Latin Cases - 1) Accuasative

The Grammar section of  Collins Latin Dictionary And Grammar explains as follows:

 Accusative Case

1. for the direct object of the verb
canis baculum petit (the dog fetches the stick)

2. with verbs of teaching and asking which take accuasative of a person and thing
puerum litteras decebo (I sahll teach my boy litertaure)

3. verbs of naming, making, etc take two accusaives for the same person or thing
Ancum Martium regem populus creavit (The people made Ancus Martius king)

4. in exclamation
o tempora, o mores (what times, what conduct !)

5. to show extent of space
murus dacem pedes altus est (the wall is 10 feet high)

6. to show extent of time
Troia decem annos obsessa est (Troy was under siege for 10 years)

7.  to show motion to a place or country usually with a preposition'
ad Hsipaniam effugerunt (they escaped to Sapin)

 8. to show motion towards, without a reposition, before anmes of towns and small islandse
Note also: domum (home), rus (to the country), foras (utside)
Athenas legati missi sunt (Ambassadors were sent to Athens)

9. for an object with similar meaning to the verb (congnate)
vitam boram visit (he lived a good life)

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1. for the direct object of the verb
canis baculum petit (the dog fetches the stick)

New Latin Grammar (Charles E. Bennett) explains:

172. The Accusative is the Case of the Direct Object.

173. The Direct Object may express either of the two following relations:—

A. The PERSON OR THING AFFECTED by the action; as,—

cōnsulem interfēcit, he slew the consul.
legō librum, I read the book.

B. The RESULT PRODUCED by the action; as,—

librum scrīpsī, I wrote a book (i.e. produced one);
templum struit, he constructs a temple.

Accusative of the Person or Thing Affected.

This is the most frequent use of the Accusative; as in—

parentēs amāmus, we love our parents;
mare aspicit, he gazes at the sea.

But the things are not so simple especially in case of A. The PERSON OR THING AFFECTED by the action.
1) cōnsulem interfēcit, he slew the consul. - This seems OK as the consul was affected (slain).
2) legō librum, I read the book. - This is a bit strange as the book was note directly affected (no or very little physically changed) by the action of reading. If the book was broken (deformed) or thrown away (the location was changed) he book was affected.
3) parentēs amāmus, we love our parents. - This is also a bit strange as the parents were not physically affected (not changed).
4) mare aspicit, he gazes at the sea. - This is apparently strange as the see was not affected at all by the action of seeing.


My Comment

The author says "the things are not so simple ....."  Actually this should be "the grammar (or the language)  is not so simple ....." What is the problem. I think the the problem is the definition of the Accusative case at the begnning - The PERSON OR THING AFFECTED by the action.


"The PERSON OR THING AFFECTED by the action" is not necessary physically (able to be seen by eyes) and can be "The PERSON OR THING AFFECTED by the action psychologically" as well.

Then

2) legō librum, I read the book. - This is a bit strange as the book was note directly affected (no or very little physically changed) by the action of reading.

is not strange as the content of the book was taken by the reader by the action of reading.

3) parentēs amāmus, we love our parents. - This is also a bit strange as the parents were not physically affected (not changed).

is not strange as the parents are treated as an direct object of the action of loving.

4) mare aspicit, he gazes at the sea. - This is apparently strange as the see was not affected at all by the action of seeing.

is not strange as the sea is treated as an direct object of the action of seeing (gazing at). Please also note the difference between "to gaze at" and "to see". "To see" takes a direct object but "to gaze" does not. "To gaze" requires "at", which means that you can directly see the sea by using "to see" but you cannot directly see it by using "to gaze". You cannot directly get a sight of the see by "to gaze". Furthermore "You gaze at this but you do not see this"  means "You only gaze at this but do not see the meaning of this". In depth psychologically, you do not take anything out from the scenery by "to gaze at" but you take something out from the scenery."  "To take" is a definite action and takes a direct object.

This applies to legō librum. Reading is a mental, psychological action and can take a direct object. You take something out from the book by the action of reading.

So the definition of the Accusative case shall be

The object is either physically or psychologically is affected by the action of the subject.

More purely "physically" you cannot see an object without light. Light is the key to the seeing function or phenomenon. Light does some affect to your eyes. So in truth more scientifically you cannot see the sea but "Sea is seen to your eyes" or more simply "The see is seen to you".

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2. with verbs of teaching and asking which take accusative of a person and thing
puerum litteras decebo (I sahll teach my boy litertaure)

Some other examples

New Latin Grammar (Charles E. Bennett) explains:

Two Accusatives—Person and Thing.

178. 1. Some Verbs take two Accusatives, one of the Person Affected, the other of the Result Produced. Thus:—

a) Verbs of requesting and demanding; as,—

ōtium dīvōs rogat, he asks the gods for rest;
mē duās ōrātiōnēs postulās, you demand two speeches of me.

So also ōrō, poscō, reposcō, exposcō, flāgitō, though some of these prefer the Ablative with ab to the Accusative of the Person; as,—

opem ā tē poscō, I demand aid of you.

b) Verbs of teaching (doceō and its compounds); as,—

tē litterās doceō, I teach you your letters.

c) Verbs of inquiring; as,—

tē haec rogō, I ask you this;
tē sententiam rogō, I ask you your opinion.

d) Several Special Verbs; viz. moneō, admoneō, commoneō, cōgō, accūsō, arguō, and a few others. These admit only a Neuter Pronoun or Adjective as Accusative of the Thing; as,—

hōc tē moneō, I give you this advice;
mē id accūsās, you bring this accusation against me;
id cōgit nōs nātūra, nature compels us (to) this.

e) One Verb of concealing, cēlōa; as,—

nōn tē cēlāvī sermōnem, I have not concealed the conversation from you.

2. In the Passive construction the Accusative of the Person becomes the Subject, and the Accusative of the Thing is retained; as,—

omnēs artēs ēdoctus est, he was taught all accomplishments;
rogātus sum sententiam, I was asked my opinion;
multa ādmonēmur, we are given many admonitions.

a. Only a few Verbs admit the Passive construction.

My comment


a)  demand xxx of you

mē duās ōrātiōnēs postulās, you demand two speeches of me.
opem ā tē poscō, I demand aid of you.

Are these English are correct?

of you is regarded as the Genitive case.

b) Mr A says "I want to ask you a question."

In this sentence you is an indirect object (as "to whom" Mr A asks a question) and a question is a direct object (as what Mr A ask). Is is correct. Some ambiguity exists. Mr A also says " I want to ask you to give me an answer." In this sentence you is a direct object while me is an indirect object and an answer is a direct object of give. In English you remains you either as a direct object or as an indirect object - me, him, her, us, them do so as well. Because of this the difference between the direct object and the indirect object become obscured.

she asked him the time of the train
If you change this sentence to she asked him to tell the time of the train, him becomes an direct object.

Ref

Ask - www.thefreedictionary. com

1. (often foll by about) to put a question (to); request an answer (from) she asked (him) about God

2. (tr) to inquire about she asked him the time of the train she asked the way

3. (tr) to direct or put (a question)

4. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive; often foll by for) to make a request or demand she asked (him) for information they asked for a deposit

5. (tr) to demand or expect (esp in the phrases ask a lot of, ask too much of)

6. (tr) Also ask out ask over to request (a person) politely to come or go to a place; invite he asked her to the party

7. (tr) to need; require the job asks both time and patience

8. (tr) Archaic to proclaim (marriage banns)


c) Special verbs

d) Several Special Verbs; viz. moneō, admoneō, commoneō, cōgō, accūsō, arguō, and a few others. These admit only a Neuter Pronoun or Adjective as Accusative of the Thing; as,—

hōc tē moneō, I give you this advice;
mē id accūsās, you bring this accusation against me;
id cōgit nōs nātūra, nature compels us (to) this

moneō  -         to remind , to admonish, to warn, to advise, to instruct

admoneō  -     to admonish, to remind
commoneō -   to remind, to warn

cōgō -              to restrict, to confine; to compel
accūsō -          to accuse
arguō -           to declare, to prove; to accuse, to blame, to expose, to convict

What special ?  What are in common ?

Most these verbs describe verbal actions or mental behaviors and directly involve or are related with  a person or persons. So it is natural to take the Accusative case of Pronoun.


How these verbs used in German ?  German still keeps the Dative.




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3. verbs of naming, making, etc take two accusaives for the same person or thing
Ancum Martium regem populus creavit (The people made Ancus Martius king)

Some other examples

New Latin Grammar (Charles E. Bennett) explains:

Two Accusatives—Direct Object and Predicate Accusative.

177. Many Verbs of Making, Choosing, Calling, Showing, and the like, take two Accusatives, one of the Person or Thing Affected, the other a Predicate Accusative; as,—

mē hērēdem fēcit, he made me heir.

Here mē is Direct Object, hērēdēm Predicate Accusative. So also—

eum jūdicem cēpēre, they took him as judge;
urbem Rōmam vocāvit, he called the city Rome;
sē virum praestitit, he showed himself a man.

2. The Predicate Accusative may be an Adjective as well as a Noun; as,—

hominēs caecōs reddit cupiditās, covetousness renders men blind;
Apollō Sōcratem sapientissimum jūdicāvit, Apollo adjudged Socrates the wisest man.

a. Some Verbs, as reddō, usually admit only an Adjective as the Predicate Accusative.

3. In the Passive the Direct Object becomes the Subject, and the Predicate Accusative becomes Predicate Nominative (§ 168, 2, b): as,—

urbs Rōma vocāta est, the city was called Rome

a. Not all Verbs admit the Passive construction; reddō and efficiō, for example, never take it.


9. for an object with similar meaning to the verb (congnate)
vitam boram visit (he lived a good life)




New Latin Grammar (Charles E. Bennett)
2. The following classes of Verbs taking an Accusative of this kind are worthy of note:—

a) Many Intransitive Verbs, when compounded with a Preposition, become Transitive. Thus:—

1) Compounds of circum, praeter, trāns; as,—
hostēs circumstāre, to surround the enemy;
urbem praeterīre, to pass by the city;
mūrōs trānscendere, to climb over the walls.
2) Less frequently, compounds of ad, per, in, sub; as,—
adīre urbem, to visit the city;
peragrāre Italiam, to travel through Italy;
inīre magistrātum, to take office;
subīre perīculum, to undergo danger.

b) Many Verbs expressing emotions, regularly Intransitive, have also a Transitive use; as,—

queror fātum, I lament my fate;
doleō ejus mortem, I grieve at his death;
rīdeō tuam stultitiam, I laugh at your folly.

So also lūgeō, maereō, mourn; gemō, bemoan; horreō, shudder, and others.

c) The impersonals decet, it becomes; dēdecet, it is unbecoming; juvat, it pleases, take the Accusative of the Person Affected; as,—

mē decet haec dīcere, it becomes me to say this.

d) In poetry many Passive Verbs, in imitation of Greek usage, are employed as Middles (§ 256, 1; 2), and take the Accusative as Object; as,—

galeam induitur, he puts on his helmet;
cīnctus tempora hederā, having bound his temples with ivy;
nōdō sinus collēcta, having gathered her dress in a knot.

174. Verbs that admit a Direct Object of either of these two types are TRANSITIVE VERBS.

a. Verbs that regularly take a Direct Object are sometimes used without it. They are then said to be employed absolutely; as,—

rūmor est meum gnātum amāre, it is rumored that my son is in love.

Accusative of the Person or Thing Affected.

175. 1. This is the most frequent use of the Accusative; as in—

parentēs amāmus, we love our parents;
mare aspicit, he gazes at the sea.

2. The following classes of Verbs taking an Accusative of this kind are worthy of note:—

a) Many Intransitive Verbs, when compounded with a Preposition, become Transitive. Thus:—

1) Compounds of circum, praeter, trāns; as,—
hostēs circumstāre, to surround the enemy;
urbem praeterīre, to pass by the city;
mūrōs trānscendere, to climb over the walls.
2) Less frequently, compounds of ad, per, in, sub; as,—
adīre urbem, to visit the city;
peragrāre Italiam, to travel through Italy;
inīre magistrātum, to take office;
subīre perīculum, to undergo danger.

b) Many Verbs expressing emotions, regularly Intransitive, have also a Transitive use; as,—

queror fātum, I lament my fate;
doleō ejus mortem, I grieve at his death;
rīdeō tuam stultitiam, I laugh at your folly.

So also lūgeō, maereō, mourn; gemō, bemoan; horreō, shudder, and others.

c) The impersonals decet, it becomes; dēdecet, it is unbecoming; juvat, it pleases, take the Accusative of the Person Affected; as,—

mē decet haec dīcere, it becomes me to say this.

d) In poetry many Passive Verbs, in imitation of Greek usage, are employed as Middles (§ 256, 1; 2), and take the Accusative as Object; as,—

galeam induitur, he puts on his helmet;
cīnctus tempora hederā, having bound his temples with ivy;
nōdō sinus collēcta, having gathered her dress in a knot.

Accusative of the Result Produced.

176. 1. The ordinary type of this Accusative is seen in such expressions as—

librum scrībō, I write a book;
domum aedificō, I build a house.

2. Many Verbs usually Intransitive take a Neuter Pronoun, or Adjective, as an Accusative of Result. Thus:—

a) A Neuter Pronoun; as,—

haec gemēbat, he made these moans;
idem glōriārī, to make the same boast;
eadem peccat, he makes the same mistakes.

b) A Neuter Adjective,—particularly Adjectives of number or amount,—multum, multa, pauca, etc.; also nihil; as,—

multa egeō, I have many needs;
pauca studet, he has few interests;
multum valet, he has great strength;
nihil peccat, he makes no mistake.

NOTE.—In poetry other Adjectives are freely used in this construction; as—

minitantem vāna, making vain threats;
acerba tuēns, giving a fierce look;
dulce loquentem, sweetly talking.

3. The adverbial use of several Neuter Pronouns and Adjectives grows out of this Accusative; as,—

multum sunt in vēnātiōne, they are much engaged in hunting.

a. So also plūrimum, very greatly; plērumque, generally; aliquid, somewhat; quid, why? nihil, not at all; etc.

4. Sometimes an Intransitive Verb takes an Accusative of Result which is of kindred etymology with the Verb. This is called a COGNATE ACCUSATIVE, and is usually modified by an Adjective; as,—

sempiternam servitūtem serviat, let him serve an everlasting slavery;
vītam dūram vīxī, I have lived a hard life.

a. Sometimes the Cognate Accusative is not of kindred etymology, but merely of kindred meaning; as,—

stadium currit, he runs a race;
Olympia vincit, he wins an Olympic victory.

5. The Accusative of Result occurs also after Verbs of tasting and smelling; as,—

piscis mare sapit, the fish tastes of the sea;
ōrātiōnēs antīquitātem redolent, the speeches smack of the past.

Two Accusatives—Direct Object and Predicate Accusative.

177. Many Verbs of Making, Choosing, Calling, Showing, and the like, take two Accusatives, one of the Person or Thing Affected, the other a Predicate Accusative; as,—

mē hērēdem fēcit, he made me heir.

Here mē is Direct Object, hērēdēm Predicate Accusative. So also—

eum jūdicem cēpēre, they took him as judge;
urbem Rōmam vocāvit, he called the city Rome;
sē virum praestitit, he showed himself a man.

2. The Predicate Accusative may be an Adjective as well as a Noun; as,—

hominēs caecōs reddit cupiditās, covetousness renders men blind;
Apollō Sōcratem sapientissimum jūdicāvit, Apollo adjudged Socrates the wisest man.

a. Some Verbs, as reddō, usually admit only an Adjective as the Predicate Accusative.

3. In the Passive the Direct Object becomes the Subject, and the Predicate Accusative becomes Predicate Nominative (§ 168, 2, b): as,—

urbs Rōma vocāta est, the city was called Rome.

a. Not all Verbs admit the Passive construction; reddō and efficiō, for example, never take it.

Two Accusatives—Person and Thing.

178. 1. Some Verbs take two Accusatives, one of the Person Affected, the other of the Result Produced. Thus:—

a) Verbs of requesting and demanding; as,—

ōtium dīvōs rogat, he asks the gods for rest;
mē duās ōrātiōnēs postulās, you demand two speeches of me.

So also ōrō, poscō, reposcō, exposcō, flāgitō, though some of these prefer the Ablative with ab to the Accusative of the Person; as,—

opem ā tē poscō, I demand aid of you.

b) Verbs of teaching (doceō and its compounds); as,—

tē litterās doceō, I teach you your letters.

c) Verbs of inquiring; as,—

tē haec rogō, I ask you this;
tē sententiam rogō, I ask you your opinion.

d) Several Special Verbs; viz. moneō, admoneō, commoneō, cōgō, accūsō, arguō, and a few others. These admit only a Neuter Pronoun or Adjective as Accusative of the Thing; as,—

hōc tē moneō, I give you this advice;
mē id accūsās, you bring this accusation against me;
id cōgit nōs nātūra, nature compels us (to) this.

e) One Verb of concealing, cēlōa; as,—

nōn tē cēlāvī sermōnem, I have not concealed the conversation from you.

2. In the Passive construction the Accusative of the Person becomes the Subject, and the Accusative of the Thing is retained; as,—

omnēs artēs ēdoctus est, he was taught all accomplishments;
rogātus sum sententiam, I was asked my opinion;
multa ādmonēmur, we are given many admonitions.

a. Only a few Verbs admit the Passive construction.

Two Accusatives with Compounds.

179. 1. Transitive compounds of trāns may take two Accusatives, one dependent upon the Verb, the other upon the Preposition, as,—

mīlitēs flūmen trānsportat, he leads his soldiers across the river.

2. With other compounds this construction is rare.
3. In the Passive the Accusative dependent upon the preposition is retained; as,—

mīlitēs flūmen trādūcēbantur, the soldiers were led across the river.