(Intensive) Latin s20
Bates College
Short Term, '01

In addition to indicating syntactical and grammatical content through prepositions (as in English), Latin indicates that content through case endings (e.g., nominative -> subject of verb).  Yesterday we learned the general categories that cases are used for.  Throughout the rest of the course we will learn special uses of the different cases.  You need to memorize the name of the usage (e.g., "genitive of charge/penalty") so you will be able to distinguish between different types of usages of the same case.

Today's grammar factoid is the "genitive of the charge and penalty."  For reasons best known to the Romans, whenever they described a charge or the penalty for a crime or civil lawsuit, the used the genitive case (we use the prepositions "with" and "for" for the charge and an ordinary direct object (or the preposition "to") for the penalty).

English e.g.s

She sued him for breach of contract.
He charged him with grand larceny.

He was sentenced to 40 years.
He got life.
He paid a million in civil fines.
 

Latin

Puellam cürae culpat.

The girl of concern he blames.
He blames the girl for her concern.
 

Nautam pecüniae dämnävit.
 

The sailor of money he sentenced.
He sentenced the sailor (to pay) money.

NB: you can't really translate these sentences unless you know the usage "genitive of the charge & penalty" because you can't otherwise explain the grammar of the genitive in cürae  or  pecüniae .