[1129.] (1.) With substantives, the accusative is rare; it is used (a.) in a few attributive expressions, chiefly old set forms, and rarely to denote (b.) aim of motion.
Thus (a.) the predicative id aetātis, in id aetātis iam sumus, we are now of that age, becomes attributive in hominēs id aetātis, people of that age. And (b.) as domum, home, is used with the verb redeō, go back, so also rarely with the substantive reditiō, a return.
[1130.] With adjectives, the accusative is commonly that of extent: so with altus, high, lātus, wide, and longus, long, sometimes with crassus, thick.
Thus, in eōs surculōs facitō sint longī pedēs bīnōs, see that the scions be two feet long, the accusative pedēs, which belongs with the predicate sint longī, may be used with the attributive adjective longus alone, thus: surculī longī pedēs bīnōs, scions two feet long.
[1131.] (2.) The accusative is used with many prepositions: see [1410].
[I. THE ACCUSATIVE OF THE OBJECT.]
[1132.] The object of a verb is put in the accusative: as,
([a.]) oppida sua omnia incendunt, 1, 5, 3, they set all their towns afire. cōnspexit adrāsum quendam, H. E. 1, 7, 49, he spied a man all shaven and shorn. (b.) duās fossās perdūxit, 7, 72, 3, he made two trenches. This accusative, is, as may be seen above, either (a.) receptive, i.e. existing independently of the action of the verb, and only affected or apprehended by it; or (b.) of product, i.e. produced by the action of the verb.
[1133.] Verbs thus used with an object are said to be used transitively. Such verbs may also be used intransitively, that is without an object, when stress is put on the action merely: thus,
([a.]) Transitively: tū mē amās, ego tē amō, Pl. Most. 305, thou lovest me, and I love thee. nova dīruunt, alia aedificant, S. C. 20, 12, they pull down new structures, and build up others. (b.) Intransitively: amō, Pl. B. 511, I’m in love. dīruit, aedificat, H. E. 1, 1, 100, it pulleth down, it buildeth up.