LSP - 9 : casus accusativus

On a previous page we learn that Nouns change their endings to show what role they are playing in a sentence, and that the ending known as the Casus Nominativus is used for the Subject of a Verb. We now learn about another another role and another case.

If the Subject of a Verb is performing the Verb, then the Object is receiving whatever the Verb is putting out. So, in the sentence Jupiter loves Juno, Jupiter is the Subject and Juno is the Object.

In English, we have a way of showing the Subject and Object; the Subject goes before the Verb and the Object goes after the Verb. If I change the word order it changes the meaning; Juno loves Jupiter.

In Latin, it is not the order of the Nouns, but the endings of the Nouns that show Subject and Object. We have already seen that the Subject is written (or spoken) in the Casus Nominativus (Iūppiter, Iūnō, Herculēs). The Object is written in the Casus Accusativus (Iovem, Iūnōnem, Herculem).

It is most common to put the Subject first in the sentence, followed by the Object and then the Verb. Iuppiter Iūnōnem amat - Jupiter loves Juno. But this order is flexible. All of the following sentences mean - more or less - the same thing : Iuppiter Iūnōnem amat : Iūnōnem Iuppiter amat : Iuppiter amat Iūnōnem : amat Iūnōnem Iuppiter. And there are other combinations.

Likewise, here are three sentences that all mean Juno loves Jupiter : Iūnō Iovem amat : Iovem Iūnō amat : amat Iūnō Iovem.

Now, here is something you need to know to understand our story : Iūnō Herculem nōn amat.