50.
The Dative Plural.
(1) When the nominative plural ends in a or a consonant, the dative plural ends in aiḃ.
(2) When the nominative plural ends in e, the dative plural is formed by changing the e into iḃ.
(3) When the nominative plural ends in í, the dative plural is formed by adding ḃ.
The termination of the dative plural is not always used in the spoken language.
Vocative Plural.
51. (1) When the dative plural ends in aiḃ, the vocative plural is formed by dropping the iḃ of the dative.
(2) In all other cases it is like the nominative plural.
III. The Declensions.
52. The number of declensions is not quite settled: it is very much a matter of convenience. Five is the number usually reckoned.
The declensions are known by the inflection of the genitive singular.
THE FIRST DECLENSION.
53. All the nouns of the first declension are masculine, and end in a broad consonant.
All masculine nouns ending in a broad consonant are not of the first declension.
54. The genitive singular is formed by attenuating the nominative. In most nouns of the 1st declension this is done by simply placing an i after the last broad vowel of the nominative.
