Wigtil's "Latin via Caesar"
This page displays noun grammar. There is information here on:
There is also a section on the declension (the half-dozen ways of forming cases) of nouns.
Other related pages: text of the de Bello Gallico; word lists and vocabulary; grammar of verbs; etc.
Gender of Latin Nouns
Gender: Feminine gender is one of three groupings of nouns (the other two are masculine and neuter). Feminine gender does not mean that the noun is female or has feminine qualities; it is merely a noun category for thousands of nouns, among which are several that refer to female humans. Feminine gender requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must assume feminine forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Feminine nouns appear in any of the five declensional patterns. The distribution of feminine nouns among the declensions is as follows:
Gender: Masculine gender is one of three groupings of nouns (the other two are feminine and neuter). Masculine gender does not mean that the noun is male or has masculine qualities; it is merely a noun category for thousands of nouns, among which are several that refer to male humans. Masculine gender requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must assume masculine forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Gender: Neuter gender is one of three groupings of nouns (the other two are feminine and masculine). Neuter gender does not mean that the noun is somehow neutral or has vague qualities; it is merely a noun category for thousands of nouns, only a few of which refer to human beings. Neuter gender requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must assume neuter forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Number of Nouns
Number: Singular number is one of two types of forms of most nouns, indicating only one instance of the item referred to. Singular number requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must also assume singular forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Number: Plural number is one of two types of forms of most nouns, indicating two or more instances of the item referred to. Plural number requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must also assume plural forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Case of Nouns
Case: Nominative case gives some indication of the function of the noun in relationship to the verb. Nominative elements are either the subject of the verb (if the verb shows grammatical person), or they behave as the predicate element with a verb meaning "be." Nominative case requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must assume nominative forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Examples of Nominative Case expressions:
Case: Accusative case gives some indication of the function of the noun in relationship to the verb. Accusative elements show either...
- the direct object of the verb,
- the object of certain prepositions,
- the subject of a verb that is in the infinitive form,
- or they present an exclamation about someone or something.
Accusative case requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must assume accusative forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Examples of Accusative Case expressions:
- reliquos Gallos
- occasum (solis) et septentriones
Case: Genitive case gives some indication of the function of the noun in relationship to another noun, and on rare occasions to a verb. Genitive elements indicate either...
- the possessor of the main noun,
- the implicit subject of a main noun that is derived from a verb,
- the implicit object of a main noun that is derived from a verb,
- the whole of which the main noun is a subset or a part,
- the object of a few verbs.
Genitive case requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must assume genitive forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Examples of Genitive Case expressions:
- quarum (unam)
- (finibus) Belgarum
Case: Dative case gives some indication of the function of the noun in relationship to the verb, or rarely to an adjective. Dative elements show either...
- the indirect object of the verb,
- the object of certain verbs,
- the complement of certain adjectives,
- the predicate of the verb esse when it is abstract.
Dative case requires that adjectives, pronouns, and participles that refer to the noun in question must assume dative forms. It is said that such adjectives, etc., "agree" with the noun.
Examples of Dative Case expressions:
- reliquos Gallos
- occasum (solis) et septentriones
Case: Ablative case gives some indication of the function
Case: Vocative case gives some indication of the function
First declension...
NOM. puella puellae
ACC. puellam puellâs
GEN. puellae puellârum
DAT. puellae puellîs
ABL. puellâ puellîs
VOC. puella puellae
Second declension...
NOM. Gallus Gallî
ACC. Gallum Gallôs
GEN. Gallî Gallôrum
DAT. Gallô Gallîs
ABL. Gallô Gallîs
VOC. Galle Gallî
Third declension...
NOM. pars partês
ACC. partem partês
GEN. partis partium
DAT. partî partibus
ABL. parte partibus
VOC. pars partês
Fourth declension...
NOM. cultus cultûs
ACC. cultum cultûs
GEN. cultûs cultuum
DAT. cultuî cultibus
ABL. cultû cultibus
VOC. cultus cultûs
Fifth declension...
NOM. diês diês
ACC. diem diês
GEN. diêî diêrum
DAT. diêî diêbus
ABL. diê diêbus
VOC. diês diês