grammatical case crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're tackling a crossword and the clue 'grammatical case' has you puzzled, you've come to the right place. We've compiled a comprehensive list of potential answers, sorted by length, to help you complete your puzzle with ease.
Solutions for "grammatical case crossword clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
CASE: The most direct and common answer for 'grammatical case' in crosswords, referring to the grammatical category itself.
6 Letters
DATIVE: A grammatical case used in many languages (e.g., Latin, German) to indicate the indirect object of a verb, often translated as 'to' or 'for' someone.
8 Letters
GENITIVE: A grammatical case expressing possession, origin, or relationship, often equivalent to the English possessive 's or 'of' phrases.
ABLATIVE: A grammatical case used in some languages (e.g., Latin) to express separation, direction from, cause, agent, or instrument.
10 Letters
NOMINATIVE: The grammatical case typically used for the subject of a verb and for a predicate nominative, indicating the actor or topic of a sentence.
ACCUSATIVE: A grammatical case used for the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions, indicating the receiver of an action.
More About "grammatical case"
Grammatical case is a fascinating aspect of language that defines the role a noun, pronoun, or adjective plays in a sentence. While modern English has largely shed its overt case system (except for pronouns like 'he' vs 'him'), many other languages, such as German, Latin, Russian, and Finnish, still feature intricate case systems. These systems allow for more flexible word order, as the case endings, rather than position, clarify grammatical relationships.
Understanding cases like Nominative (subject), Accusative (direct object), Genitive (possession), Dative (indirect object), and others (e.g., Vocative for direct address, Ablative for separation or means) is crucial for learners of case-rich languages. In crosswords, clues referencing "grammatical case" can be direct, asking for "CASE" itself, or more specific, hinting at one of the individual case names based on its length or context.
The beauty of grammatical cases lies in their ability to convey a wealth of information compactly. For instance, in Latin, a single word ending can tell you not just what the word means, but also its number (singular/plural) and its function within the sentence, making for highly nuanced communication.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider Length First: For "grammatical case," if it's a short answer (e.g., 4 letters), "CASE" is often the most probable solution. Longer answers will point to specific types like "NOMINATIVE" or "GENITIVE."
- Look for Language Clues: Sometimes the clue might hint at a specific language (e.g., "Latin case"). This can help you narrow down the possibilities if you have some knowledge of that language's case system.
- Context is King: Pay attention to surrounding words or linked clues. If another clue in the puzzle relates to subjects or objects, it might give you a hint towards Nominative or Accusative cases.
- Check for Common Patterns: Many case names end with common suffixes (e.g., -IVE). If you have a few letters filled in, try to see if they fit a known case name.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a grammatical case?
A grammatical case is a category of nouns, pronouns, adjectives, participles, or numerals, according to their grammatical function in a sentence. It indicates the relationship of a word to other words in the phrase, clause, or sentence.
Which languages use grammatical cases extensively?
Many languages use grammatical cases extensively, including Latin, Ancient Greek, German, Russian, Polish, Finnish, Hungarian, and Sanskrit. English retains only remnants of cases (e.g., pronoun forms like 'I' vs. 'me', 'he' vs. 'him').
How can grammatical cases help me solve crosswords?
Understanding grammatical cases can help you anticipate the type of word needed (e.g., a noun form). If the clue references a specific language or linguistic term, knowing common cases like Nominative, Genitive, or Dative can quickly lead you to the answer. The length of the answer can also often distinguish between general terms like 'CASE' and specific case names.