Noun Declension Questions

Question 1

Nominative Case (Definition) using ‘nara’ stem with singular/plural endings.

Answer 1

Nominative Case: used when noun or pronoun is the subject of a verb. e.g. Manners maketh Man.
naro = man; narā = men

Question 2

Accusative Case (Definition) using ‘nara’ stem with singular/plural endings.

Answer 2

Accusative Case: used when noun or pronoun is the direct object of a verb. e.g. She addressed the man. naraṃ = man; nare = men

Question 3

Instrumental Case (Definition) using ‘nara’ stem with singular/plural endings.

Answer 3

Instrumental Case: used when noun or pronoun is the instrument or means by or with which the subject achieves or accomplishes an action. Phrases begin with the words ‘with’, ‘by’, or ‘using’, followed by the noun indicating the instrument. e.g. Good or evil is wrought through men. narena = by, with or through man; narebhi, narehi = by, with or through men

Question 4

Dative Case (Definition) using ‘nara’ stem with singular/plural endings.

Answer 4

Dative Case: used when noun or pronoun is the indirect object of a verb. e.g. She gave the man a letter. narāya, narassa = to or for man; narānaṃ = to or for men

Question 5

Ablative Case (Definition) using ‘nara’ stem with singular/plural endings.

Answer 5

Ablative Case: used to express motion away from something. Signified by prepositions “of”, “from”, “away from”, and “concerning”. e.g. I walked away from the man. narā, naramhā, narasmā = from man; narebhi, narehi = from men

Question 6

Genitive Case (Definition) using ‘nara’ stem with singular/plural endings.

Answer 6

Genitive Case: shows possession, usually created by adding ‘ ‘s ‘ to the word or by preceding it with ‘of’. e.g. ‘The man’s child’ or ‘The children of men.’ narassa = of man; narānaṃ = of men.

Question 7

Locative Case (Definition) using ‘nara’ stem with singular/plural endings.

Answer 7

Locative Case: indicates a location, corresponding vaguely to the English prepositions “in”, “on”, “at”, and “by”. e.g. “in the man”. nare, naramhi, narasmiṃ = ‘on’ or ‘in’ man; naresu = ‘on’ or ‘in’ men.

Question 8

Vocative Case (Definition) using ‘nara’ stem with singular/plural endings.

Answer 8

Vocative Case: shows direct address (i.e., to show when you are talking to somebody or something directly). e.g. ‘O, Man.’ nara = O man; narā = O men

Question 9

The Pali alphabet consists of ____ letters: ____ vowels and ____ consonants.

Answer 9

The Pali alphabet consists of 41 letters: eight (8) vowels and thirty-three (33) consonants.

Question 10

In Pali there are ____ genders (____, ____, ____) and ____ numbers (____, ____.)

Answer 10

In Pali there are three genders (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter) and two numbers (Singular/Plural).