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ACCUSATIVE CASE:        The accusative case limits the verb by expressing the end, limit, direction, or extent of motion or action. Its common meaning or function in a clause may be represented graphically by an arrow:  VERB                             ACCUS. NOUN

                     Of the following specific functions, those under D and E are less common.

A.     Direct Object                 Does the accusative word express the object or end of the action?  For example, in the phrase ὁ θεὸς ἀπέστειλεν τὸν υἱόν, "God sent the son," "the son" limits or directs the action by specifying its object.  (See also special examples of direct object under "Cognate Accusative" and "Double Accusative" in section E below.)

                     οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον

                 For God so loved the world                     (J 3.16)

                     εἰ ἀλήθειαν λέγω ...

                 If I am speaking the truth ...                      (J 8.46)

B.     With Prepositions          Is the accusative word used with a preposition expressing motion or direction?

                     ἦλθεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν                             ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα ἦλθον

                                 Jesus came into (to) Galilee (Mk 1.14)                                                     They came to the tomb (Lk 24.1)

                     ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία χώρα

                 The whole region of Judea went out to him                       (Mk 1.5)

C.     Subject of Infinitive                   Is there an infinitive that needs an accusative subject?  The agent of an action expressed by an infinitive is regularly signified by the accusative case.  This is especially common in Indirect Discourse and Articular Infinitive constructions (See further examples under "Infinitive;"  sometimes called an "Accusative of General Reference")

         1.         in Indirect Discourse

                     οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου

                 Thus it is necessary that the son of man be lifted up                       (J 3.14)

                     γέγραπται παθεῖν τὸν χριστὸν καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν

                 It is written that the Messiah suffer and arise from the dead                       (Lk 24.46)

         2.         with Articular Infinitive

                     μετὰ δὲ τὸ παραδοθῆναι τὸν ᾿Ιωάννην ἦλθεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς

                 And after John was arrested, Jesus came...                       (Mk 1.14)

                     καὶ ἐγὲνετο ἐν τῷ ἀπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου

                 And it came to pass while they were perplexed about this ...         (Lk 24.4)

D.     Adverbial Uses of Accusative  Does the accusative word qualify or limit the verb in some way? (i.e. taking on much the same character as an Adverb)

         1.         As Adverb Proper                     The accusative neuter singular of an adjective may be used to express adverbial meaning.  A number of words are used so frequently in this way that they have become almost exclusively "adverbs": Example: πρῶτον = "first; οὐ μόνον .... ἀλλὰ καὶ ... = "not only..., but also ...

                     οὐ περὶ τῶν ἡμετέρων δὲ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ ὅλου τοῦ κόσμου

                 Not only for our (sins) but also for (the sins) of the whole world                (1 J 2.2)

                     τὸ λοιπὸν προσεύχεσθε ἀδελφοὶ περὶ ἡμῶν

                 Finally (for the remainder), brothers and sisters, continue to pray for us (2 Thess 3.1)

         2.         Measure or Distance                Does the accusative word express extension in time or space?

                     Time:

                     καὶ παρ ᾿ αὐτῷ ἔμειναν τὴν ἡρέραν ἐκείνην

                 And they remained with him (throughout) that day             (J 1.39)

                     τί ὧδε ἑστήκατε ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἀργοί;

                 Why are you standing here the whole day long idle?                      (Mt 20.6)

                     Space:

                     ἐληλακότες ὡς σταδίους εἴκοσι ἢ τριάκοντα

                 When they had rowed about twenty or thirty stades                      (J 6.19)

           ἀπεσπάσθη ἀπὸ αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λίθου βολήν

                 He was separated from them about (the distance of) a throw of a stone (Lk 22.41)

         3.         Manner  Does the accusative word express the manner or way in which somethng is accomplished? (rare; essentially the same as the dative of manner)

                     δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε

                 Freely you have received, freely give (in gift fashion)         (Mt 10.8)

                      ὃν τρόπον ὄρνις ἐπισυνάγει τὰ νοσσία αὐτῆς ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας

                 In the manner in which a hen gathers her chicks under her wings    (Mt 23.37)

         4.         Reference or Respect              Does the accusative word  limit or specify how a particular word or phrase is to be understood? (rare; essentially the same as the dative of reference)

                     τί οὖν βαπτίζεις; (neuter accus. sing. of the interrogative τίς, τί;)

                                 Why (with respect to what thing) then are you baptizing?              (J 1.25)

                     ἐξῆλθεν ὁ τεθνηκὼς δεδεμένος τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χείρας

                 The dead man came out bound (with respect to) feet and hands                (J 11.44)

E.      Special Direct Object Examples

         1.         Cognate Accusative      Does the accusative word rename (use same root as) the verb? (Often reflects Hebrew idiom, for emphasis)

                     τὴν δικαὶαν κρίσιν κρίνατε

                 Judge a righteous judgment                      (J 7.24)

                     ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν

                 They feared a great fear               (Lk 2.9)

         2.         Double Accusative                    Is the verb one of a few that can have two direct objects?

                     ἐκεῖνος ὑμᾶς διδάξει πάντα

                 He will teach you all things                       (J 14.26)

                     θέλομεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωμεν σε ποιήσῃς ἡμῖν

                 We want you to do whatever thing we ask you                 (Mk 10.35)