Sextus annoys Cornelia.
Give the case and number of each noun:
1. puellae
2. puerum
3. viros
4. villas
5. Cornelia
6. arborem
7. servum
8. pueri
9. puella
10. viri
11. branches as a subject
12. crash as a direct object
13. Flavia as a direct object
14. voices as direct objects
15. trees as subjects
16. Marcus as direct object
17. gardens as subjects
18. slaves as direct objects
19. boy as a subject
20. Sextus as direct object
Noun Practice “B”
I. Make each of the following a direct object:
1. girl
2. tree
3. Cornelia
4. pictures
5. country houses
6. Flavia
7. male friend
8. female friends
9. slave
10. Marcus
11. Sextus
12. boys
13. fishpond
14. voice
15. man
II. Make the following nouns plural in the same case:
16. puer
17. puellam
18. virum
19. villa
20. feminam
21. servus
22. picturam
23. arborem
24. puella
25. hortus
III. Give the Latin for each underlined noun:
1. The man shouts.
2. The girl hears the loud crash.
3. Davus see the boys in the garden.
4. The country houses are in Italy.
5. Sextus annoys Cornelia.
Chapter 4 vocabulary quiz
When told to do so, open this link and begin the quiz. Bona
Fata.
Chapter 4 Vocabulary Quiz
English to Latin Vocabulary Quiz
Grammar Quiz
Fata.
Chapter 4 Vocabulary Quiz
English to Latin Vocabulary Quiz
Grammar Quiz