DOM: Lesson - Vocative Case
Vocative Case
The vocative case is mostly used for direct address or to call someone by name. Let's learn more about the vocative endings for nouns and how the vocative case functions in a Latin sentence.
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Vocative Rule Quick Reference
Remember that the vocative case always has the same endings as the nominative case. There are two exceptions for 2nd Declension masculine nouns. For nouns like Decimus (which end in -us in the nominative), the vocative ending -e should be used.
- Nominative: Decimus. Change -us to -e:
- Vocative: Decime.
For nouns like Appius Claudius (which end in -ius in the nominative), the vocative simply drops the -us.
- Nominative: Claudius. Drop -us:
- Vocative: Claudi.
Write it down - here are the rules:
- For 2nd declension masculine nouns ending in -us: change -us to -e.
- For 2nd declension masculine nouns ending in -ius, drop -us.
Remember - these two exceptions are it. Every other noun in Latin, singular, plural, masculine, feminine or neuter, simply uses the Nominative form for the Vocative case.