We say in English "I strike him," not "I strike he," and "He strikes me," not "He strikes I;" for in these sentences the persons who strike are put in the nominative, and the persons whom they strike in the accusative. But very few words in English, as it is spoken and written We say in English "I strike him," not "I strike he," and "He strikes me," not "He strikes I;" for in these sentences the persons who strike are put in the nominative, and the persons whom they strike in the accusative. But very few words in English, as it is spoken and written nowadays,1 have an accusative case different from the nominative. We say, for instance, "The stone struck me" and "I struck the stone," and the word "stone" is not altered as "me" is to "I." In Latin, on the other hand, most words have an accusative case different from the nominative, and great care must be taken to use the accusative when the noun in English follows the verb. In such a sentence, therefore, as "He strikes the table," the table would be " mensam." Obs. In putting the Latin sentences into English an a or a the will have often to be added, whichever of the two seems the more suitable. The English of the words is to be found on p. 257. (1.) 1. Puella Juliam laudat. 12. Julia Corneliam amat. 1 English used to be more like Latin in this respect; for instance, 'tunge' (now 'tongue') used to have an accusative 'tungan.' |