Noun Cases

The Locative Case

When indicating place where, Latin typically uses the preposition in joined to a noun in the ablative case, such as in horto, "in the garden," or sometimes ad with the accusative, such as ad hortum. However, certain nouns in Latin use the locative case (from Latin locus meaning "place") exclusively and never use in or ad to indicate place where. The locative case is used for names of towns, cities, small islands and the nouns domus, rus and humus. The locative case never uses a preposition.

Forms of the Locative Case

For first and second declensions, locatives resemble the genitive in singular forms and the dative/ablative in the plural.

For the third declension, the locative resembles the ablative in the locative singular and plural. Occasionally the locative singular may resemble the dative singular.

Exempli Gratia

1. Cicero habitavit Arpini - Cicero lived at Arpinum.
   
   
   • Arpinum is the name of a city and is therefore used in this sentence in the locative case. Arpinum, -i, n. is a second declension noun, so the loctive form is Arpini.
2. Hodie Romae magnus tumultus est - Today there is much uproar in Rome.
   
   
   • Roma, -ae, f. is first declension, so the locative is Romae.
3. Manebimus Athenis per totum mensem - We will stay in Athens for a whole month.
   
   
   • Athenae, -arum, f. is a first declension noun, but it occurs only in the plural. As a result the locative for this city is always Athenis.
4. Bellum gerentur Carthagine - War is being waged at Carthage.
   
   
   • Carthago, -inis, f. is a third declension noun and the locative form is Carthagine or Carthagini.
5. Gaudeo quod domi sum - I am happy that I am at home
6. Corpora occisorum humi iacent - The bodies of the fallen lie on the ground.
7. Eo tempore princeps ruri est - At the moment the emperor is in the country.
   
   
   • rus, ruris, n. is a third declension noun, and for this noun in particular the locative may be either ruri or rure.

Practice with this locative case exercise.

Accusative of Motion Towards

While not strictly the locative case, this concept has the same conditions and warrants an explanation here. For towns, cities and small islands, the accusative without a prepostion is used to indicate motion towards.

Exempli Gratia

1. Regressus est domum - He returned home.
2. Eamusne rus? - Shall we go to the country?
3. Sane, possumusne Baias ire? - Sure, can we go to Baiae?

J.Jahnige, May 2006

Grammatica ^