1. The nominative, or subject.
2. The direct object, or accusative.
3. The indirect object, answering to the Latin oblique cases, viz.: the genitive, dative, and ablative.
§ 3. The Noun or Substantive.
1. The French noun, in its treble aspect of common, proper, and collective, is analogous with that of the English, as: table, table; Ernest, Ernest; peuple, people.
2. A common noun may be composed of several words; it is then called a compound noun, as: chaise-berceuse, rocking-chair; cerf-volant, flying-kite.
§ 4. Gender.
1. The French possesses two genders: the masculine and feminine.
2. Nouns obviously denoting sex are of the corresponding gender; thus, père, father; Jean, John; lion, lion, are masculine, while mère, mother; Caroline, Caroline; lionne, lioness, are feminine.