Grammar / Case

English uses word order to specify the grammatical role words have in a sentence (e.g. "The dog ate the cat." versus "The cat ate the dog.") Greek, on the other hand, has a more flexible word order and instead uses case endings at the end of nouns and adjectives.

Nominative

The subject of a verb uses the nominative case. Typically, this is whoever or whatever is performing the verb's action.

Accusative

The object of a verb uses the accusative case. Typically, this is whoever or whatever is receiving the verb's action.

Dative

The dative case denotes an indirect object (translated as "to ..." or "for ..."); means or agency, especially impersonal means (translated as "by ..."); or a location. It is also frequently used as an object of a preposition, and often, a preposition can take a noun in either the genitive or dative case with different meanings.

Genitive

The genitive case denotes source or origin (this function is also called the ablative), or kind or possession. It is also often used for an object of a preposition.

Vocative

The vocative case is used for direct address.