The Vocative Case: Syntax

The Vocative is the case of direct address, and may be interspersed with other cases in poetic language.

• Tiberīne pater, tē, sāncte, precor: O father Tiber, to thee, holy one, I pray. (tē is the accusative object)
• Rēs omnis mihi tēcum erit, Hotensī: My whole attention will be devoted to you, Hortensius.

Where a noun is placed in apposition to a vocative with the imperative, it may be apposited in the nominative.

• Audī tū, populus Albānus: hear, though people of Alba.

Where the implied subject is tū or vōs, a vocative adjective may take the place of a vocative noun.

• Quō moritūre ruis: where are you rushing off to die?
• Cēnsōrem trabeāte salūtās: robed, you salute the censor.

The Essential AG: 340a-b