| Step 1: Know the Order of the Cases | ||||||||
| The first step in
learning the second declension is knowing the order of the cases.
At first, you do not even need to know what the cases mean. Simply
be able to recite their names in proper order. The four basic cases
you need to know are these:
Repeat these four cases in order until you can recite them from memory. For the purposes of memorization, you do not need to list the vocative separately, since it usually takes the same case form as the nominative. |
| Step 2: Learn the 2d Declension Endings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The second
step is to learn the second declension endings. These
singular and plural endings must be learned in correlation with the
order of the cases that you have already memorized.
Remember that the masculine singular has a separate vocative form: e.
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| Step 3: Understand Case Functions | ||||||||||||
| The third step is to understand
case functions in order to translate second declension
substantives that you encounter.
You should know that the nominative case is used to designate the subject of a clause or sentence, and the accusative case marks the direct object. The other case functions can be translated using the Key Words often associated with them:
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