Direct ObjectsAccusative Case

Sept. 17, 2012

Finding Direct Objects• A direct object follows an ACTION verb (not a linking

verb like “is” and “are”).• The direct object is the noun that receives the action of

the verb.• The girl holds the cat.• (Ask: what does the girl hold?)• Direct object: CAT• The boy feeds the dog.• (Ask: what does the boy feed?)• Direct object: DOG

Finding Direct Objects

• The choir sang a song.• Subject----choir• Direct object----song• The girls like the forest.• Subject----girls• Direct object----forest

Take this REALLY HARD Quiz!

• Which sentence is correct English?–I saw him at Pier Park.–I saw he at Pier Park.

Take this REALLY HARD Quiz!

• Which sentence is correct English?–Adele is a great singer. I really like

listening to she.–Adele is a great singer. I really like

listening to her.

What just happened here?

• You proved that you already KNOW how cases work…in English!• Romans also had correct cases for

direct objects…check it out…

The Accusative Case

The accusative case is used to indicate the direct object of a sentence.Accusative endings:–am for singular–as for plural.

Case Singular Plural

Nominative a aeGenitive ae arumDative ae isAccusative am asAblative a is

Put Your THINKING Cap On!

• The bowl is made of glass.

• Glass is breakable.• Therefore…

• The bowl is breakable.

• If A=B and B=C, then A=C too.

Now APPLY That Technique Here…

• The girls like the forest.• Girls=Subject• Subjects=Nominative Case• Girls=Nominative Case• puellae

Case Sg. Pl.

Nom a aeGen ae arumDat ae isAcc am asAbl a is

Now APPLY That Technique Here…

• Forest=Direct Object• Direct Objects=Accusative Case• Forest=Accusative Case• silvam

Case Sg. Pl.

Nom a aeGen ae arumDat ae isAcc am asAbl a is

Puellae silvam amant.

The girls like the forest.

Just like YOU wouldn’t say,“I really like he…”

The Romans wouldn’t say,“Puellae silva amant” but

rather, “Puellae silvam amant.”

Practicing Accusative Direct Objects

• The girls like water.• Puellae aqu__ amant.• The families carry water.• Familiae aqu__ portant.• The girls like the roads.• Puellae vi__ amant.• The families carry the girls.• Familiae puell__ portant.

Case Sg. Pl.

Nom a aeGen ae arumDat ae isAcc am asAbl a is

am

am

as

as

In Latin, WORD ENDINGS are more important than WORD ORDER.

Sometimes word order does follow certain rules, esp. in longer sentences.

Remember: Endings are everything!!!

What if we took 3 words and just scrambled their order without changing their endings?

Puellae silvam amant.Puellae amant silvam.Silvam puellae amant.Amant puellae silvam.Amant silvam puellae.

ALL THESE SENTENCES MEAN

“THE GIRLS LIKE THE FOREST.”

Translate the following sentences. “Cornelia” and “Iulia” aregirls’ names. Answers on the next slide!

Cornelia et Iulia familiam amant.

Cornelia et Iulia parva familiam amant.

Cornelia et Iulia parvam familiam amant.

Cornelia et Iulia aquam portant.

Familiae Corneliam amant.

Translate the following sentences. “Cornelia” and “Iulia” aregirls’ names. Answers on the next slide!

Cornelia and Julia like the family.

Cornelia and little Julia like the family.

Cornelia and Julia like the little family.

Cornelia and Julia carry water.

The families like Cornelia.