Words like Metella and Caecilius are nouns. There are two ways of writing a noun in Latin. Metella Metellam Caecilius Caecilium These two forms of nouns are called the nominative case and the accusative case. Nominative: Metella Caecilius Accusative: Metellam Caecilium

If Metella does something, we use the nominative case [Metella] For example: Metella says hello to Grumio. Metella Grumionem salutat But if somebody else does something to Metella, we use the accusative case [Metellam] For example: Grumio says hello to Metella. Grumio Metellam salutat