Chapter VI Nouns of the Second Declension Expressions of Time Nouns of the Second Declension We have seen nouns of the first declension, which are called a-stems because of the prevalence of -a- in their forms. The second declension is marked historically by the presence of -o- in its forms, although these have sometimes turned to -u- or coalesced with -i-. Nouns of the second declension may be masculine, feminine, or neuter, although the feminine is rare. Neuter nouns have a different nominative and vocative than other nouns of the second declension. In fact, all neuter nouns have the same form for the nominative, vocative, and accusative, and the plural always ends in a, in all declensions. Masculine and feminine nouns of the second declension are declined in the same way: Examples: m./f. n. m./f. n. Nominative -us -um -i -a Vocative -e -um -i -a Accusative -um -os -a Genitive -i -órum Dative -o -is Ablative -o -is dóminus, -i (m) lord verbum, -i (n) word Nominative dóminus dómini verbum verba Vocative dómine dómini verbum verba Accusative dóminum dóminos verbum verba Genitive dómini dominórum verbi verbórum Dative dómino dóminis verbo verbis Ablative dómino dóminis verbo verbis A genitive plural in -um (or even -om) is sometimes encountered (i.e., dóminum, verbom), although these are rare even in Classical usage. Nouns with stems in -i- (i.e., ending in -ius or -ium) have a vocative singular in -i, not ie (unless they are neuter). The genitive singular is normally -ii in Ecclesiastical Latin. However, Cicero only uses -i, and Vergil uses -ii only once. By the time of Ovid -ii was common. Nonetheless -i is therefore sometimes found. Thus:
fílius, -i (m) son Nominative fílius fílii Vocative fili fílii Accusative fílium fílios Genitive fílii (or fili) filiórum Dative fílio fíliis Ablative fílio fíliis Adjectives used as nouns retain the adjectival declension of -ie (vocative) and -ii (genitive). Greek names Latinized to -ius retain a vocative in -ie. The second declension noun deus, -i (m) god is slightly irregular: deus, -i (m) god Nominative deus dii 2 Vocative deus 1 dii 2 Accusative deum deos Genitive dei deórum 3 Dative deo diis 2 Ablative deo diis 2 1. In Ecclesiastical Latin. No Classical author uses the vocative singular, but it is said to have been dee. 2. The forms dei/deis and di/dis occur in Classical texts. 3. Sometimes the forms divum or divom (from divus divine ) replace deórum, as also deum, in Classical texts. are hard to define, but we usually know one when we see it. Basically, prepositions are particles which mark particular kinds of modifying phrases. These phrases may modify a verb or a noun. There are other kinds of modifying phrases, but these are mostly connected to the main sentence by either something declinable (usually a pronoun) or by a conjunction. Conjunctions do not add much meaning to the sentence, whereas prepositions do. The most common prepositions are spatial, telling where the action occurs. Others, however, have other meanings. In the end, it s not important to understand what a preposition is, just that a given word is a preposition. As we saw earlier, prepositions may take the ablative case (i.e., any noun, pronoun, or adjective in the prepositional phrase must be in the ablative). However, many prepositions take the accusative case (and very rarely the genitive). A rule of thumb with spatial prepositions is that prepositions implying motion towards take the accusative; those implying motion away from or position take the ablative. Unfortunately, this is not a hard and fast rule. It is, therefore, necessary to memorize what case a preposition takes.
Two prepositions can take either the accusative or ablative according to meaning. When these prepositions (in and sub) imply motion towards they take the accusative, and mean into and to (under) respectively. When they imply location they take the ablative, and mean in and under respectively. There are also two very common prepositions which have two forms, a/ab and e/ex. When these prepositions occur before a vowel they end in a consonant. When they occur before a consonant, they often drop their own final consonant. However, they do sometimes keep it even when the next word begins in a consonant. It is preferable to drop the final consonant in your own writing, but be aware that some authors do not. Expressions of Time Measures of time are often expressed by case alone in Latin. The duration of an action ( time how long ) is denoted by the accusative (though a preposition such as per may be used for emphasis). Time when is denoted by the ablative, as is the time within which or time during which. Time within which is rare and is only slightly different in meaning from time how long. When it is encountered, it is often with words denoting lengths of time or festival periods (e.g., tríduo during the triduum/three day period ). In such cases a translation with in would sound stilted. In any event, these three uses are only seen with nouns denoting some period of time (days, months, seasons, etc.), and even with such words, a preposition may be employed. Vocabulary Nouns annum, anni (n)- year cælum, cæli (n)- heaven Christus, Christi (m)- Christ (< Gk. Χριστός Anointed ) deus, dei (m)- god dóminus, dómini (m)- lord fílius, fílii (m)- son Jerúsalem (indecl.) (f)- Jerusalem locus, loci (m)- place óculus, óculi (m)- eye peccátum, peccáti (n)- sin pópulus, pópuli (m)- people Petrus, Petri (m)- Peter servus, servi (m)- slave, servant verbum, verbi (n)- word Verbs cado, cádere- to fall
descéndo, descéndere- to go down, to descend 1 invénio, inveníre- to find sápio, sápere- to taste; to understand, to be wise scribo, scríbere- to write vivo, vívere- to live Adverb verbs ínvicem- alternately; reciprocally, one another ita- thus valde- very Conjunctions at- but, on the contrary [generally the first word in a sentence] donec- until, while, as long as ídeo- therefore nam- for quasi- just as, in the same way as, like a/ab (+abl.)- away from ad (+acc)- to, towards; for [the purpose of] contra (+acc.)- against coram (+abl.)- in the presence of, before e/ex (+abl.)- out from, out of in (+acc.)- into, to per (+acc.)- through pro (+abl.)- for [the benefit of]; in place of sub (+abl.)- under sub (+acc.)- up to super (+acc.)- over; upon usque (+acc)- as far as, up to [often in the phrase usque ad (+acc)] Exercises I. Translate into English: i. Vádimus usque ad Sýriam. ii. Descéndit verbum Dei de cælo. iii. Coram Deo obsécro. iv. Mane surgit, ergo sapit. II. Translate into Latin: i. The eyes of God are upon His people. ii. During the year I write to [my] 2 sons. 1 when discussing travel in the Holy Land, ascendo is used for travel toward Jerusalem and descendo is used for travel away from Jerusalem. This translates the Hebrew idiom.
iii. iv. They go down to the places of sin. You (pl.) are going up to Jerusalem, but I am not. III. Compose at least 5 original Latin sentences containing the following words and grammatical constructions, and give English equivalents. Words: deus, fílius, servus, verbum Grammar: one expression of time; a neuter noun in the nominative or accusative plural; a second declension noun in the genitive singular and dative plural. 2 possessive adjectives are normally omitted in Latin when the meaning is otherwise obvious.