Editing Latin grammar (section)

===Use of cases===
{{Further|Latin syntax#Examples of case use}}

====Nominative====
The [[nominative]] case is used for the [[Subject (grammar)|subject]] of an [[Active voice|active]] or a [[Passive voice|passive]] verb:
:{{lang|la|'''rēx''' respondit}} = the king replied
:{{lang|la|'''rēx''' occīsus est}} = the king was killed

It is also used for the [[Complement (linguistics)|complement]] of a [[Copula (linguistics)|copula]] verb such as {{lang|la|est}} "he is" or {{lang|la|factus est}} "he became":{{sfn|Kennedy|1962|p=119}}
:{{lang|la|'''rēx''' erat Aenēās nōbīs}} = our king was Aeneas / Aeneas was our king
:{{lang|la|'''rēx''' factus est}} = he was made king / he became king

====Vocative====
The [[vocative]] case is used when addressing someone:
:{{lang|la|iubēsne mē, '''Rōmule Rēx''', foedus ferīre?}} = do you order me, King Romulus, to strike a treaty?

====Accusative====
The [[accusative]] case is used for the object of a sentence:{{sfn|Kennedy|1962|pp=119-122}}
:{{lang|la|'''rēgem''' interfēcērunt}} = they killed the king

It is also used as the subject of an infinitival clause dependent on a verb of speaking or the like:
:{{lang|la|'''rēgem''' interfectum esse crēdēbant}} = they believed that the king had been killed

It can be the complement of another word which is itself accusative:
:{{lang|la|'''Tullum''' populus '''rēgem''' creāvit}} = the people made Tullus their king

It can also be used with a place name to refer to the destination:
:{{lang|la|'''Rōmam''' profectus est}} = he set out for Rome

The accusative is also used after various prepositions (especially those that imply motion towards):
:{{lang|la|senātus ad '''rēgem''' lēgātōs mīsit}} = the Senate sent ambassadors to the king
:{{lang|la|cōnsul in '''urbem''' rediit}} = the consul returned to the city

Another use of the accusative is to give a length of time or distance:
:{{lang|la|rēgnāvit '''annōs''' quīnque}} = he reigned for five years
:{{lang|la|quīnque '''pedēs''' longus}} = five foot tall

====Genitive====
A [[genitive]] noun can represent possession or relationship:
:{{lang|la|'''rēgis''' fīlia}} = the king's daughter, daughter of the king

A genitive noun can stand for the object of mental processes such as {{lang|la|misereor}} "I pity" and {{lang|la|oblīvīscor}} "I forget":{{sfn|Gildersleeve|Lodge|1903|pp=240-242}}
:{{lang|la|numquam oblīvīscar '''noctis illīus'''}} = I will never forget that night<ref>Cicero, ''Planc.'' 101.</ref>

A genitive noun attached to a verbal noun can stand for the object of the implied verb (called an "objective genitive"):
:{{lang|la|maximī '''virī''' dēsiderium}} = my longing for the great man<ref>Pliny the Younger, ''Ep.'' 6.11.1.</ref>

A genitive noun can stand for the subject of the implied verb (called a "subjective" genitive):{{sfn|Gildersleeve|Lodge|1903|pp=232-233}}
:{{lang|la|'''Caesaris''' adventus}} = Caesar's arrival

A frequent type of genitive is the partitive genitive, expressing the quantity of something:{{sfn|Gildersleeve|Lodge|1903|pp=235-237}}
:{{lang|la|satis '''temporis'''}} = enough time

====Dative====
The [[dative]] case means "to" or "for". It is frequently used with verbs of saying or giving: 
:{{lang|la|'''rēgī''' nūntiātum est}} = it was announced to the king
:{{lang|la|pecūniam '''rēgī''' crēdidit}} = he entrusted the money to the king

It can also be used with certain adjectives:
:{{lang|la|cārissimus erat '''rēgī'''}} = he was very dear to the king<ref>Curtius, 3.12.16.</ref>

It is also used with certain verbs such as {{lang|la|pāreō}} "I obey" or {{lang|la|persuādeō}} "I persuade":{{sfn|Kennedy|1962|p=123-127}}
:{{lang|la|pāruit '''rēgī'''}} = he was obedient to (i.e. obeyed) the king

There are also various idiomatic uses, such as the dative of possession:
:{{lang|la|quid est '''tibī''' nōmen?}} = what's your name?<ref>Plautus, ''Pseudolus'' 634.</ref>

====Ablative====
The [[ablative]] case can mean "with", especially when the noun it refers to is a thing rather than a person:{{sfn|Kennedy|1962|p=128-132}}
:{{lang|la|'''gladiō''' sē transfīgit}} = he stabbed himself with a sword

Often a phrase consisting of a noun plus participle in the ablative can express time or circumstance. This is known as an "ablative absolute":{{sfn|Kennedy|1962|p=130}}
:{{lang|la|'''rēgibus''' exāctīs}} = with the kings driven out, i.e. after the kings were driven out

It is also frequently used with prepositions, especially those meaning "from", "with", "in", or "by":
:{{lang|la|ūnus ē '''rēgibus'''}} = one from (i.e. one of) the kings
:{{lang|la|cum '''rēgibus'''}} = with the kings
:{{lang|la|ā '''rēgibus'''}} = by the kings, from the kings
:{{lang|la|prō '''rēge'''}} = for/on behalf of the king

Another use is in expressions of time and place (except those that give the length of time or distance):
:{{lang|la|'''eō tempore'''}} = at that time
:{{lang|la|'''hōc locō'''}} = at this place
:{{lang|la|'''paucīs diēbus'''}} = in a few days

The ablative can also mean "from", especially with place names:{{sfn|Kennedy|1962|p=128}}
:{{lang|la|'''Rōmā''' profectus est}} = he set out from Rome
:{{lang|la|'''locō''' ille mōtus est}} = he was dislodged from his position

====Locative====
The [[locative]] is a rare case used only with names of cities, small islands, and one or two other words such as ''domus'' "home". It means "at" or "in":{{sfn|Kennedy|1962|p=132}}
:{{lang|la|cōnsul alter '''Rōmae''' mānsit}} = one of the two [[consul]]s remained in Rome<ref>Livy, 2.33.4.</ref>
:{{lang|la|multōs annōs '''nostrae domī''' vīxit}} = he lived at our house for many years<ref>Cicero, ''Tusc. Disp.'' 5.113.</ref>