1st declension nouns Flashcards
What is a noun?
A noun is a person, place or thing.
What are the 3 genders of Latin nouns?
- masculine
- feminine
- neuter
What is meant by the term declensions?
- Latin nouns are divided into five groups called declensions.
- In each declension, the nouns share the same endings.
- A declension is usually defined by its ending in the nominative singular.
What is meant by the term, to decline?
To decline a noun means to list all of its cases in order:
- nominative
- vocative
- accusative
- genitive
- dative
- ablative
How can 1st declension nouns be recognised?
- Nouns that end in ‘A’ belong to the first declension.
- They are mostly feminine. e.g carta - a charter
- A few are masculine. e.g. agricola - a farmer
Why are noun endings important?
The ending of a noun is crucial, as it tells you whether the noun is singular or plural and what role the noun is playing in the sentence.
What are the 6 roles (cases) that a noun could play in a sentence?
- nominative
- vocative
- accusative
- genitive
- dative
- ablative
Explain the nominative case.
- Used for the subject of the verb.
- The subject is the person or thing doing the verb.
- For example regina orat - the queen prays. The queen is the subject, as she is praying. The queen is in the nominative case.
Explain the vocative case.
- Used to call or address someone or something.
- For example O domina! - O lady! O regina! - O queen! O Maria! - O Mary!
- The vocative case is the same as the nominative, except in the second declension.
Explain the accusative case.
- Used for the object of a verb.
- The object is the person or thing the verb is done to.
- For example domina cartam confirmat - the lady confirms the charter. ‘the lady’ is the subject and in the nominative. ‘the charter’ is the object and in the accusative.
Explain the genetive case.
- Used for nouns that are ‘of’ something else and also to show possession.
- For example terra ecclesie - the land of the church. filie vidue - the widow’s daughters.
Explain the dative case.
- Used for nouns that are to or for something.
- For example terram ecclesie do - I give land to the church. ‘I give’ is the verb – do. ‘land’ is the object – it is in the accusative. ‘to the church’ is in the dative.
Explain the ablative case.
- Used for nouns that are by, with or from something.
- For example papa ecclesiam carta confirmat - The pope confirms the church by a charter. ‘the pope’ is the subject – it is in the nominative. ‘confirms’ is the verb. ‘the church’ is the object – it is in the accusative. ‘by a charter’ is ablative.
What are the endings for first declension nouns?
Singular
- nom - A
- voc - A
- acc - AM
- gen - E
- dat - E
- abl - A
Plural
- nom - E
- voc - E
- acc - AS
- gen - ARUM
- dat - IS
- abl - IS
Decline carta, a charter.
Singular
- nom - carta
- voc - carta
- acc - cartam
- gen - carte
- dat - carte
- abl - carta
Plural
- nom - carte
- voc - carte
- acc - cartas
- gen - cartarum
- dat - cartis
- abl - cartis
