About the Language I

1. About the Language I Stage XI: dative case

2. A. Review of the Dative • In Stage 9, you met the dative case: mercator Metellae togam tradidit. The merchant handed over the toga to Metella. Grumio hospitibus cenam parabat. Grumio was preparing a mean for the guests.

3. Simply Dative • In Stage 11, you have met some further examples: mercatores agricolis respondent. The merchants reply to the farmers. Quartus Holconio favet. Quartus gives support to Holconius. nos pistori credimus. We give our trust to the baker. The sentences above can be translated more simply: The merchants answer the farmers. Quartus supports Holconius. We trust the baker.

4. C. Further examples: • nos Afro favemus. • vos amicis creditis. • mercatores candidato nostro non credunt. • pistores mercatoribus respondent.

5. D. Dative with placet • Notice the following use of the dative with the verb placet: placetne tibi? mihi placet. Is it pleasing to you? It is pleasing to me. There are more natural ways of translating these examples, such as: Do you like it? Yes, I do. Is it okay with you? Yes, it is.

6. E. We and You • Notice the different cases of the words for we and you (plural): nos sumus fortes. vos estis ignavi. We are brave. You are lazy. dei nobis imperium dant. dei vobis nihil dant. The gods give an empire to us. The gods give nothing to you. omnes nos laudant. nemo vos laudat. All praise us. No one praises you. nominative nos vos dative nobis vobis accusative nos vos