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... 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:
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... 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:
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... 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:
Case: Ablative case gives some indication of the function
Case: Vocative case gives some indication of the function

Declensions of Nouns

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