ACCUSATIVES!

The accusative is not as complicated as some of our other cases The accusative is not as complicated as some of our other cases. Most people deal with it pretty intuitively (which is why your Ecce books introduced it early), but it does do more than one thing.

Direct Object This is the thing that is directly affected by the action of the verb. Feriebat Kylia Zenniam. –Kylie was hitting Zhenni. Hoc feci. –I made this. Jacobus Niger mihi dat spem. –Jack Black gives me hope.

Cognate or Internal Accusative This is still a use of the direct object, but it is worth getting a special note. An internal accusative is one whose meaning is already implied by the meaning of the verb that takes it. Facta Ieffo facit. –Jeff does deeds. Facinora Valcerus facit! –Walker commits crimes! Antonius vitam vivit. –Anthony lives life. Dona donare Jasmina amat. –Jasmine likes to give gifts.

Predicate Accusative This would be a word in the accusative that refers to the direct object already in the sentence, but it is not an appositive. It is seen with verbs of naming, choosing, appointing, making, esteeming and showing. Collegium Latinum fecit Hansonem consulem. –The Latin Club made Hanson consul. Putasne librum non bonum? –Do you think the book is not good? Filium Caesaris senatus appellavit Augustum. –The senate called Caesar’s son Augustus.

Secondary Object Docebo Zitonem. –I will teach Zito. Some verbs can take two accusative objects, most commonly seen with verbs of asking or teaching. One object is the person, the secondary object is the thing taught/asked. Docebo Zitonem. –I will teach Zito. Docebo linguam Latinam. –I will teach Latin. Docebo Zitonem linguam Latinum. –I will teach Zito Latin.

Duration/Extent of Space or Time The accusative show how far or long something extends as oppose to when or where something is (expressed by locative ablatives). See the difference below. Tam sum defessus ut tres dies dormiam. –I am so tired that I will sleep for three days. (Tam sum defessus ut tribus diebus dormiam. –I am so tired that I will sleep in three days.) Tres milia passus Dana plaustrum egit per viam. –Dan drove his cart for three miles down the road.

Subject of an Indirect Statement After learning that the accusative is the D.O. you find that it can be a subject within an indirect statement. Audivi Fontem decore saepe uti. –I heard that Fontes often uses good taste. Omnes scimus senatores altercaturos semper esse. –We all know that the senators will always bicker.

Exclamatory Accusative There not a lot of explanation here. When the Romans exclaim, they often do so in the accusative. Me miseram! –Oh miserable/unfortunate me! Pro deos immortales! –To the immortal gods! Me Iovem! –By Jove! (By Jupiter)

Accusative of Specification/Accusative of Respect/Greek Accusative Allen and Greenough also call this the synecdochical accusative. It is used in poetry and later Latin. It indicates a part or thing affected. Occulum Zennia feriebatur a Kylia. Zhenni was struck by Kylie in the eye. Domos Romanis Gallos petiverunt. –The Romans attacked the Gauls with respect to their homes.

Prepositions Don’t forget that there’s also a slew of prepositions that take the accusative. ad - to ob - on account of adversus - against penes - in the power of adversum - towards per - through ante - before pone - behind apud - at, near post - after circa - around praeter - beyond circum - around prope - near circiter - about propter - on account of cis, citra - this side secundum - next to contra - against sub - under erga - towards subter - beneath extra – outside super - above in - into supra - above infra - below trans - across inter - among ultra - on the further side intra - inside versus - towards iuxta - near