Cases

MF

N

MF

N

MF

N

Explanation

Nominative (case1)

ah   au ī ah i

In this case the noun names a particular thing which means that the noun takes the position of the subject in a sentence. For example, “man eats”

Accusative (case 2)

am

  au ī ah i

This case denotes”to/toward”. The noun in this case occupies the place of direct object. “they eat men”

Instrumental (case3)

ā ā bhyām bhyām bhih bhih

This case denotes “by/through/by the means of/with”. The noun in this case appears as an instrument of the verb. “they grow by men”; The environment is being degraded by plastics.

Dative (case4)

e e bhyām bhyām bhyah bhyah

This case denotes “to/for”. The noun in this case occupies the place of indirect object. “We give food to man”. man here is the indirect object whereas food is the direct object; also expresses purpose John gave Janet a dress

Ablative (case5)

ah ah bhyām bhyām bhyah bhyah

This case denotes “from/because of/due to”. Noun in this case indicates the origin or the instrument. “they come from man” or “from man everything else is generated”; You are drawing water from the well.;The word is mightier than the sword.

Genitive (case6)

ah ah oh oh ām ām

This case denotes “of” i.e. the noun in this case gives a sense of belonging to. “the cat of man”

Locative (case7)

i i oh oh su su

This case denotes “in/on”. The noun in this case gives a sense of location. “virtues live in man”. It can also mean "with regard / respect to" in the case of absolute constructions.

Vocative (case8)

    au ī ah i

This case denotes “oh/hey” i.e. noun in this case indicates calling or invocation. “hey wake up” or “hey, come here”

General order: NOM INST DAT ACC VERB
EG: rāmo (vīreṇa saha bālāya) pustakam paṭhati रामो (वीरेण सह बालाय) पुस्तकं पठति |
Rāma reads the book (with the hero for the boy).

INSTRUMENTAL

Rāma goes with the son

rāmah putreṇa saha gacchati

Rāma goes without the son

rāmah putreṇa vinā gacchati

I stand with my man

 mama nareṇa saha tiṣṭhāmi

I am with the deer

mṛgeṇa saha bhavāmi

I live with your elephant

 tava gajena saha vasāmi

You speak with the two men

narābhyām saha vasasi

We two go with the two horses

aśvābhyām saha gacchāvah

We all go with many horses

aśvaih saha gacchāmah

You two go with the men

naraih saha gacchathah

I am without the hero

vīreṇa saha bhavāmi

We two are without two horses

aśvābhyām vinā bhavāvah

   

How to say “About”. Only applies to pṛccha (ask) and vada (speak). EG:

Rāma speaks to the hero about the elephants     rāmah gajān vīram vadati (रामः गजान् वीरम् वदति)

Hero asks the man about the two sons   : vīrah putrau naram pṛcchati (वीरः पुत्रौ नरम् पृच्छति)

Placement: “About __” word is (1) in ACC (2) furthest away from verb.

DATIVE

Men stand for Rāma

narāh rāmāya tiṣṭhanti नराः रामाय तिष्ठन्ति

Boy goes to the man for the deer

bālah mṛgāya naram gacchati बालः मृगाय नरं गच्छति |

ABALATIVE

Horse goes from the man.

aśvah narāt gacchati (अश्वो नरात् गच्छति)

He comes from the elephant.

gajāt āgacchati (गजात् आगच्छति)

The son comes from the horses.

putrah aśvebhyah āgacchati

The elephants come from the two men.

gajāh narābhyām āgacchanti

(How do we know it's not dative, “for the two men”? We don't know directly. However context will tell indirectly).

I drink water from the cup.

caṣakāt jalam pibāmi

Rāma comes from the village.

rāmah grāmāt āgacchati

LOCATIVE             

live in the city

`nagare vasāmi

I stand on the horse

aśve tiṣṭhāmi (अश्वे तिष्ठामि)

She speaks in the village

grāme vadati

Man lives in the village

 grāme narah vasati

Water is in the cup

caṣake jalamnom bhavati

There is a leaf in the water

jale parṇamnom bhavati

Beloved is everywhere in my heart

priyah mama hṛdaye sarvatra bhavati (प्रियः मम हृदये सर्वत्र भवति)

Garment is on Rāma

 rāme vastramnom asti/bhavati

Where do I stand on the elephant?

kutra gaje tiṣṭhāmi

GENITIVE

 Horse of the man/Man's horse.

arasya aśvah

(Boy's horse) goes to Rāma. / (Horse of the boy) goes to Rāma.

(bālasya aśvah) rāmam gacchati

The hero remembers (the king of men).

narāṇām nṛpam) vīrah smarati

(Heroes of immortality) go to Rāma, for the son.

(amṛtasya vīrāh) putrāya rāmam gacchanti

The king sees the (horse of the hero).

nṛpah (vīrasya aśvam) paśyati