Case

There are seven cases in Latvian. In general, each case correspond to the given ending of the word, but sometimes different cases have the same endings.

NominativeIt is a dictionary form of the word. Nouns in the Nominative case often serve the object in the sentence or the subject of a verb.GenitiveExpresses posession or attribution, quality, contents, material, etc. After the words nav or maz, the noun comes in the genitive case.DativeDenotes an indirect object of a verb.AccusativeDenotes a direct object of a verb.InstrumentalExpresses the means of the action.LocativeIndicates the location of something in space or in time.VocativeIt is used to address a person. In singular, the ending may be changed. In plural, the vocative and nominative forms are the same.

Sometimes, you may read that there are only six cases. This may be either because the vocative case was not counted, or the instrumental. The latter is more likely as its forms coincide with the forms of accusative in singular and those of dative in plural.