837
edits
(→Nouns) |
(→Nouns) |
||
Line 444: | Line 444: | ||
Nouns have no grammatical gender but are marked for case and number. There are two cases: the '''Nominative-Accusative''' (NA) which is used for the subject and direct object of verbs; and the '''Genitive-Dative''' (GD) which is used following prepositions and in some other constructions. Each case is marked in the singular and plural. | Nouns have no grammatical gender but are marked for case and number. There are two cases: the '''Nominative-Accusative''' (NA) which is used for the subject and direct object of verbs; and the '''Genitive-Dative''' (GD) which is used following prepositions and in some other constructions. Each case is marked in the singular and plural. | ||
Nouns belong to one of | Nouns belong to one of five declensions based on the NASg. Indefinite: | ||
* 1st and | * 1st, 2nd and 3rd declension end in a vowel (''-a'', ''-e'' or ''-o'') | ||
* | * 4th declension end in a consonant | ||
* | * 5th declension have a stem in -n but a NASg in a vowel, usually ''-u'', sometimes ''-a'' | ||
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" text-align:center;" | {| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" text-align:center;" | ||
Line 497: | Line 497: | ||
* stem-final ''v'' disappears before ''-v'' of the GDPl. and 3rd NAPl., e.g. ''ĺova'' "coal" (NASg.) → ''ĺova'' (GDPl.), ''ńivo'' "action, deed" (NASg.) → ''ńiva''. | * stem-final ''v'' disappears before ''-v'' of the GDPl. and 3rd NAPl., e.g. ''ĺova'' "coal" (NASg.) → ''ĺova'' (GDPl.), ''ńivo'' "action, deed" (NASg.) → ''ńiva''. | ||
* a number of 4th declension nouns have a NASg. ending in a vowel, e.g. ''tei'' "house", ''mau'' "place", ''neu'' "sky". They form their GDSg. and Pl. normally, e.g. ''teje'', ''mave'', ''neve''. | * a number of 4th declension nouns have a NASg. ending in a vowel, e.g. ''tei'' "house", ''mau'' "place", ''neu'' "sky". They form their GDSg. and Pl. normally, e.g. ''teje'', ''mave'', ''neve''. | ||
* a group of 5th declension nouns has an NASg. in -C''u'' (where C represents any consonant) but a stem in -C''on-'', e.g. ''camvu'' "whelp, lad", pl. ''camvone''. | * a group of 5th declension nouns has an NASg. in -C''u'' (where C represents any consonant) but a stem in -C''on-'', e.g. ''cu'' "dog", pl. ''cone'' ''camvu'' "whelp, lad", pl. ''camvone''. | ||
The following nouns are irregular: | The following nouns are irregular: | ||
Line 533: | Line 533: | ||
====The Vocative==== | ====The Vocative==== | ||
A vestigial vocative case exists when addressing people or things directly. In most cases, the singular form of the vocative is identical to the NASg. (e.g. ''Bracźi'' "Bracźi!"), but for masculine personal names of the 1st declension, the vocative ending ''-e'' is used, e.g. ''Craumare'' "Craumara!". In the plural, all nouns are identical to the NAPl., e.g. ''braģa'' "brothers!". | A vestigial vocative case exists when addressing people or things directly. In most cases, the singular form of the vocative is identical to the NASg. (e.g. ''Bracźi'' "Bracźi!"), but for masculine personal names of the 1st declension, the vocative ending ''-e'' is used, e.g. ''Craumare'' "Craumara!". In the plural, all nouns are identical to the NAPl., e.g. ''braģa'' "brothers!", ''Carta, Rouńi, Căbroî!'' "Friends, Romans, Countrymen!". | ||
A specifically polite or respectful form of the vocative, ending in ''-u'', is used only when showing extreme deference and is particularly associated with words denoting people of high authority, e.g. ''bźaŝnu'' "(your) majesty)", ''teźnu'' "(my) lord". | A specifically polite or respectful form of the vocative, ending in ''-u'', is used only when showing extreme deference and is particularly associated with words denoting people of high authority, e.g. ''bźaŝnu'' "(your) majesty)", ''teźnu'' "(my) lord". |
edits