Neuter Nouns Look the Same

Level 1

For neuter nouns, the rest of the sentence shows the job.

How It Works

CaseSingularPlural
nominativedonumdona
accusativedonumdona

In Donum est bonum, donum is the subject. In Marcus donum videt, it is the object, because Marcus is already the subject.

The rule holds for every neuter noun in the language, including the third declension (nomen, corpus) and neuter pronouns and adjectives (bonum).

A quick test: if another noun in the nominative is already the subject, the neuter noun is the object. If there is no other subject, ask what makes sense: Donum est bonum has the gift as its subject, but Donum videt means He sees the gift.

Examples (5)

  1. Donum bonum est.

    The gift is good.

    Donum is the subject here.

  2. Marcus donum videt.

    Marcus sees the gift.

    The same form, donum, is the object here.

  3. Dona bona sunt.

    The gifts are good.

    Dona is the nominative plural.

  4. Iulia dona portat.

    Iulia carries the gifts.

    Dona is the accusative plural, the same as the nominative.

  5. Verbum Marcus audit.

    Marcus hears the word.

    Marcus is the subject, so verbum, even in first place, is the object.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Neuter Nouns Look the SameLevel 1

Learn This First

The shared subject and object form shows up in verbum, so the neuter family comes first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.