1. Direct Objects Accusative Case
Sept. 17, 2012

2. Finding Direct Objects
A direct object follows an ACTION verb (not a linking verb like “is” and “are”).
The direct object is the noun that receives the action of the verb.
The girl holds the cat.
(Ask: what does the girl hold?)
Direct object: CAT
The boy feeds the dog.
(Ask: what does the boy feed?)
Direct object: DOG

3. Finding Direct Objects
The choir sang a song.
Subject----choir
Direct object----song
The girls like the forest.
Subject----girls
Direct object----forest

4. Take this REALLY HARD Quiz!
Which sentence is correct English?
I saw him at Pier Park.
I saw he at Pier Park.

5. Take this REALLY HARD Quiz!
Which sentence is correct English?
Adele is a great singer. I really like listening to she.
Adele is a great singer. I really like listening to her.

6. What just happened here?
You proved that you already KNOW how cases work…in English!
Romans also had correct cases for direct objects…check it out…

7. The Accusative Case Accusative endings: –am for singular
The accusative case is used to indicate the direct object of a sentence.
Accusative endings:
–am for singular
–as for plural.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative a ae
Genitive ae arum
Dative ae is
Accusative am as
Ablative a is

8. Put Your THINKING Cap On!
The bowl is made of glass.
Glass is breakable.
Therefore…
The bowl is breakable.
If A=B and B=C, then A=C too.

9. Now APPLY That Technique Here…
The girls like the forest.
Girls=Subject
Subjects=Nominative Case
Girls=Nominative Case
puellae
Case Sg Pl.
Nom a ae
Gen ae arum
Dat ae is
Acc am as
Abl a is

10. Now APPLY That Technique Here…
Forest=Direct Object
Direct Objects=Accusative Case
Forest=Accusative Case
silvam
Case Sg Pl.
Nom a ae
Gen ae arum
Dat ae is
Acc am as
Abl a is

11. The girls like the forest.
Puellae silvam amant.
The girls like the forest.

12. Just like YOU wouldn’t say, “I really like he…”
The Romans wouldn’t say,
“Puellae silva amant” but
rather, “Puellae silvam amant.”

13. Practicing Accusative Direct Objects
Case Sg Pl.
Nom a ae
Gen ae arum
Dat ae is
Acc am as
Abl a is
The girls like water.
Puellae aqu__ amant.
The families carry water.
Familiae aqu__ portant.
The girls like the roads.
Puellae vi__ amant.
The families carry the girls.
Familiae puell__ portant. am am as as

14. Remember: Endings are everything!!!
What if we took 3 words and just scrambled their order
without changing their endings?
Puellae silvam amant.
Puellae amant silvam.
Silvam puellae amant.
Amant puellae silvam.
Amant silvam puellae.
ALL THESE SENTENCES MEAN
“THE GIRLS LIKE THE FOREST.” 
In Latin, WORD ENDINGS are more important than WORD ORDER.
Sometimes word order does follow certain rules, esp. in longer sentences.
Remember: Endings are everything!!!

15. Cornelia et Iulia familiam amant.
Translate the following sentences. “Cornelia” and “Iulia” are
girls’ names. Answers on the next slide!
Cornelia et Iulia familiam amant.
Cornelia et Iulia parva familiam amant.
Cornelia et Iulia parvam familiam amant.
Cornelia et Iulia aquam portant.
Familiae Corneliam amant.

16. Cornelia and Julia like the family.
Translate the following sentences. “Cornelia” and “Iulia” are
girls’ names. Answers on the next slide!
Cornelia and Julia like the family.
Cornelia and little Julia like the family.
Cornelia and Julia like the little family.
Cornelia and Julia carry water.
The families like Cornelia.