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84. Case is that
form of a Noun (or Pronoun) which expresses its relation with
some other word in the sentence (sometimes the relation itself
is called Case).
85. The grammatical
relations expressed by cases are varied and numerous, such
as, subject, means, purpose, advantage, separation, origin,
possession, material, composition, place, time, etc.etc.
Hindi has
only two cases (= forms of Noun) for indicating these
and other grammatical relation-the Direct and the Oblique.
For Vocative Case See 102.
The Direct
is the simple unmodified form of Noun, used mainly for
indicating the subject and frequently also the object:
ܡ `the boy came', ܽ ܂ܽ `bring the
horse', ܡ ܽ `give a rupee'.
The Oblique
is the slightly modified form of Noun used for incicating
the other relations, and to some extent also the Subject
and the Object (for which See below 96 and 97). The modified
form expresses the different relations with the help of
the Post-Positions ܽ, ܽ, ܽ, ܽ, ܣ and ka which
are also called Case-Signs or Post-Positions. Thus,
ܽ `to the boy' (), ܣܽ ܽ `in the houses'
(ܣ), ۣܽ ܽ `form the cities' (ۣ).
In the Singular,
however, all Nouns except Masculine words ending in
attach the Post-Positions without changing their form
: ܽ `in the night', ۣ ܽ `from the city',
ܣ ܣ `at the house', See below 90-b.
The Oblique
forms are made as follows:-
In the Singular,
only Masc. Nouns ending in change the to , (in
the same way and with the same exceptions as in the case
of Direct Plural 80-b): ` ܽ `to the boy', ܽ
ܣ `on the horse'. But ܽ `to the king',
ܽ `to the grandfather'. See 80 (b) - Exceptions.
All other
Nouns, Masc. or Fem., remain unchanged in the singular
: ܃ ܽ `to the brother', ܹۛ ܽ `to the sister',
etc.
In the Plural,
all Nouns, Masc. or Fem., attach the vowel . (In the
case of Masc. -Nouns of the type , is replaced
by ܽ):
ܡܽ
ܽ `to the powers'; šܽ ܽ `to the girls',
܃ܽ
ܽ `to the brothers'; ܹۛܽ ܽ `to the sisters',
ܾܽ
ܽ `to the brides, daughters-in-law or wives',
ܽ
ܽ `to the boys'; but ܂ܽ ܽ `to the kings',
܂ܽ
ܽ `to the fathers' (See ii below).
Note that
the and (of and here) change to
and that (of ۻ here) is shortened. See 50 (a) and
(b)
Also note
that ܽ does not replace the final of such Nouns
as are excepted from changing their to . Thus,
makes ܂ܽ ܽ not ܽ ܽ (like ܽ
ܽ).
Similarly,
ܛ܂ܽ ܽ, ܍܂ܽ ܽ ܟ܂ܽ ܽ, also
ܽܽ ܽ.
There are
thus only two modifications in the oblique forms:
(i) Masc.,
to in Singular.
(ii) All other
Nouns, ܽ in Plural.
All the modifications
that a Noun undergoes with regared to Number and Case
(Direct or Oblique) can be tabulated as follows :-
DIRECT OBLIQUE
Sg.
Pl Sg. Pl.
1. Masc. -
Nouns -- - - ܽ
2. Masc. -.other
nouns -- -- -- ''
3. Fem,-,
and Nouns -- - -- ''
4. Fem.-.other
Nouns -- - -- ''
or
thus :-
SINGULAR PLURAL
Direct Oblique Direct
Oblique
1. Masc.-
Nouns --.. .. ..ܽ
2. Masc.-other
Nouns --.. -.. .. ''
3. Fem,-,
and Nouns --.. -.. ..
''
4. Fem.-.other
Nouns --.. -.. ''
It is to
be noted that in the Singular Oblique forms, there is
only one change - to , occurring in Masc. In the Plural,
all Oblique forms have ܽ. The Direct Plural has ܽ
[ in Fem. , and Nouns, - (in the remaining Fem.)].
See, however, 83 where, as a special case, ܽ is iattached
for forming an apparently Direct Plural.
The Positions
or Case-Signs are treated in Chapter VI.
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