Accusative
Used as the direct object of a verb, or to communicate relationships of motion, space, or time.- Direct Object: Used as the direct object of a transitive verb. Smyth 1553-1555 “τὸν ἄνδρα ὁρῶ” Xen. Anab. 1.8.26; I see the man
- Cognate: Repeats the sense of the verb in the form of a verbal noun. Smyth 1563-1577 “τὴν ἐν Σαλαμῖνι ναυμαχίαν ναυμαχήσαντες” Dem. 59.97; victorious in the sea-fight at Salamis
- Subject of the Infinitive: Used as the subject of an infinitive. Smyth 1972-1981 “τὸν γὰρ καλὸν κἀγαθὸν ἄνδρα εὐδαίμονα εἶναί φημι” Plat. Gorg. 470e; for I maintain that the noble and good man is happy
- Specification or Respect: Limits the scope of a verb or an adjective. Smyth 1600-1605 “τυφλὸς τά τ᾽ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ εἶ” Soph. OT 371; you are blind in ears, and mind, and eyes
- Extent of Space: Describes the space over which an action takes place. Smyth 1581 “ἄγειν （στρατιὰν） στενὰς ὁδούς” Xen. Cyrop. 1.6.43 to lead an army over narrow roads
- Extent of Time: Describes the length of time of an action. Smyth 1582-1585 “ξυμμαχίαν ἐποιήσαντο ἑκατὸν ἔτη” Thuc. 3.114; they made an alliance for a hundred years
- End of Motion: Describes the motion towards something with prepositions. In poetry, the preposition may be omitted. Smyth 1588-1589 “πέμψομέν νιν Ἑλλάδα” Eur. Tro. 883; we will convey her to Greece
- Adverbial: The accusative may serve as an adverb. Smyth 1606-1611 “ἔπλεε πρόφασιν ἐπ᾽ Ἑλλησπόντου” Hdt. 5.33; he sailed professedly for the Hellespont
- Oaths: Used with verbs of swearing and the particles νή and μά Smyth 1596 “ὀμνύω ὑμῖν θεοὺς πάντας καὶ πάσας” Xen. Anab. 6.1.31; I swear to you by all the gods and goddesses.
- Double Accusative: Many verbs take two accusatives, one of the person affected, the other of the thing. Smyth 1619-1635 “ὁ πόλεμος ἀείμνηστον παιδείαν αὐτοὺς ἐπαίδευσε” Aeschin. 3.148; the war taught them a lesson they will hold in everlasting remembrance
- Predicate Accusative: Verbs of naming, appointing, considering take a second accusative as a predicate of the direct object. Smyth 1613-1618 “στρατηγὸν αὐτὸν ἀπέδειξε” Xen. Anab. 1.1.2; he appointed him general
