accusative
/ə'kju:zətiv/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Relating to grammatical case: In grammar, "accusative" describes the case of a noun, pronoun, or adjective that typically marks it as the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.
- Accusatory; containing accusation: Expressing or implying blame or accusation.
Noun:
- The accusative case: The grammatical case itself, used for nouns, pronouns, or adjectives that are the direct object of a verb.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- In Latin, the word "puellam" is in the accusative case, meaning it is the direct object of the verb.
- She gave him an accusative look, clearly blaming him for the mistake.
- Noun:
- In German, the definite article "den" indicates that the following noun is in the accusative.
- The verb "see" typically requires a noun in the accusative.
Advanced Usage
- Accusative with infinitive: A construction where the subject of an infinitive is in the accusative case.
- Example: In the sentence "I believe him to be honest," "him" is in the accusative as the subject of the infinitive "to be."
- Accusative of respect: A use of the accusative case to specify the respect in which a statement is true (common in some ancient languages like Greek and Latin).
- Example: The Latin phrase "miles vulneratus bracchium" (the soldier wounded in the arm) uses "bracchium" (arm) in the accusative of respect.
Variants and Related Words
- Accusatively (adverb): In an accusative manner; in a way that relates to the accusative case or expresses accusation.
- Accusatory (adjective): Another word specifically meaning "conveying or expressing accusation." This is a close synonym for the second adjectival meaning of "accusative."
Synonyms
- Objective case: A synonym for the accusative case, especially in English grammar.
- Blaming: (for the adjectival sense) Expressing censure or assigning responsibility for a fault.
Related Phrases
- Accusative ending: The inflectional suffix that marks a word as being in the accusative case.
- Example: In Russian, the accusative ending for feminine nouns often differs from the nominative.
- Accusative marker: A word or particle that indicates the accusative case.
- Example: In Japanese, the particle "を" (o/wo) is an accusative marker for direct objects.
Adjective
- serving as or indicating the object of a verb or of certain prepositions and used for certain other purposes
- objective case
- accusative endings
- containing or expressing accusation
- an accusitive forefinger
- black accusatory looks
- accusive shoes and telltale trousers- O.Henry
- his accusing glare
Noun
- the case of nouns serving as the direct object of a verb