The cases and the moods: a review
The dative of purpose, description by genitive or ablative, and every use of the cases and the subjunctive in one place.
LatinAdvanced Latin · ReviewAbout 4 min: 2 reading, 2 practiceUpdated
- Use the dative of purpose (double dative)
- Describe with the genitive (measure) or ablative (physical features)
- Name the main uses of each case and of the subjunctive
Latin Level 3: constructions: lesson 14 of 14
- Advanced Latin · The subjunctive
- amem, regam, sim: the present subjunctive 4 min
- ut, nē, quī: purpose clauses 3 min
- amārem, essem: the imperfect subjunctive and the sequence of tenses 4 min
- amāverim, amāvissem; indirect commands 3 min
- possim; "I fear that …" 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amāns, amātus, amātūrus, amandus: participles 3 min
- volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- fīō; "so … that": result clauses 4 min
- "The man to lead us": clauses of characteristic 3 min
- cum: when, since, although 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amandī, ad urbem videndam: gerund and gerundive 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- eō; "he said that …": indirect statement 4 min
- ferō; the dative with compounds; indirect questions 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Review
- The cases and the moods: a review 4 min
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lessons LXXV–LXXIX, §§ 435–458
What it is
Two last constructions:
- Dative of purpose, often with a second dative of the person affected: Hoc erat magnō impedīmentō Gallīs. → This was a great hindrance to the Gauls. Duās legiōnēs praesidiō castrīs relīquit. → He left two legions as a guard for the camp.
- Description needs an adjective. Measurements go in the genitive (fossa duodecim pedum, a ditch of twelve feet); physical features in the ablative (homō magnīs pedibus, a man with big feet); other qualities in either (vir summā audāciā or summae audāciae, a man of the greatest boldness).
The cases at a glance:
| Case | Main uses |
|---|---|
| Genitive (of) | possession; the whole (partitive); description |
| Dative (to, for) | indirect object; special verbs; compounds; with adjectives; purpose |
| Accusative | direct object; predicate accusative; subject of infinitive; after prepositions; extent; place to which |
| Ablative: with, by | cause, means, accompaniment, manner, measure of difference, absolute, description, specification |
| Ablative: from | place from, separation, agent, comparison |
| Ablative: in, at | place where, time when or within which |
The subjunctive is used for: purpose (and indirect commands and fearing), result, characteristic, cum clauses, indirect questions, and, in main clauses, wishes and "let us".
The infinitive is used: as a noun, to complete a verb (possum), with a subject accusative after iubeō and verbs of wishing, and in indirect statement.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
"a wall of ten feet"
- Measurements: genitive
Show answer
mūrus decem pedum. Numerical description: genitive.
Why it matters
Real Latin mixes all of these in a single sentence. Being able to name each one is what lets you read a page of Caesar or a letter of Cicero, which is the next step: the readers at the back of the book.
Worked example
Cum lēgātus mīlitēs hortātus esset ut fortiter pugnārent, hostēs, magnō terrōre perterritī, ad flūmen fūgērunt, nē caperentur.
- cum … hortātus esset: cum clause (when / since), pluperfect subjunctive
- ut fortiter pugnārent: indirect command
- magnō terrōre: ablative of cause
- perterritī: perfect participle
- ad flūmen: place to which
- nē caperentur: negative purpose
→ When the lieutenant had urged the soldiers to fight bravely, the enemy, terrified by great fear, fled to the river so as not to be captured.
Common mistake
Naming a construction by its look, not its job. Ut can be purpose, result or indirect command; cum can be "with", "when", "since" or "although"; an ablative can be cause, means or time. Ask what the word does in the sentence.
Key terms
- dative of purpose
- what something serves as: praesidiō, as a guard
- double dative
- purpose + person affected: impedīmentō Gallīs
- genitive of description
- measurements: fossa decem pedum
- ablative of description
- physical features: magnīs pedibus
- praesidium, -ī, n.
- guard, garrison
- impedīmentum, -ī, n.
- hindrance
- perterreō, perterrēre, perterruī, perterritus
- terrify
- maneō, manēre, mānsī
- stay, remain
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 8 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| dative of purpose | what something serves as: praesidiō, as a guard |
| double dative | purpose + person affected: impedīmentō Gallīs |
| genitive of description | measurements: fossa decem pedum |
| ablative of description | physical features: magnīs pedibus |
| praesidium, -ī, n. | guard, garrison |
| impedīmentum, -ī, n. | hindrance |
| perterreō, perterrēre, perterruī, perterritus | terrify |
| maneō, manēre, mānsī | stay, remain |
Practice
Sort it
Which use of the subjunctive?
Vēnit ut nōs monēret.
He came in order to warn us.Show answer
Purpose. He came in order to warn us.
Tam fortis erat ut omnēs eum laudārent.
tam … ut.Show answer
Result. tam … ut.
Rogāvit quis vēnisset.
quis + subjunctive after rogāvit.Show answer
Indirect question. quis + subjunctive after rogāvit.
Fūgērunt nē caperentur.
nē: negative purpose.Show answer
Purpose. nē: negative purpose.
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
In Hostēs terrōre fūgērunt, terrōre is an ablative of …
- It says why they fled, not when
Show answer
cause. Ablative of cause: from fear.
In Trēs diēs mānsit, trēs diēs is …
- It is accusative
Show answer
accusative of extent (how long). How long: accusative.
Hoc erat magnō impedīmentō Gallīs. impedīmentō is a …
- It says what the thing served as
Show answer
dative of purpose. Dative of purpose, with Gallīs as the person affected.
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: ut, nē, cum, tam, quis, vēnit, vēnisset, rogāvit, fūgērunt, caperentur, monēret, laudārent, hostēs, mīlitēs, lēgātus, terrōre, praesidiō, impedīmentō, Gallīs, castrīs, trēs diēs, erat, magnō, hoc, relīquit, legiōnēs. Read me a short Latin sentence using these words, and I will read it back aloud, translate it, and name each construction (for example 'purpose clause', 'ablative of cause', 'accusative of extent'). Do 6 sentences, getting longer. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
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In short
- Dative of purpose, often with a dative of the person: magnō impedīmentō Gallīs.
- Description: genitive for measurements, ablative for physical features, either for other qualities; always with an adjective.
- Know the jobs of each case and each subjunctive use; name constructions by what they do.
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Check yourself
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Translate Duās legiōnēs praesidiō relīquit.
Show answer
He left two legions as a guard.
Name three uses of the subjunctive.
Show answer
Any three of: purpose, indirect command, fearing, result, characteristic, cum clauses, indirect questions, wishes.
Which case for "a man with big feet"?
Show answer
The ablative (physical description): homō magnīs pedibus.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lessons LXXV–LXXIX, §§ 435–458. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
- Next: the readers at the back of D'Ooge (The Labors of Hercules and the story of Lentulus), free on Project Gutenberg.
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