Vocatives
Vocative is the case of direct address differing in form from the nominative only in second declension words ending in -us or -ius. The vocative functions interjectively and so has little connection to the syntax of the sentence.
- Words of the second declension ending in -us have a vocative singular in -e while words ending in -ius have a vocative singular in -i. All other forms of the vocative are identical to the nominative.
- Often preceded by O as a demarcation of address; Compare the Greek particle of address O (capital omega)
- O formose puer, nimium crede calori! O beautiful boy, do not trust your complexion too much!
- Salve, Marce Tulli Cicero! Hi, Marcus Tullius Cicero!
- The vocative is not used in a predicative sense, save rarely in poetry:
Quo, moriture, ruis? Where do you rush to die? (Where do you, you who are about to die, rush?)
renovata antediem tres Kalendis Juliis MMDCCLV A.U.C. (ab urbe condita)
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