Page:The New Latin Primer (Postgate).djvu/91

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Accusative Case.
77

Accusative.

The chief uses of the Accusative are :

1. Accusative of Direct Object.

2. Accusative of Extent.

3. Accusative of Motion towards something.

4. Accusative as Subject to Infinitive.

§ 131. Accusative of Direct Object.—Transitive Verbs take an Accusative of the direct object of their action: vīdĕo fūrem I see a-thief, hōc rŏgō I-ask this.

The Accusative is also used in Exclamations when a person or thingis the object of a strong feeling, as ō mĭsĕrum hŏmĭnem O the wretched man!

§ 132. Accusative of Extent.Extent of Space. The Accusative is used of the extent of Space through which anything moves or extends : multă mīlĭă passŭum prōgrēssī sunt they advanced many thousands of paces (i.e. miles).

Accusative of Extent of Time.—The Accusative is used, by a metaphor, of the length of time throughout which an action goes on: bēstiŏlae quaedam ūnum dĭem vīvunt certain little-creatures live (only) one day.

Accusative of Sphere of Action.—The Accusative is also used to show the extent or sphere of an action or state.

(a) A Neuter Adjective or Pronoun: vălērĕ to-have-power, mŭltum vălērĕ to have much power, to be very powerful, hōc fallŏr I-am-mlstaken in-this.

(b) A Noun of same meaning as the Verb, with an Adjective or other defining word: lūdum īnsŏlentem lūdĕrĕ to-play an arrogant game. This is called the Cognate Ace.

§ 133. Accusative of Motion towards a Place.—Only of names of Towns and small Islands; also dŏmum home, rūs to-the-country, fŏrās out-of-doors. Corcȳram nāvĭgāvĭmus we sailed to-Corcyra. With other words a Preposition is required.

For the Accusative of Purpose from Verbal Nouns, see § 194.