Latin > Grammar
Below are some basic grammar points and links to particular sections of grammar. It is important to take these points into consideration when translating Latin sentences. It is also important to note that the ending of words in Latin usually tells you all you need to know about its grammar.
Word Order:
You need to know how the sentences are structured and their word order in Latin. Lets look at a simple sentence:
Caecilius Grumionem vocat. Translation: Caecilius calls Grumio. Lets break this sentence into parts:
Caecilius Grumionem vocat. Translation: Caecilius calls Grumio. Lets break this sentence into parts:
- Caecilius Grumionem vocat - Caecilius is the nominative of the sentence (subject). Nominative nouns are always at the start of Latin sentences.
- Caecilius Grumionem vocat - Grumio is the accusative of the sentence (direct object). In simple sentences, the accusative comes after the nominative of the sentence.
- Caecilius Grumionem vocat - vocat is the verb of the sentence. Most of the time, the verb comes at the end of the sentence. However, if the verb is "est" (translation: "is"), the verb comes in at the middle of the sentence (ie: "Quintus est puer", etc).
- puella cani cibum dedit - puella is the nominative of the sentence (subject).
- puella cani cibum dedit - cani is the dative of the sentence (indirect object). In a sentence which contains a dative, the dative goes between the nominative and the accusative of the sentence.
- puella cani cibum dedit - cibum is the accuastive of the sentence (direct object).
- puella cani cibum dedit - dedit is the verb of the sentence.