Nouns and cases: read the ending before the word order
Use noun endings and case roles to work out who acts, what is affected and to whom.
Section SYNTAX-CASES · Case constructions and expressions
Exam scope and assessment notes
Original teaching foundations for the 2026–2028 syllabus. Six prescribed texts have passage-specific sequences; all 693 printed vocabulary rows have been reconciled into 692 distinct records, with additional number, comparison and compound-verb practice. Linked teaching and lexical self-checks do not certify mastery. Complete line-by-line annotation, further translation and scansion practice, qualified Latin-teacher review, full timed papers and human marking remain outstanding. Open the assigned edition alongside these lessons: public ancient texts can differ in spelling, punctuation or editorial readings from the prescribed prose anthology. Practice explanations are formative, not Cambridge questions, marks or predicted grades. Cambridge has announced withdrawal; the last assessment is June 2028, in administrative zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 only. Confirm entry with your centre.
Before you begin
- Read a short Latin sentence with a finite verb
- Check endings and vocabulary in context
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
Which evidence should you check first when a Latin sentence is unclear?
What you will learn
- Identify common nominative, accusative, genitive, dative and ablative roles.
- Use agreement and endings rather than English word order alone.
Case shows a noun's job
The nominative commonly marks the subject; the accusative commonly marks a direct object; the genitive can show possession; the dative can mark an indirect object; and the ablative has several uses, including means and accompaniment.
Latin word order can vary. First locate the finite verb, then check noun endings and agreement before deciding who did what. A case can have more than one use, so read the whole clause.
Recognise the pattern, then check the ending
The syllabus includes nouns from all five declensions and irregular nouns in its vocabulary list. A dictionary form gives clues to the stem and genitive, but endings still need to be read in context.
Adjectives agree with the nouns they describe in gender, number and case; matching endings can help, but the words need not share a declension.
Sources for this lesson
Pause and explain
In “Nauta puellae rosam dat”, who receives the rose?
Worked example
In the original sentence “Puella nautam videt”, who sees whom?
Show the worked solution
- Find the finite verb videt, “sees”.
- Puella is nominative singular; nautam is accusative singular.
- Assign the subject and direct object from their case endings.
Answer The girl sees the sailor. Puella is the subject and nautam is the direct object; Latin endings, not English order, identify their roles.
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Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Parse “Servus dominum vocat”: identify the subject, object and meaning.
Give me a hint
Check the nominative and accusative endings before translating.
Compare my reasoning
- Locate vocat, “calls”.
- Servus is nominative; dominum is accusative.
- Translate the subject before the object.
The slave calls the master. Servus is the subject and dominum is the direct object; the accusative ending marks the person called.
Look for these in your work
- Identifies the verb
- Assigns subject and object from case
- Gives a supported translation
In “Agricolae filio aquam dant”, who receives what?
Give me a hint
Look for the dative recipient and accusative thing given.
Compare my reasoning
- Agricolae is the plural subject.
- Filio is dative singular; aquam is accusative singular.
- Translate dant as “give”.
The farmers give water to the son. Filio is the recipient and aquam is what is given.
Look for these in your work
- Finds the plural subject
- Finds the dative recipient
- Finds the direct object
Translate “Romani dona amicis mittunt” and explain how you identified the recipient.
Give me a hint
Use the verb and case endings; do not rely on the order of dona and amicis.
Compare my reasoning
- Romani is nominative plural.
- Dona is accusative plural; amicis is dative plural.
- Match mittunt to its plural subject.
The Romans send gifts to their friends. Dona is the direct object and amicis is the dative recipient, so the translation remains clear even if the Latin word order changes.
Look for these in your work
- Identifies subject and verb
- Identifies both object roles
- Explains the case evidence
Common mistakes
- Assuming the first noun is always the subject
- Treating every ablative as “by”
- Ignoring agreement when several nouns appear
What can you explain now?
In “Nauta puellae rosam dat”, who receives the rose?
Compare with the explanation
The girl
Puellae is dative singular, the recipient; rosam is accusative singular, the thing given.
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Make it stick
In “Nauta puellae rosam dat”, who receives the rose?
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