Ludi Novi Romani/MMDCCLXV/Certamen Latinum

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		+	{{HistoricalDocument}}
	[[Category:MMDCCLXV]]		[[Category:MMDCCLXV]]
	[[Category:Curule Aediles]]		[[Category:Curule Aediles]]
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	====Answers 6====		====Answers 6====
		+
		+	:"Brutus et Cassius libertatem et mores civitatis Romae defendunt."
		+
		+	:"Cassius Bruto et Curioni epistulas de eventibus in senatu scribit."
		+
		+	:"Caesar Pompeium salutat, sed Pompeius Caesarem non salutat, quia ira cor Pompeii invadit."
		+
		+	:"Viri Caesari dicunt: 'Senatum oppugnas solum, quia civitatem delere cupis'".
		+
		+	:"Hodie, feminarum die, puellas et mulieres floribus salutamus."
	<br>		<br>
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	====Answers 7====		====Answers 7====
		+
		+
		+	"Brutus pius libertatem caram populo Romano strenue defendit."
		+
		+	"Amici nostri Caeciliae Metellae, uxori Marci Licinii Crassi, et Gaio Scribonio Curioni longam epistulam de multis eventibus in senatu Romano diligenter scribunt."
		+
		+	"Caesar Gnaeum Pompeium, consulem clarum, liberaliter salutare cupit, sed Pompeius Gaium Caesarem, pontificem maximum liberalem, non salutat, quia ira aspere cor triste Pompeii invadit."
		+
		+	"Viri veteres Gaio Caesari claro irate dicunt: 'Nostrum senatum oppugnas solum, quia rem publicam delere cupis'."
		+
		+	"Quartum decimum anniversarium populi mei, Novorum Romanorum, in Ludis Novis Romanis superbe celebro."
		+
	<br>		<br>
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	::mulier, -eris, f (lady, adult woman)		::mulier, -eris, f (lady, adult woman)
	::sed (but)		::sed (but)
−	::invenio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (find)	+	::invenio, -ire, -veni, -ventum (find)
	::numquam (never)		::numquam (never)
	::optimus, -a, -um (perfect)		::optimus, -a, -um (perfect)
Line 1,154:		Line 1,177:
	====Answers 8====		====Answers 8====
		+
		+	:"Multas mulieres sciebam, sed optimam nunquam inveni."
		+
		+	:"Popillia et Maria in forum lente descendebant, cum subito constiterunt, quia felis trans viam cucurrerat."
		+
		+	:"Cum cenam nostram incipere decrevimus, hospites nostri iam omne vinum biberant, et carmina Latine hilare canebant."
		+
		+	:"Mali senatores Marcum Tullium Ciceronem orationibus iratis heri vehementer oppugnaverunt, quamquam rem publicam suis sententiis defendebat."
		+
		+	:"Cicero librum suum de natura deorum scribere incepit, quia cetera sua officia finiverat, et tandem tempus liberum habebat."
	<br>		<br>
		+
		+	=== March 11th - Day 11 of the Ludi Novi Romani – Question 9 of the Certamen Latinum ===
		+
		+	<br>
		+
		+	'''I. INTRODUCTION 9 - The Subjunctive'''
		+
		+	We started with the dictionary forms of Latin nouns and verbs, since without knowing them there's no way to use the Latin words in sentences. We declined nouns, and conjugated verbs in the Present and in all three Past Tenses (Imperfect, Perfect, Pluperfect), and we composed simple Latin sentences with adjectives and adverbs.
		+
		+	Today we learn about the formidable Subjunctive Mood, hardest things in all Latin studies, nightmare of all Barbarians :) Some think it was the Roman weapons that won the Barbarians, but Latinists will tell you, it was the Subjunctive - when Barbarian peoples tried to learn Latin, it killed them all. But I think you will see soon that Subjunctive is not at all as formidable as it might seem, and after a bit of practicing, you'll see the myths around the Subjunctive are just fairy tales, and we'll eat Subjunctive for breakfast.
		+
		+	But let's start from the beginning. What does the Subjunctive Mood mean?
		+
		+	The Subjunctive is a verb mood typically used in subordinate clauses to express a wish, hope, possibility, condition, uncertainty, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred. It is sometimes referred to as the Conjunctive Mood, as it often follows a conjunction.
		+
		+	English has a very shy Subjunctive which appears only in a few situations visibly, but sometimes it's there even if the verb does not show it. Examples of English Subjunctives are the following:
		+
		+	"I wish he were here." (In Indicative it would have been "He is here.")
		+
		+	The teachers insisted that the homework be ready." (In Indicative it would have been "The homework is ready.")
		+
		+	"Were" is not Past, and "be" is not infinitive, but both are Subjunctives here. English uses two main Subjunctive forms, the Present Subjunctive (he be, he go, he come) and the Past Subjunctive (he were, he went, he came), which look identical to the normal Indicative forms. These forms, however, sound archaic to modern English speakers, and in most of the sentences, when Latin uses Subjunctive, English uses auxiliary verbs like, "may", might", "would", "should", "can", or "could". These are expressed in Latin by the Subjunctive.
		+
		+	Latin uses four Subjunctive Tenses, Present Subjunctive, Imperfect Subjunctive, Perfect Subjunctive and Pluperfect Subjunctive. Let's see what they are there for, and what each of these Subjunctive Tenses mean.
		+
		+	Since it's getting to become a very high octane number Latin knowledge, I suggest you review all past lessons on our Certamen Latinum webpage:
		+
		+	http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Ludi_Novi_Romani/MMDCCLXV/Certamen_Latinum
		+
		+	'''1. The Subjunctive Present'''
		+
		+	You use Subjunctive Present (e.g. "Dicam") when English uses the auxiliary verbs "let" ("Let me say it"), "may" ("May I say it") or, mainly in subordinate clauses, when English uses Present Subjunctive or Imperative ("Imperat ut dicam": "He orders that I say"; or "Dicas": "Say it").
		+
		+	This tense is formed from the 2nd dictionary part, by cutting off the infinitive endings "-are", "-ére", "-ere" and "-ire", and replacing them with the personal endings shown in the table on our website, respectively to the conjugation group to which the verb belongs to.
		+
		+	Learn the conjugation of the Imperfect Tense on our website:
		+
		+	http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Subjunctive_Present
		+
		+	'''2. The Subjunctive Imperfect'''
		+
		+	The Subjunctive Imperfect is used in Latin when English uses the auxiliary verbs "would" and "should", "Dicerem" can be translated as "I would say" or "I should say". Sometimes it can also be translated with "could" or "might" as "I could say" or "I might say". In wishes and in conditional sentences, it is translated by English Past Subjunctive ("Vellem dicerem": "I wish I said"); in subordinate clauses, however, it is translated by English Present Subjunctive ("Imperavit ut dicerem": "He ordered that I say").
		+
		+	This tense is formed from the 2nd dictionary part, by cutting off the infinitive endings "-are", "-ére", "-ere" and "-ire", and replacing them with the personal endings shown in the table on our website, respectively to the conjugation group to which the verb belongs to. Practically, the formation of this Subjunctive Imperfect looks like as if the personal endings would be simple attached to the infinitive.
		+
		+	Learn the conjugation of the Subjunctive Imperfect on our website:
		+
		+	http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Subjunctive_Imperfect
		+
		+	'''3. The Subjunctive Perfect'''
		+
		+	The Subjunctive Perfect rarely appears in independent sentences, it's mostly used in subordinate clauses. When it's used independently, it normally translates with the English auxiliary verbs "may have". "Dixerim" can be translated as "I may have said".
		+
		+	This tense is formed from the 3rd dictionary part, by cutting off the Indicative Perfect Tense first person singular ending "-í", and replacing it with the Subjunctive Perfect personal endings shown in the table on our website.
		+
		+	Learn the conjugation of the Subjunctive Perfect on our website:
		+
		+	http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Subjunctive_Perfect
		+
		+	'''4. The Subjunctive Pluperfect'''
		+
		+	The Subjunctive Pluperfect can be translated with the English auxiliary verbs "would have" or "should have". "Dixissem" can mean "I would have said", "I should have said". Sometimes it can be translated as "I could have said" or "I might have said". It is translated by English Pluperfect Subjunctive ("I had said") when it is used in subordinated clauses ("Vellem dixissem": "I wish I had said").
		+
		+	This tense is formed from the 3rd dictionary part, by cutting off the Indicative Perfect Tense first person singular ending "-í", and replacing it with the Subjunctive Pluperfect personal endings shown in the table on our website.
		+
		+	Learn the conjugation of the Subjunctive Pluperfect on our website:
		+
		+	http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Subjunctive_ Pluperfect
		+
		+	'''II. QUESTION 9'''
		+
		+	Translate the following complex sentences to Latin, using the the Subjunctive Tenses where they are needed. The Latin words needed to these translations are given below in their dictionary form. Use them.
		+
		+	Follow the guidelines here:
		+
		+	http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation
		+	<br>http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence
		+
		+	Be careful, and read ALL information on the pages!
		+
		+	:"If the Roman comitia had not elected Marcus Tullius Cicero, the extraordinary man, the evil conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina would have terribly subverted the fundamentals of our republic." (19 pts)
		+
		+	::si (if)
		+	::Romanus, -a, -um (Roman)
		+	::comitia, -orum, n (comitia, assembly: used only in pluar)
		+	::non (not)
		+	::creo, -are, -avi, -atum (elect)
		+	::Marcus, -i, m; Tullius, -i, m; Cicero, -onis, m (Marcus Tullius Cicero)
		+	::singularis, -e (extraordinary, special, singular)
		+	::vir, viri, m (man)
		+	::impius, -a, -um (evil)
		+	::haughty (superbus, -a, -um)
		+	::coniuratio, -onis, f (conspiracy)
		+	::Lucius, -i, m; Sergius, -i, m; Catilina, -ae, m (Lucius Sergius Catilina)
		+	::terribilis, -e (terrible)
		+	::subverto, -ere, -verti, -versum (subvert)
		+	::fundamentum, -i, n (foundation, fundamental)
		+	::noster, -tra, -trum (our)
		+	::res, rei, f; publica, -ae, f (republic)
		+
		+	:"If we were drinking from the sweet nectar of the immortal gods, we would feel the divine force in our bodies: but we are drinking simple wine." (13 pts)
		+
		+	::bibo, -ere, bibi, bibitum (drink)
		+	::ex + ablative (from)
		+	::dulcis, -e (sweet)
		+	::nectar, -aris, n (nectar)
		+	::immortalis, -e (immortal)
		+	::deus, -i, m (god)
		+	::divinus, -a, -um (divine)
		+	::vires, -ium (force: used only in plural)
		+	::in + ablative (in)
		+	::corpus, -oris, n (body)
		+	::sed (but)
		+	::simplex, -icis (simple)
		+	::vinum, -i, n (wine)
		+
		+	:"Let's hear the wise words of Marcus Cicero, because he might say many things of great importance." (10 pts)
		+
		+	::audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (hear)
		+	::sapiens, -entis (wise)
		+	::verbum, -i, n (word)
		+	::quia (because)
		+	::dico, -ere, dixi, dictum (say)
		+	::multus, -a, -um (much, many)
		+	::res, rei, f (thing)
		+	::magnus, -a, -um (great)
		+	::momentum, -i, n (importance)
		+
		+	:"He may have believed the shrewd boy, but the father reprehended the boy, his son, because the boy had caused many harms. (12 pts)
		+
		+	::credo, -ere, -didi, -ditum + dative (believe)
		+	::versutus, -a, -um (shrewd)
		+	::puer, -i, m (boy)
		+	::pater, patris, m (father)
		+	::reprehendo, -ere, -hensi, -hensum (reprehend)
		+	::suus, -a, -um (his)
		+	::filius, -i, m (son)
		+	::affero, -ferre, attuli, allatum (cause, bring into)
		+	::detrimentum, -i, n (harm)
		+
		+	:”Although they should have waited until the end of the dinner, the guests might have already drunk all the wine, because they were singing Latin songs.” (13 pts)
		+
		+	::quamquam (although)
		+	::exspecto, -are, -avi, -atum (wait)
		+	::usque ad + accusative (until)
		+	::finis, -is, m (end)
		+	::cena, -ae, f (dinner)
		+	::hospes, -itis, mf (guest)
		+	::iam (already)
		+	::bibo, -ere, bibi, bibitum (drink)
		+	::omnis, -e (all)
		+	::vinum, -i, n (wine)
		+	::cano, -ere, cecini, cantum (sing)
		+	::carmen, -inis, n (song)
		+	::Latinus, -a, -um (Latin)
		+
		+	'''III. AN EXAMPLE HOW TO DO IT:'''
		+
		+	:"If the soldiers of Pompey had fought vehemently, Caesar would not have won." (6 pts)
		+
		+	::si (if)
		+	::miles, -itis, m (soldier)
		+	::Pompeius, -i, m (Pompey)
		+	::bello, -are, -avi, -atum (fight)
		+	::vehemens, -entis (vehement)
		+	::Caesar, -aris, m (Caesar)
		+	::non (not)
		+	::vinco, -ere, vici, victum (win)
		+
		+	- you will easily identify "would not have won" as Subjunctive Pluperfect if you check the introduction about the Subjunctive. "Would have" (or "might have" and "should have") is usually Subjunctive. Since the first clause is introduced by "if", you are right to suspect that is a subordinate clause.
		+	<br>- You can also learn from the introduction that "had fought" is probably an English Pluperfect Subjunctive, and Latin translates it with the same construction, with a Pluperfect Subjunctive.
		+	<br>- Thus we have the two predicates translated, both as Pluperfect Subjunctives: "bellavissent" '''(1 pt)''', and "non vicisset". '''(1 pts)'''
		+	<br>- After translating the subjects in nominative (soldiers; Caesar) '''(1 + 1 pts)''', the possessive construction in genitive (of Pompey) '''(1 pt)''', and the adverb (vehemently) '''(1pt)''', we get the following solution:
		+
		+	:"Si milites Pompei vehementer bellavissent, Caesar non vicisset."
		+
		+	====Answers 9====
		+
		+	:"Si comitia Romana Marcum Tullium Ciceronem, virum singularem, non creavissent, coniuratio impia Lucii Sergii Catilinae fundamenta rei publicae nostrae terribiliter subvertisset."
		+
		+	:"Si ex nectari dulci deorum immortalium biberemus, vires divinas in corporibus nostris sentiremus, sed vinum simplex bibimus."
		+
		+	:"Verba sapientia Marci Ciceronis audiamus, quia multas res magni momenti diceret."
		+
		+	:"Puero versuto crediderit, sed pater puerum, filium suum reprehendit, quia puer multa detrimenta attulerat."
		+
		+	:"Quamquam usque ad finem cenae exspectavissent, hospites omne vinum iam bibissent, quia carmina Latina canebant."
		+
		+	<br>
		+
		+	=== March 12th - Day 12 of the Ludi Novi Romani – Question 10 of the Certamen Latinum ===
		+
		+	<br>
		+
		+	'''I. INTRODUCTION 10 - Indirect Speech'''
		+
		+	We have walked through a long path, but made huge steps, and within just 10 days we are arriving to the hardest height of Latin grammar, to the Indirect Discourse (or Indirect Speech) which includes the Sequence of Tenses rules and the Accusative with Infinitive, two things which made students of Latin cry since the Middle Age.
		+
		+	From the dictionary forms, where we had started, we went through all declensions of nouns and adjectives, we learned the formation of adverbs and the conjugations of Present and Past Tenses, and yesterday we met all tenses of the Subjunctive.
		+
		+	Today, on our last day, we will win and conquer the Indirect Speech, the jewel in our crown.
		+
		+	Now I confess I deceived you when I said we would only "try out" some minor things in the Latin, or when I said we would take a look at some little bits of Latin with these Quizzes. The truth is, that with these lessons we have learned almost all grammar of the Latin language, and almost every difficult feature in Latin. And now we are on the top, learning about the hardest grammar in Latin, which if you will be able to conquer, you will have conquered Goddess Latinitas Herself, and the doors of the "Roman Mind", and all Classical and Medieval Literature will re-open for you, forever.
		+
		+	I'm not joking when I say the Indirect Speech poisoned the lives of many schoolboys and girls since the Fall of the Roman Empire, especially with the terrible Accusative with Infinitive and the Sequence of Tenses - but I assure you by the end of the day you will laugh into the eyes of these monsters: they are monsters only to those who are not willing to domesticate them.
		+
		+	But first we must define what we are about to domesticate.
		+
		+	Indirect Speech (Reported Speech, or Indirect Discourse) refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said, thought, seen, heard or percieved by any mental activity. It is almost always used in spoken English.
		+
		+	Direct Speech is:
		+
		+	:"Cicero said: 'I see Brutus in the garden'."
		+
		+	Indirect Speech is:
		+
		+	:"Cicero said (that) he saw Brutus in the garden".
		+
		+	From this example we can see that there must be some rules about the Sequence of Tenses, because in the Indirect Speech "see" became "saw". Yes, there is a Sequence of Tenses rule in English, too, and we will see that the Latin rules are similar, but Latin uses them only in Indirect Questions, because in Indirect Statements Latin has chosen an entirely different solution: the Accusative with Infinitive. We will take care of this first.
		+
		+	Now, there are three types of Indirect Speech, depending on the reported sentence if it is a statement, order or question, an Indirect Speech can be Indirect Statement, Indirect Command, or Indirect Question. Let's start with the Indirect Statements.
		+
		+	'''1. Indirect Statements'''
		+
		+	In English, the verb tense of the reported, indirect sentence follows a simple logical Sequence of Tense rule: if the reporting verb ("said") is in the past, the reported clause will be in a Past Tense. If the reporting verb is present ("say"), the reported clause will be in a Present Tense:
		+
		+	With the reporting verb in '''Present''':
		+
		+	:"Cicero says: 'I see Brutus in the garden'." (Direct Statement)
		+	:"Cicero says (that) he sees Brutus in the garden." (Indirect Statement)
		+
		+	With the reporting verb in '''Past''':
		+
		+	:"Cicero said: 'I see Brutus in the garden'." (Direct Statement)
		+	:"Cicero said (that) he saw Brutus in the garden." (Indirect Statement)
		+
		+	Instead of this rule, in Latin we find that there is an entirely different construction, the Accusative with Infinitive, used for reporting statements.
		+
		+	:'''1.1. Accusative with Infinitive'''
		+
		+	:There is a similar construction in English, when you say "I see Brutus come," and "I see him go," where "come" is an infinitive without the usual "to" (otherwise it would have been "comes"), and "Brutus" is an accusative. English uses the Accusative plus Infinitive with verbs of wishing, believing and perception ("I believe Brutus to come"). The infinitive is usually introduced by "to", but in some cases (e.g. with "see") it's without "to".
		+
		+	::"I see Brutus come."
		+	::"Video Brutum venire."
		+
		+	::"I believe Brutus to come."
		+	::"Credo Brutum venire."
		+
		+	:However, English does not use this construction with verbs of saying. There is no "I say Brutus to come". English puts it as "I say (that) Brutus comes". In Latin, however, we must always use the Accusative with Infinitive construction with all verbs of saying, thinking, perceiving or communicating.
		+
		+	::"I say (that) Brutus comes."
		+	::"Dico Brutum venire." (Literally: "I say Brutus ''to come''.")
		+
		+	:'''1.2. Reported Statments' Timing in the Accusative with Infinitive Construction'''
		+
		+	::'''1.2.1.''' If the Reported Statement is about an event which is '''contemporaneous, simultaneous with the time of the reporting verb''', like "I say (that) Brutus comes (is coming)", or "I said (that) Brutus came (was coming), we use the Present Infinitive, i.e. the 2nd dictionary form:
		+
		+	:::amo, -are, -avi, -atum --> amare (to love)
		+	:::facio, -ere, feci, factum --> facere (to make)
		+	:::venio, -ire, veni, ventum --> venire (to come)
		+
		+	::It does not matter of what tense the reporting verb is:
		+
		+	:::"I say (that) Brutus comes / is coming."
		+	:::"Dico Brutum venire." (Literally: "I say Brutus ''to come''.")
		+
		+	:::I said (that) Brutus came / was coming.
		+	:::"Dixi Brutum venire." (Literally: "I said Brutus ''to come''.")
		+
		+	::'''1.2.2.''' If the action of the reported sentence is '''prior to the time of the reporting verb''', like "I say (that) Brutus came (has come)", or "I said (that) Brutus had come", you must use the Perfect Infinitive. To form a Perfect Infinitive, you simply cut off the Perfect Tense "-i" ending of the 3rd dictionary form, and add ending "-isse" to the Perfect Stem:
		+
		+	:::amo, -are, -av|i, -atum --> amavisse (to have loved)
		+	:::facio, -ere, fec|i, factum --> fecisse (to have made)
		+	:::venio, -ire, ven|i, ventum --> venisse (to have come)
		+
		+	::It does not matter of what tense the reporting verb is:
		+
		+	:::"I say (that) Brutus has come / came / was coming."
		+	:::"Dico Brutum venisse." (Literally: "I say Brutus ''to have come''.")
		+
		+	:::"I said (that) Brutus had come."
		+	:::"Dixi Brutum venisse." (Literally: "I said Brutus ''to have come''.")
		+
		+	::All Latin Indirect Statements have to follow these rules, and all Latin Indirect Statements are to be transformed into such Accusative with Infinitive contructions.
		+
		+	'''2. Indirect Commands'''
		+
		+	An Indirect Command is a reported command. Indirect Commands express what someone begs, asks, urges or orders. Let's see an English example:
		+
		+	:"I begged that Brutus come."
		+
		+	"Come" is an English Subjunctive here. Latin uses Subjunctive as well. If the verb introducing the Indirect Command is Present, Latin uses Present Subjunctive in the subordinate clause; if the main verb is Past, Latin uses Imperfect Subjunctive in the subordinate clause. English never varies, it uses always the Present Subjunctive. Let' see it on examples:
		+
		+	With the reporting verb in '''Present''':
		+
		+	:"I beg that Brutus come."
		+	:"Oro ut Brutus veniat."
		+
		+	With the reporting verb in '''Past''':
		+
		+	:"I begged that Brutus come."
		+	:"Oravi ut Brutus veniret." (Literally: "I begged that Brutus ''came''/''would come''.")
		+
		+	All Latin Indirect Commands have to be in Present or Imperfect Subjunctive follow the rules above.
		+
		+	'''3. Indirect Questions'''
		+
		+	An Indirect Question is a reported question, it reports what someone asks, or could have asked. English Indirect Questions follow the same Sequence of Tenses rules as in the case of Indirect Statements, but there's an additional change in the structure of the sentence:
		+
		+	:"From where does Brutus come?"
		+	:"Cicero asks from where Brutus comes."
		+
		+	We can see that English changes word order and does not use the auxiliary verb "do/does" for Indirect Questions. In Latin you must use the Subjunctive to indicate Indirect Question. The Latin Sequence of Tenses for Indirect Questions is the following:
		+
		+	:'''3.1. Sequence of Tenses'''
		+
		+	::'''3.1.1.''' If the time of the verb in the reported question is '''contemporaneous, simultaneous to the time the verb of asking''' that introduces the Indirect Question, you will use
		+	:::a) Present Subjunctive: if the reporting verb is Present;
		+	:::b) Imperfect Subjunctive: if the reporting verb is Past.
		+
		+	::With the reporting verb in '''Present''':
		+
		+	:::"I ask from where Brutus comes / is coming."
		+	:::"Quaero unde Brutus veniat."
		+
		+	::With the reporting verb in '''Past''':
		+
		+	:::"I asked from where Brutus came / was coming."
		+	:::"Quaesivi unde Brutus veniret."
		+
		+	::'''3.1.1.''' If the time of the verb in the reported question is '''prior to the time of the reporting verb of asking''' that introduces the Indirect Question, you will use
		+	:::a) Perfect Subjunctive: if the reporting verb is Present;
		+	:::b) Pluperfect Subjunctive: if the reporting verb is Past.
		+
		+	::With the reporting verb in '''Present''':
		+
		+	:::"I ask from where Brutus came / has come / was coming."
		+	:::"Quaero unde Brutus venerit."
		+
		+	::With the reporting verb in '''Past''':
		+
		+	:::"I asked from where Brutus had come."
		+	:::"Quaesivi unde Brutus venisset."
		+
		+	:You must use the Subjunctive always, in this Sequence of Tenses, whenever you translate an Indirect Question to Latin.
		+
		+	'''II. QUESTION 10'''
		+
		+	Translate the following complex sentences which contain Indirect Statements, Indirect Commands and Indirect Questions to Latin, using the Accusative with Infinitive construction where needed, and the Subjunctive Tenses according to the Sequence of Tenses, where they are needed. The sentences below are mostly sligt alterations of all sentences we have translated so far, so although it's 18 sentences, all of them were translated by you on the previous days. So don't be afraid, it's not as much as it seems. Your work will mostly consist of transforming the sentences we had translated so far into Indirect Speech.
		+	The Latin words needed to these translations are given below in their dictionary form. Use them.
		+
		+
		+	Follow the guidelines here:
		+
		+	http://novaroma.org/nr/Declension
		+	<br>http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation
		+	<br>http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence
		+
		+	Be careful, and read ALL information on the pages!
		+
		+	:”I say without doubt that my friend knew many women, but he has never found the perfect one.” (9 pts)
		+
		+	::dico, -ere, dixi, dictum (say)
		+	::sine +ablative (without)
		+	::dubium, -i, n (doubt)
		+	::scio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (know)
		+	::multus, -a, -um (much, many)
		+	::mulier, -eris, f (lady, adult woman)
		+	::sed (but)
		+	::invenio, -ire, -veni, -ventum (find)
		+	::numquam (never)
		+	::optimus, -a, -um (perfect)
		+	::*Comment: The word “one” does not have to be translated.
		+
		+	:”Lentulus saw that Popillia and Maria were slowly walking down to the forum, and that they suddenly stopped because of a nice cat.” (10 pts)
		+
		+	::Lentulus, -i, m (Lentulus)
		+	::video, -ére, vidi, visum (see)
		+	::Popillia, -ae f (Popillia)
		+	::et (and)
		+	::Maria, -ae f (Maria)
		+	::lentus, -a, -um (slow)
		+	::descend, -ere, -scendi, -scensum (walk down)
		+	:: in + accusative (to, into)
		+	::forum, -i, n (square, forum)
		+	::cum (when)
		+	::subito (suddenly)
		+	::consisto -sistere -stiti –stitum (stop)
		+	::propter + accusative (because of)
		+	::felis, -is, f (cat)
		+
		+	:”Tullia asked why our guests were cheerfully singing Latin songs, and whether they had already drunk the sweet wine.” (11 pts)
		+
		+	::Tullia, -ae, f (Tullia)
		+	::quaero, -ere, quaesivi, -itum (ask)
		+	::cur (why)
		+	::noster, -tra, -trum (our)
		+	::hospes, -itis, mf (guest)
		+	::cano, -ere, cecini, cantum (sing)
		+	::hilarus, -a, -um (cheerful)
		+	::carmen, -inis, n (song)
		+	::Latinus, -a, -um (Latin)
		+	::num (if, whether)
		+	::iam (already)
		+	::bibo, -ere, bibi, bibitum (drink)
		+	::dulcis, -e (sweet)
		+	::vinum, -i, n (wine)
		+	::*Comment: The phrase “in Latin” is expressed in Latin by an adverb, derived regularly from “Latinus, -a, um”.
		+
		+	:"I don’t understand why the bad senators vehemently attacked Marcus Tullius Cicero with their angry speeches yesterday, because I know our Cicero was just defending the state with his proposals." (20 pts)
		+
		+	::intellego, -ere, -lexi, -ectum (understand)
		+	::malus, -a, -um (bad)
		+	::senator, -oris, m (senator)
		+	::vehemens, -entis (vehement)
		+	::oppugno, -are, -avi, -atum (attack)
		+	::Marcus, -i, m; Tullius, -i, m; Cicero, -onis, m (Marcus Tullius Cicero)
		+	::suus, -a, -um (their, his)
		+	::iratus, -a, -um (angry)
		+	::oratio, -onis, f (speech)
		+	::heri (yesterday)
		+	::quia (because)
		+	::scio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (know)
		+	::tantum (just)
		+	::defendo, -ere, -endi, -ensum (defend)
		+	::res, -ei, f; publica, -ae, f (state, republic)
		+	::sententia, -ae, f (proposal)
		+	::* Comments: "with" is expressed here in both places by using the ablative without preposition.
		+
		+	:"Atticus ordered that Cicero start to write his book on the nature of the gods, because Atticus knew that Cicero had finished his other duties, and that he had free time, but Cicero did not find the place where he had put down his pen." (25 pts)
		+
		+	::Atticus, -i, n (Atticus)
		+	::impero, -are, -avi, -atum (order)
		+	::ut (that)
		+	::incipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum (start)
		+	::scribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptum (write)
		+	::suus, -a, -um (his)
		+	::liber, libri, m (book)
		+	::de + ablative (about; on)
		+	::natura, -ae, f (nature)
		+	::deus, -i, m (god)
		+	::finio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (finish)
		+	::ceterus, -a, um (other, the rest of)
		+	::officium, -i, n (duty)
		+	::habeo, -ere, -bui, -bitum (have)
		+	::liber, -era, -erum (free)
		+	::tempus, -oris, n (time)
		+	::locus, -i, m (place)
		+	::ubi (where)
		+	::depono, -ere, -posui, -positum (put down)
		+	::stylus, -i, m (stylus, writing utensil, pen)
		+
		+	:"Lentulus asks whether Aelia, Aemilia, Aeternia, Caninus, Hadrianus Placidus and Valeria enjoyed our Latin competition, because Lentulus thinks that Aelia, Aemilia, Aeternia, Caninus, Hadrianus Placidus and Valeria fought admirably." (25 pts)
		+
		+	::Aelia, -ae, f (Aelia)
		+	::Aemilia, -ae, f (Aemilia)
		+	::Aeternia, -ae, f (Aeternia)
		+	::Caninus, -i, m (Caninus)
		+	::Hadrianus, -i, m (Hadrianus)
		+	::Pacidus, -i, m (Placidus)
		+	::Valeria, -ae, f (Valeria)
		+	::probo, -are, -avi, -atum (enjoy, approve)
		+	::certamen, -inis, n (competition)
		+	::puto, -are, -avi, -atum (think)
		+	::bello, -are, -avi, -atum (fight)
		+	::mirabilis, -e (admirable)
		+
		+	'''III. AN EXAMPLE HOW TO DO IT:'''
		+
		+	:"We heard that the soldiers of Pompey had fought vehemently, but we don't know why Caesar won." (7 pts)
		+
		+	::audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (hear)
		+	::miles, -itis, m (soldier)
		+	::Pompeius, -i, m (Pompey)
		+	::bello, -are, -avi, -atum (fight)
		+	::vehemens, -entis (vehement)
		+	::nescio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (do/does not know)
		+	::cur (why)
		+	::Caesar, -aris, m (Caesar)
		+	::vinco, -ere, vici, victum (win)
		+
		+	- in the first part is an Indirect Statement, which means that we have to use the Accusative with Infinitive construction here. We see that the time of the reported statement's verb "had fought" is prior to the time of the reporting verb "heard", so "had fought" will be translated with a Perfect Infinitive: "''bellavisse''". '''(1 pt)'''
		+	<br>- We put "the soldiers" in accusative ("''milites''"), because that's the object of the construction "we heard the soldiers ''to have fought''". '''(1pt)'''
		+	<br>- The second part is an Indirect Question (why Caesar won), thus we will use the Subjunctive. The time of the reported question's verb, "won" is prior to the time of the reporting verb "I don't know", which is a Present Tense. So, according to the rules of the Sequence of Tenses, after Present reporting verb if a verb of prior time follows, the repored verb shall be in Perfect Subjunctive. In this case it's "''vicerit''". '''(1 pt)'''
		+	<br>- After translating everything else '''(4 pts)''', which is not new grammar, we get the following result:
		+
		+	:"Audivimus milites Pompei vehementer bellavisse, sed nescimus cur Caesar vicerit."
		+
		+	====Answers 10====
		+
		+	:"Sine dubio dico meum amicum multas mulieres scivisse, sed optimam nunquam invenisse."
		+
		+	:"Lentulus videbat Popilliam et Mariam in forum lente descendere, et propter felem pulchram subito consistere."
		+
		+	:"Tullia quaesivit, cur nostri hospites carmina Latina hilare canerent, et num vinum dulce iam bibissent."
		+
		+	:"Non intellego, cur mali senatores Marcum Tullium Ciceronem orationibus iratis suis heri vehementer oppugnaverint, quia scio Ciceronem nostrum tantum rem publicam sententiis suis defendisse."
		+
		+	:"Atticus imperavit, ut Cicero librum suum de natura deorum scribere inciperet, quia Atticus sciebat Ciceronem cetera officia sua finivisse, et tempus liberum habere, sed Cicero locum non invenit, ubi stylum deposuerat."
		+
		+	:"Lentulus quaerit, num Aemilia, Aeternia, Caninus, Hadrainus, Placidus et Valeria certamen Latinum nostrum probaverint, quia Lentulus putat Aeliam, Aemiliam, Aeterniam, Caninum, Hadrianum, Placidum et Valeriam mirabiliter bellavisse."
		+
		+	</div>
		+
		+
		+
		+	<div class="scriptum">
		+
		+	== Final Results ==
		+	The final results for the Certamen Latinum for Ludi Novi Romani 2765:
		+
		+	* ''1st Place'': [[Publius Annaeus Constantinus Placidus (Nova Roma)|P. Annaeus Constantinus Placidus]] - 484 pts; (Participated in all questions)
		+	* ''2nd Place'': [[Aulus Liburnius Hadrianus (Nova Roma)|A. Liburnius Hadrianus]] - 473.5 pts; (Participated in all questions)
		+	* ''3rd Place'': [[Lucia Aelia Corva (Nova Roma)|L. Aelia Corva]] - 466; (Participated in all questions)
		+	* ''4th Place'': [[Vibia Aemilia Regilla (Nova Roma)|V. Aemilia Regilla]] - 446 pts; (Participated in all questions)
		+	* ''5th Place'': [[Marcus Pompeius Caninus (Nova Roma)|M. Pompeius Caninus]] - 329 pts; (Participated in 8 questions)
		+	* ''6th Place'': [[Tiberia Valeria Celeris  (Nova Roma)|Ti. Valeria Celeris ]] - 166 pts; (Participated in 5 questions)
		+	* ''7th Place'': [[Statia Cornelia Valeriana Iuliana Aeternia (Nova Roma)|St. Cornelia Valeriana Iuliana Aeternia]] - 12 pts; (Participated in 1 question)
	</div>		</div>

---

Latest revision as of 07:52, 6 July 2024

March 7th - Day 7 of the Ludi Novi Romani – Question 5 of the Certamen Latinum

I. INTRODUCTION 5 - Conjugating Verbs in the Present Tense

We have so far discussed the dictionary forms of the Latin nouns and verbs. We tried out how to decline nouns. Today we get a bit more familiar with verbs, and we will try those "formidable" conjugations.

Please review the information about how to determine which conjugation a verb belongs to, following this link:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation

Today we will practice the Present Tense. This tense is equivalent of the English Present Progressive (I am reading) and Present Simple (I read).

Unlike English, Latin uses verb endings to express the person and number of the verb, and its tense or mood. These endings are in general the same for all conjugation groups, but there is some variation respectively to the stem vowel, which means that while, e.g. the singular third person ending is "-t" in all conjugations, in the 1st conjugation it's realized as "-at", because it's the A-Stem conjugation, in the 2nd conjugation it's "-et", (as they are the E-Stem) etc.

In order to conjugate a verb, you simply cut off the infinitive endings -are, -ére, -ere and -ire, and replace them with the personal endings shown on our website, respectively to the conjugation group to which the verb belongs to. Please study carefully how the conjugations work in Present Tense:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Present_Tense

II. QUESTION 5

Determine which conjugation the following verbs belong to, and conjugate them in the Present Tense (6 x 6 pts).

Follow the guidelines here:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation

Be careful, and read ALL information on the pages!

accipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum (accept)

defendo, -ere, -fendi, -fensum (defend)

doceo, -ére, docui, doctum (teach)

impero, -are, -avi, -atum (order)

scio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (know)

rapio, -ere, rapui, raptum (rob)

III. AN EXAMPLE HOW TO DO IT:

cupio, -ere, -ivi, -itum (wish);

- after analyzing this dictionary form, you see that its infinitive (2nd dictionary form) is abbreviated as "-ere", which means that its full infinitive form written out is: "cupere". The infinitive ending "-ere" marks the Third Conjugation, and the first person singular ending "-io" (1st dictionary form) makes it an I-Stem verb of the Third Conjugation. Therefore you go to the website, and search for the Present Tense personal endings respective to this conjugation. You will find them and you can give the following forms:

SINGULAR

cupio (1 pt)

cupis (1 pt)

cupit (1 pt)

PLURAL

cupimus (1 pt)

cupitis (1 pt)

cupiunt (1 pt)

Answers 5

accipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum (accept)

SINGULAR

accipio

accipis

accipit

PLURAL

accipimus

accipitis

accipiunt

defendo, -ere, -fendi, -fensum (defend)

SINGULAR

defendo

defendis

defendit

PLURAL

defendimus

defenditis

defendunt

doceo, -ére, docui, doctum (teach)

SINGULAR

doceo

doces

docet

PLURAL

docemus

docetis

docent

impero, -are, -avi, -atum (order)

SINGULAR

impero

imperas

imperat

PLURAL

imperamus

imperatis

imperant

scio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (know)

SINGULAR

scio

scis

scit

PLURAL

scimus

scitis

sciunt

rapio, -ere, rapui, raptum (rob)

SINGULAR

rapio

rapis

rapit

PLURAL

rapimus

rapitis

rapiunt

March 8th - Day 8 of the Ludi Novi Romani – Question 6 of the Certamen Latinum

I. INTRODUCTION 6 - Simple Latin Sentences

We have so far discussed the dictionary forms of the Latin nouns and verbs. We tried out how to decline nouns, and how to conjugate verbs in the Present Tense. Today we start making use of our knowledge, and we will create our first Latin sentences! We get real! That's what we all waited for - now, we'll taste speaking and writing in Latin.

In order to start this, please review everything we learned about conjugations and declensions, following these links:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Declension

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation

Today we try out writing some simple Latin sentences. But how to start this? Let's clarify four simple rules about Latin sentences.

1. Word order

How does Latin use the words in sentences? Does it place them in a particular word order to express grammatical function, such as subject and object? Not at all: we all know by now that Latin expresses grammatical functions by changing the word endings. That’s what we called declension or conjugation. So in what order to put, then, the words we decline and conjugate, in a sentence?

Good news for you! There is absolutely no obligatory word order in Latin! You can place the words in any particular order. It means that you can not screw up the word order of a Latin sentence - but you must be informed that any change in the word order indicates a slightly different emphasis in the sentence. Normal, non-emphatic Latin sentences tend to display a "Subject - Indirect Object - Object - Adverbial - Verb" word order. But it's not our level of knowledge, and we will not engage in this depth of Latin grammar. So, for now, write in the order as you like. It can't be wrong.

2. Word endings - using the cases of the declensions

That's a bit more difficult. Latin is a heavily inflected language, which means that Latin indicates grammatical function such as "subject" and "object", by changing the ending of the words. English uses word order to express who is the subject (the performer, who does something) or the object (which is what the action is being done to, for example, "reading a book", where "book" is the object). In English, the object is always placed after the verb, word order determines whether a word is an object or not. Latin, however, uses the accusative word ending to express the object of the sentence. Latin differentiates subject from object (or any grammatical function) by word ending. You must use -

- the nominative form for expressing subject ("CICERO writes a letter."),

- the accusative ending to express an object (Cicero writes A LETTER."),

- the genitive for possession ("It's CICERO'S letter."),

- the dative for indirect object ("Cicero writes a letter TO BRUTUS.")

- and the ablative for various adverbials ("Cicero writes a letter BY HAND/ON PAPYRUS/FOR FUN/etc.").

We learned for the first question of the Certamen Latinum how to determine which declension a noun belongs to. Now it's time to make use of this knowledge and to use the declined forms of nouns in sentences.

3. Word endings - using the personal endings of the conjugations

We saw in yesterday's exercise that unlike English, Latin uses verb endings to express the person and number of the verb, and its tense or mood. You must identify who performs the action described by the verb of the sentence: I, you, he/she/it, we, you (plural) or they. Once it's determined, you will use the proper personal endings, respectively to the conjugation which the verb belongs to.

4. Articles

There are no articles in Latin! Yahoooo!... There is no definite (the) or indefinite article (a, an) either. When you write in Latin, you simply forget about them. No rules to be memorized, no problems when to use them or when not to. Long live the freedom from articles! :)

Learn more about how to write a Latin sentence here:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence

II. QUESTION 6

Translate the following simple sentences to Latin. The Latin words needed to these translations are given below in their dictionary forms. Use them.

Follow the guidelines here:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Declension
http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation
http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence

Be careful, and read ALL information on the pages!

"Brutus and Cassius defend the freedom and the traditions of the state of Rome." (7 pts)

Brutus, -i, m (Brutus)

Cassius, -i, m (Cassius)

defendo, -ere, -fendi, -fensum (defend)

et (and)

libertas, -atis, f (freedom)

mos, moris, m (tradition, custom)

civitas, -atis, f (state, citizenry)

Roma, -ae, f (Rome)

"Cassius is writing letters to Brutus and Curio about the events in the senate." (7 pts)

Curio, -onis, m (Curio)

scribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptum (write)

epistula, -ae, f (letter, mail)

Cicero, -onis, m (Cicero)

de + ablative (about)

eventus, -ús, m (event)

in + ablative (in)

senatus, -ús, m (senate)

"Caesar salutes Pompey, but Pompey does not salute Caesar, because anger is invading Pompey’s heart." (10 pts)

Caesar, -aris, m (Caesar)

saluto, -are, -avi, -atum (salute)

Pompeius, -i, m (Pompey)

sed (but)

non (not; no)

quia (because)

ira, -ae, f (anger, ire)

invado, -ere, -vasi, -vasum (invade)

cor, cordis n (heart)

• Comment: "does/do not" in Latin is expressed by "non + verb in conjugated form", in this case it's literally "Pompey salutes not Cicero".

"The men say to Caesar: 'You attack the senate only because you wish to destroy the state'." (8 pts)

vir, viri, m (man)

dico, -ere, dixi, dictum (say)

oppugno, -are, -avi, -atum (attack)

solum (only)

cupio, -ere, -ivi, -itum (wish)

deleo, -ere, -evi, -etum (destroy, delete)

"Today, on women’s day, we salute girls and ladies by flowers." (7 pts)

hodie (today)

femina, -ae, f (woman)

dies, -ei, m/f (day)

puella, -ae, f (girls)

mulier, -eris, f (lady, adult woman)

flos, floris, m (flower)

• Comment: both “on” (time) and "by" (means) are expressed here by using the ablative without preposition.

III. AN EXAMPLE HOW TO DO IT:

"Caesar is defending Rome from the Gauls." (would be 4 pts)

Caesar, -aris, m (Caesar)

defendo, -ere, -endi, -ensum (defend)

Roma, -ae, f (Rome)

a + ablative (from)

Gallus, -i, m (Gaul person, Gaulish)

- after analyzing this English sentence, we find that "is defending" is the predicate of the sentence, and as we learned from the previous exercises, Latin Present Tense includes both English Present Progressive (is defending) and Present Simple (defends). Thus, "he is defending" is equal to "he defends", Present singular third person. We examine the dictionary form of "defendo": we see it's third conjugation because infinitive ending "-ere" indicates belonging to the third conjugation. In the table of conjugations on the website, we find that the third conjugation singular 3rd person ending is "-it". So "he defends"/"he is defending" becomes "defendit" (1 pt).
- We find that the subject is "Caesar". We need the nominative then, and we see in the declension table that it's simply "Caesar", no change is needed in the word ending (1 pt).
- We find the object, which is "Rome". The genitive ending of the dictionary form "-ae" shows it's first declension, where singular accusatives end in "-am". So "Rome" becomes "Romam" (1 pt).
- We see that "from" in Latin is "a + ablative". Then we must put "Gallus" into plural ablative and place it after the preposition "a". From the table of declensions, after we have realized it's second declension as the genitive "-i" indicates, we chose the ending "-is", and the final form will be "a Gallis" (1 pt).
- We put the sentence together, in any optional word order, but keeping in mind that normal, un-emphatic Latin word order is Subject - Indirect Object - Object - Adverbial - Verb:

"Caesar Romam a Gallis defendit."

Answers 6

"Brutus et Cassius libertatem et mores civitatis Romae defendunt."

"Cassius Bruto et Curioni epistulas de eventibus in senatu scribit."

"Caesar Pompeium salutat, sed Pompeius Caesarem non salutat, quia ira cor Pompeii invadit."

"Viri Caesari dicunt: 'Senatum oppugnas solum, quia civitatem delere cupis'".

"Hodie, feminarum die, puellas et mulieres floribus salutamus."

March 9th - Day 9 of the Ludi Novi Romani – Question 7 of the Certamen Latinum

I. INTRODUCTION 7 - Adjectives and Adverbs

We have so far learned the dictionary forms of Latin nouns and verbs. We declined nouns, and conjugated verbs in the Present Tense, and we composed our first simple Latin sentences yesterday. Today we broaden our focus and will include Latin adjectives and adverbs into the game, always in sentences, from now on. We are not Latin babies anymore, we are proud to exercise ourselves only in sentences, once we have got this far.

How does the taste of using real Latin feel? We haven't even noticed, and we are already actually speaking and writing in Latin. And it is not even so hard! And all that's achieved within just 6 days...! Where's yet the 10th day of the certamen? We will perhaps become completely fluent in Latin till March 14th ;-)

But more work is ahead of us right now. In order to fix what we have learned so far, please review everything we learned about conjugations, declensions and simple Latin sentences, following these links:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Declension

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation

http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence

It wouldn't harm if you reviewed all questions and answers presented in this quiz until today:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Ludi_Novi_Romani/MMDCCLXV/Certamen_Latinum

Today we become familiar with Latin adjectives and adverbs, and we will build them into nice little Latin sentences. I suggest we start with the adjectives.

1. Adjectives

Adjectives are words like "big", "small", "nice", "ugly", "quick", "red" etc., they describe qualities, what like one is.

You must remember that Latin nouns have genders, marked by "m.", "f.", "n." in the dictionary forms. These are abbreviations for masculine, feminine and neuter. English has a similar phenomenon when we use “he”, “she” or “it”. Latin, however, uses these genders for things or abstract concepts, too, like in these examples where “loyalty” (fides, -ei, f) is feminine in Latin, the “senate” (senatus, -ús, m) is masculine, “Rome” (Roma, -ae, f) is, again, feminine. In general, we can state that things connectible with males, or virile, robust things are masculine (thus "senatus" is masculine because the senate consisted of men), things connectible with females, womanly, soft and gentle things, abstract ideas, terms and concepts (noble concepts like "freedom", "fatherland", countries, cities) are all of feminine gender (hence "Roma" is feminine, as a city/country, and "fides" as and abstract idea or noble concept), and simple objects, means or places and things, especially those made of non-living material, are neuter, however, there are a lot of exceptions. The more Latin words you learn, the better you will see that these rules are just very gross generalizations, and the sad truth is that you must memorize the gender of each Latin word you want to know. 'But why?' - you ask. Here come to the picture: the adjectives.

1.1. Gender-Number-Case Agreement Rule

Latin adjectives must agree in gender, number and case with the noun to which they are attached to: so it's essential that you know the gender of each noun if you want to add an adjective to it. A neuter noun in genitive singular can only get a neuter adjective in genitive singular, a masculine plural noun in accusative can only get a masculine plural adjective in the accusative.

1.2. Types of Adjectives

In order to assure that each adjective can accompany all nouns of any gender, all Latin adjectives are of three genders. Each adjective is masculine, feminine and neuter at the same time. Adjectives of the 1st-2nd declension have three separate forms as variants for all three genders (bonus, -i, m.; bona, -ae, f.; bonum, -i, n.: "good"); adjectives of the 3rd declension have only two forms, one variant for the masculine-feminine, and another variant for the neuter (fortis, -is, m./f.; forte, -is, n.: "brave"), and there are some adjectives of the 3rd declension that have only one form, which may be used for all three genders (felix, -icis m./f./n.: "fortunate").

1.2.1. Adjectives of three forms in the 1st-2nd Declensions

Adjectives which have three separate forms, as you can see from the example above, in masculine have an ending in "-us" (bonus), in neuter in "-um" (bonum), and both have the genitive "-i", which makes both the masculine and neuter forms belong to the 2nd declension. The feminine variant, however, ends in "-a" (bona), and with the genitive "-ae" it belongs to the 1st declension. They have the abbreviated dictionary form:

bonus, -a, -um (good)

where the genitive forms are omitted because the users of the dictionaries are expected to know that all of the adjectives of this type follow the same pattern, the masculine and neuter belonging to the 2nd declension, the feminine to the 1st declension.

Note that there a few adjectives of which the masculine variant ends in “–er”, like in “pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum” (beautiful). But they, too, work exactly the same way as the adjectives ending “-us, -a, -um.”

1.2.2. Adjectives of two forms in the 3rd Declension

Adjectives having only two forms, one combined masculine-feminine, and another for the neuter, have the ending "-is" in the masculine-feminine variant (fortis), and the ending "-e" for the neuter form (forte). Both variants, however, share the same genitive "-is", which means that this class of adjectives belongs entirely to the third declension, and within that, to the I-Stem sub-group. Their dictionary form is:

fortis, -e (brave)

with genitive forms omitted again, as they, too, follow the same pattern always.

1.2.2. Adjectives of one single form in the 3rd Declension

Adjectives with only one single form, like "felix, -icis", don't have a specific nominative ending, but they all have the genitive ending "-is", which means, they are all belonging to the third declension. Most of them are of I-Stem (they end in “-ns” or “–x”), some of them are of Consonant-Stem. Their dictionary form is:

felix, -icis (fortunate)

where the genitive is given, because their genitive form may show great variety, including forms like:

sapiens, -entis (wise)

audax, -acis (bold)

vetus, -eris (ancient)

So what to do with all these adjectives, when placing them into a sentence?

1.3. Adjectives' Word Order

You make them agree in gender, number and case with the noun you want to attach them to, and place them after the noun, because Latin adjectives follow the nouns. It's like as if you would say "house big" instead of "big house" in English. But sometimes English does this, too! Or can't we say "all things Roman", instead of "all Roman things"?

2. Adverbs

Adverbs answer the question "How?". They describe manner and way, like "quickly" (from "quick"), "surprisingly" (from "surprising"), "shortly" (from "short"), "nicely" (from "nice") etc.

Even from these examples you can see that adverbs are created from adjectives, by adding an ending "-ly" in the English language. Adverbs are derived from adjectives (in most cases), hence why we discuss them together.

Latin has a solution similar to the English method of adding an ending "-ly" to adjectives, but in Latin, since more types of adjectives exist, there are more ways of forming the adverb.

2.1. Adverbs from Adjectives of the 1st-2nd Declension

From an adjective like “clarus, -a, -um” (clear), you form the adverb by cutting down the case endings, and adding an "-e" to the unchangeable stem of the word, "clar-", thus creating "clare" (clearly).

2.2. Adverbs from Adjectives of the 3rd Declension

From adjectives like "fortis, -e" (brave), or "felix, -icis" (fortunate), you form the adverb by cutting down the case endings, and adding an "-iter" to the unchangeable stem of the word, "fort-" or "felic-", thus creating "fortiter" (bravely) and "feliciter" (fortunately).

2.3. Adverbs from Adjectives of the 3rd Declension Ending in "-ns"

From adjectives like "sapiens, -entis" (wise), where the word ends in "-ns", and the genitive is "-ntis", you form the adverb by adding an "-er" to the unchangeable stem of the word, "sapient-", thus creating "sapienter" (wisely).

Some words have irregular adverbs, like "bene" (well) from "bonus, -a, -um" (good), or "facile" (easily) from "facilis, -e" (easy), but we will not discuss them within the frames of our Ludi Novi Romani.

II. QUESTION 7

Translate the following simple sentences containing adjectives and adverbs to Latin. The Latin words needed to these translations are given below in their dictionary form. Use them.

Follow the guidelines here:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence

Be careful, and read ALL information on the pages!

"The dutiful Brutus vigorously defends the freedom dear to the Roman people." (8 pts)

pius, -a, -um (dutiful)

Brutus, -i, m (Brutus)

strenuus, -a, -um (vigorous)

defendo, -ere, -fendi, -fensum (defend)

libertas, -atis, f (freedom)

carus, -a, -um (dear)

Romanus, -a, um (Roman)

populus, -i, m (people)

"Our friends are diligently writing a long letter to Caecilia Metella, wife of Marcus Licinius Crassus, and to Gaius Scribonius Curio about the many events in the Roman senate." (19 pts)

noster, -tra, -trum (our)

amicus, -, m (friend)

scribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptum (write)

diligens, -entis (diligent)

epistula, -ae, f (letter, mail)

Caecilia, -ae, f; Metella, -ae, f (Caecilia Metella)

uxor, -oris, f (wife)

Marcus, -i, m; Licinius, -i, m; Crassus, -i, m (Marcus Licinius Crassus)

Gaius, -i, m; Scribonius, -i, m; Curio, -onis, m (Gaius Scribonius Curio)

scribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptum (write)

de + ablative (about)

multus, -a, -um (much, many)

eventus, -ús, m (event)

in + ablative (in)

Romanus, -a, um (Roman)

senatus, -ús, m (senate)

• Comment: "our", and all possessive pronouns (my, your, their, his, her), are considered adjectives in Latin, and they work like the regular adjectives.

"Caesar wishes to salute the famous consul Gnaeus Pompeius generously, but Pompey does not salute the generous pontifex maximus Gaius Caesar, because anger is roughly invading Pompey’s bitter heart." (21 pts)

Gaius, -i, m; Caesar, -aris, m (Gaius Caesar)

cupio, -ere, -ivi, -itum (wish)

saluto, -are, -avi, -atum (salute)

clarus, -a, -um (famous)

consul, -is, m (consul)

Gnaeus, -i, m; Pompeius, -i, m (Gnaeus Pompeius)

liberalis, -e, (generous)

sed (but)

non (not; no)

pontifex, -ficis, m; maximus, -i, m (pontifex maximus, supreme pontiff)

quia (because)

ira, -ae, f (anger, ire)

asper, -era, -erum (rough)

invado, -ere, -vasi, -vasum (invade)

cor, cordis n (heart)

tristis, -e (bitter, sad)

• Comment: "does/do not" in Latin is expressed by "non + verb in conjugated form", in this case it's literally "Pompey salutes not Cicero".

"The old men say angrily to the famous Gaius Caesar: 'You attack our senate only because you wish to destroy the republic." (12 pts)

vetus, -eris (old)

vir, viri, m (man)

dico, -ere, dixi, dictum (say)

iratus, -a, -um (angry)

oppugno, -are, -avi, -atum (attack)

solum (only)

cupio, -ere, -ivi, -itum (wish)

deleo, -ere, -evi, -etum (destroy, delete)

res, -ei, f; publica, -ae, f (republic)

"I am proudly celebrating the fourteenth anniversary of my people, the Nova Romans, in the Nova Roman Games." (10 pts)

superbus, -a, -um (proud)

celebro, -are, -avi, -atum (celebrate)

quartus, -a, -um; decimus, -a, -um (fourteenth)

anniversarium, -, n (anniversary)

meus, -a, -um (my, mine)

Novus, -a, -um, Romanus, -a, um (Nova Roman)

in + ablative (in)

ludus, -i, m (game)

• Comment: "my", and all possessive pronouns (your, our, their, his, her), are considered adjectives in Latin, and they work like the regular adjectives.

III. AN EXAMPLE HOW TO DO IT:

"The great Cicero slowly writes long letters to the wise Brutus." (7 pts)

magnus, -a, -um (great)

Cicero, -onis, m (Cicero)

lentus, -a, -um (slow)

scribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptum (write)

longus, -a, -um (long)

epistula, -ae, f (letter, mail)

sapiens, -entis (wise)

Brutus, -i, m (Brutus)

- you will have to determine the gender, number and case of the nouns "Cicero", "letter" and "Brutus", then you will have to pick the appropriate gender variant of the attached adjective, and to put it into the number and case in which the noun stands.
- You'll find easily that "Cicero" is the subject, so this is nominative in Latin. The word is "Cicero, -onis, m", thus masculine, so "great" in "great Cicero" will have to be a masculine singular nominative from "magnus, -a, -um (great)". It's simply "magnus". (1 pt)
- "Slowly" is an adverb. We cut off the case endings of "lentus, -a, -um" (slow), getting "lent-", and we add the "-e", which is the proper adverb ending for adverbs derived from the 1st-2nd declensions adjectives. (1 pt)
- "Letters" is the object and it's plural, so we will need a plural accusative from "epistula, -ae, f (letter)", which is "epistulas". (1 pt) "Long", which is "longus, -a, -um" in Latin, has to agree with "epistulas", so we need the plural accusative of the feminine variant "longa", which is "longas". (1 pt)
- "To (the wise) Brutus" is singular dative, in Latin it's "Bruto" from "Brutus, -i, m". (1 pt) So we need the singular dative of the masculine variant of "sapiens, -entis" (wise). However, sapiens is an "unvarying" adjective like "felix, -icis", which means that in all genders it uses the same form. So we simply take the dative of sapiens, which is "sapienti". (1 pt) So the full sentence is, with the good translation of “(he) writes” as scribit (1 pt):

"Cicero magnus Bruto sapienti epistulas longas lente scribit."

Answers 7

"Brutus pius libertatem caram populo Romano strenue defendit."

"Amici nostri Caeciliae Metellae, uxori Marci Licinii Crassi, et Gaio Scribonio Curioni longam epistulam de multis eventibus in senatu Romano diligenter scribunt."

"Caesar Gnaeum Pompeium, consulem clarum, liberaliter salutare cupit, sed Pompeius Gaium Caesarem, pontificem maximum liberalem, non salutat, quia ira aspere cor triste Pompeii invadit."

"Viri veteres Gaio Caesari claro irate dicunt: 'Nostrum senatum oppugnas solum, quia rem publicam delere cupis'."

"Quartum decimum anniversarium populi mei, Novorum Romanorum, in Ludis Novis Romanis superbe celebro."

March 10th - Day 10 of the Ludi Novi Romani – Question 8 of the Certamen Latinum

I. INTRODUCTION 8 - Past Tenses

We have so far learned the dictionary forms of Latin nouns and verbs. We declined nouns, and conjugated verbs in the Present Tense, and we composed simple Latin sentences. Yesterday we discussed and practiced the usage of Latin adjectives and adverbs.

Today we will learn about the three Past Tenses of Latin verbs.

1. The Imperfect Tense

The Imperfect Tense indicates either a perpetual, or an ongoing but incomplete action in the past. It can express any action in the past that was not completed. This tense is similar to the English Past Progressive ("I was saying"), but depending on context, it can also be identified with English Past Simple ("I said"). "Dícébam" can be translated to mean "I was saying," and less frequently: "I said," or "I used to say".

This tense is formed from the 2nd dictionary part, by cutting off the infinitive endings "-are", "-ére", "-ere" and "-ire", and replacing them with the personal endings shown in the table on our website, respectively to the conjugation group to which the verb belongs to.

Learn the conjugation of the Imperfect Tense on our website:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Imperfect_Tense

2. The Perfect Tense

The Perfect Tense refers to an action completed in the past. It expresses a finished action in the past. If the action were not finished, but still lies in the past, one would use the Imperfect Tense. The Latin Perfect Tense is equivalent to the English Present Perfect ("I have said"), but unlike English, the Latin Perfect Tense is used in the function of English Past Simple whenever it describes a finished, completed event, the series of actions in a past time story. Thus "díxí" can be translated as "I have said," or, more often, "I said".

This tense is formed from the 3rd dictionary part, by cutting off the Perfect Tense first person singular ending "-í", and replacing it with the personal endings shown in the table on our website.

Learn the conjugation of the Perfect Tense on our website:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Perfect_Tense

3. The Pluperfect Tense

Just like in English, in Latin, too, the Pluperfect Tense is used to assert an action that was completed before another action in the past. "Díxeram" translates as "I had said."

This tense is formed from the 3rd dictionary part, by cutting off the Perfect Tense first person singular ending "-í", and replacing it with the personal endings shown in the table on our website.

Learn the conjugation of the Pluperfect Tense on our website:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Pluperfect_Tense

II. QUESTION 8

Translate the following simple sentences to Latin, using the three types of Past Tenses, the Imperfect, the Perfect and the Pluperfect in their proper places. The Latin words needed to these translations are given below in their dictionary form. Use them. Follow the guidelines here:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation
http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence

Be careful, and read ALL information on the pages!

”I knew many women, but I have never found the perfect one.” (6 pts)

scio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (know)

multus, -a, -um (much, many)

mulier, -eris, f (lady, adult woman)

sed (but)

invenio, -ire, -veni, -ventum (find)

numquam (never)

optimus, -a, -um (perfect)

• Comment: The word “one” does not have to be translated.

”Popillia and Maria were slowly walking down to the forum, when they suddenly stopped, because a cat had run across the street.” (9 pts)

Popillia, -ae f (Popillia)

et (and)

Maria, -ae f (Maria)

lentus, -a, -um (slow)

descend, -ere, -scendi, -scensum (walk down)

in + accusative (to, into)

forum, -i, n (square, forum)

cum (when)

subito (suddenly)

consisto -sistere -stiti –stitum (stop)

quia (because)

felis, -is, f (cat)

curro, -ere, cucurri, cursum (run)

trans + accusative (across)

via, -ae, f (street)

”When we decided to start our dinner, our guests had already drunk all the wine, and they were cheerfully singing songs in Latin.” (13 pts)

cum (when)

decerno, -ere, decrevi, -cretum (decide)

incipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum (start)

noster, -tra, -trum (our)

cena, -ae, f (dinner)

hospes, -itis, mf (guest)

iam (already)

bibo, -ere, bibi, bibitum (drink)

omnis, -e (all)

vinum, -i, n (wine)

cano, -ere, cecini, cantum (sing)

hilarus, -a, -um (cheerful)

carmen, -inis, n (song)

Latinus, -a, -um (Latin)

• Comment: The phrase “in Latin” is expressed in Latin by an adverb, derived regularly from “Latinus, -a, um”.

"The bad senators vehemently attacked Marcus Tullius Cicero with angry speeches yesterday, although he was defending the state with his proposals." (13 pts)

malus, -a, -um (bad)

senator, -oris, m (senator)

vehemens, -entis (vehement)

oppugno, -are, -avi, -atum (attack)

Marcus, -i, m; Tullius, -i, m; Cicero, -onis, m (Marcus Tullius Cicero)

iratus, -a, -um (angry)

oratio, -onis, f (speech)

heri (yesterday)

quamquam (although)

defendo, -ere, -endi, -ensum (defend)

res, -ei, f; publica, -ae, f (state, republic)

suus, -a, -um (his)

sententia, -ae, f (proposal)

• Comments: "with" is expressed here in both places by using the ablative without preposition. "His", and all possessive pronouns (my, your, her, our, their), are considered adjectives in Latin, and they work like the regular adjectives.

"Cicero started to write his book on the nature of the gods, because he had finished his other duties, and at last he had free time." (14 pts)

incipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum (start)

scribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptum (write)

suus, -a, -um (his)

liber, libri, m (book)

de + ablative (about; on)

natura, -ae, f (nature)

deus, -i, m (god)

finio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (finish)

ceterus, -a, um (other, the rest of)

officium, -i, n (duty)

tandem (at last)

habeo, -ere, -bui, -bitum (have)

liber, -era, -erum (free)

tempus, -oris, n (time)

III. AN EXAMPLE HOW TO DO IT:

"Cicero entered the room where Pompey was writing." (4 pts)

Cicero, -onis, m (Cicero)

intro, -are, -avi, -atum (enter)

cella, -ae, f (room)

ubi (where)

Pompeius, -i, m (Pompey)

scribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptum (write)

- you will have to analyze the two predicates, "entered" and "was writing". With "was writing" there is no problem at all, because this is an English Past Progressive, which, in Latin, always appears as an Imperfect. Thus, form the conjugation table, you will get "scribebat". (1 pt)
- "Enter" is more difficult, because it's English Past Simple, which can be both Latin Imperfect and Latin Perfect. Since we have already an Imperfect and this action of "entering the room" is "more finished" than Pompey's "writing", it seems reasonable to think that "entered" is a Perfect Tense in Latin. You check the conjugation table on our website, and you find it's "intravit". (1 pt)
- You translate the rest of the sentence (2 pts) easily as it contains no new grammar, and the result is:

"Cicero cellam intravit ubi Pompeius scribebat."

Answers 8

"Multas mulieres sciebam, sed optimam nunquam inveni."

"Popillia et Maria in forum lente descendebant, cum subito constiterunt, quia felis trans viam cucurrerat."

"Cum cenam nostram incipere decrevimus, hospites nostri iam omne vinum biberant, et carmina Latine hilare canebant."

"Mali senatores Marcum Tullium Ciceronem orationibus iratis heri vehementer oppugnaverunt, quamquam rem publicam suis sententiis defendebat."

"Cicero librum suum de natura deorum scribere incepit, quia cetera sua officia finiverat, et tandem tempus liberum habebat."

March 11th - Day 11 of the Ludi Novi Romani – Question 9 of the Certamen Latinum

I. INTRODUCTION 9 - The Subjunctive

We started with the dictionary forms of Latin nouns and verbs, since without knowing them there's no way to use the Latin words in sentences. We declined nouns, and conjugated verbs in the Present and in all three Past Tenses (Imperfect, Perfect, Pluperfect), and we composed simple Latin sentences with adjectives and adverbs.

Today we learn about the formidable Subjunctive Mood, hardest things in all Latin studies, nightmare of all Barbarians :) Some think it was the Roman weapons that won the Barbarians, but Latinists will tell you, it was the Subjunctive - when Barbarian peoples tried to learn Latin, it killed them all. But I think you will see soon that Subjunctive is not at all as formidable as it might seem, and after a bit of practicing, you'll see the myths around the Subjunctive are just fairy tales, and we'll eat Subjunctive for breakfast.

But let's start from the beginning. What does the Subjunctive Mood mean?

The Subjunctive is a verb mood typically used in subordinate clauses to express a wish, hope, possibility, condition, uncertainty, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred. It is sometimes referred to as the Conjunctive Mood, as it often follows a conjunction.

English has a very shy Subjunctive which appears only in a few situations visibly, but sometimes it's there even if the verb does not show it. Examples of English Subjunctives are the following:

"I wish he were here." (In Indicative it would have been "He is here.")

The teachers insisted that the homework be ready." (In Indicative it would have been "The homework is ready.")

"Were" is not Past, and "be" is not infinitive, but both are Subjunctives here. English uses two main Subjunctive forms, the Present Subjunctive (he be, he go, he come) and the Past Subjunctive (he were, he went, he came), which look identical to the normal Indicative forms. These forms, however, sound archaic to modern English speakers, and in most of the sentences, when Latin uses Subjunctive, English uses auxiliary verbs like, "may", might", "would", "should", "can", or "could". These are expressed in Latin by the Subjunctive.

Latin uses four Subjunctive Tenses, Present Subjunctive, Imperfect Subjunctive, Perfect Subjunctive and Pluperfect Subjunctive. Let's see what they are there for, and what each of these Subjunctive Tenses mean.

Since it's getting to become a very high octane number Latin knowledge, I suggest you review all past lessons on our Certamen Latinum webpage:

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Ludi_Novi_Romani/MMDCCLXV/Certamen_Latinum

1. The Subjunctive Present

You use Subjunctive Present (e.g. "Dicam") when English uses the auxiliary verbs "let" ("Let me say it"), "may" ("May I say it") or, mainly in subordinate clauses, when English uses Present Subjunctive or Imperative ("Imperat ut dicam": "He orders that I say"; or "Dicas": "Say it").

This tense is formed from the 2nd dictionary part, by cutting off the infinitive endings "-are", "-ére", "-ere" and "-ire", and replacing them with the personal endings shown in the table on our website, respectively to the conjugation group to which the verb belongs to.

Learn the conjugation of the Imperfect Tense on our website:

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Subjunctive_Present

2. The Subjunctive Imperfect

The Subjunctive Imperfect is used in Latin when English uses the auxiliary verbs "would" and "should", "Dicerem" can be translated as "I would say" or "I should say". Sometimes it can also be translated with "could" or "might" as "I could say" or "I might say". In wishes and in conditional sentences, it is translated by English Past Subjunctive ("Vellem dicerem": "I wish I said"); in subordinate clauses, however, it is translated by English Present Subjunctive ("Imperavit ut dicerem": "He ordered that I say").

This tense is formed from the 2nd dictionary part, by cutting off the infinitive endings "-are", "-ére", "-ere" and "-ire", and replacing them with the personal endings shown in the table on our website, respectively to the conjugation group to which the verb belongs to. Practically, the formation of this Subjunctive Imperfect looks like as if the personal endings would be simple attached to the infinitive.

Learn the conjugation of the Subjunctive Imperfect on our website:

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Subjunctive_Imperfect

3. The Subjunctive Perfect

The Subjunctive Perfect rarely appears in independent sentences, it's mostly used in subordinate clauses. When it's used independently, it normally translates with the English auxiliary verbs "may have". "Dixerim" can be translated as "I may have said".

This tense is formed from the 3rd dictionary part, by cutting off the Indicative Perfect Tense first person singular ending "-í", and replacing it with the Subjunctive Perfect personal endings shown in the table on our website.

Learn the conjugation of the Subjunctive Perfect on our website:

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Subjunctive_Perfect

4. The Subjunctive Pluperfect

The Subjunctive Pluperfect can be translated with the English auxiliary verbs "would have" or "should have". "Dixissem" can mean "I would have said", "I should have said". Sometimes it can be translated as "I could have said" or "I might have said". It is translated by English Pluperfect Subjunctive ("I had said") when it is used in subordinated clauses ("Vellem dixissem": "I wish I had said").

This tense is formed from the 3rd dictionary part, by cutting off the Indicative Perfect Tense first person singular ending "-í", and replacing it with the Subjunctive Pluperfect personal endings shown in the table on our website.

Learn the conjugation of the Subjunctive Pluperfect on our website:

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation#Subjunctive_ Pluperfect

II. QUESTION 9

Translate the following complex sentences to Latin, using the the Subjunctive Tenses where they are needed. The Latin words needed to these translations are given below in their dictionary form. Use them.

Follow the guidelines here:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation
http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence

Be careful, and read ALL information on the pages!

"If the Roman comitia had not elected Marcus Tullius Cicero, the extraordinary man, the evil conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina would have terribly subverted the fundamentals of our republic." (19 pts)

si (if)

Romanus, -a, -um (Roman)

comitia, -orum, n (comitia, assembly: used only in pluar)

non (not)

creo, -are, -avi, -atum (elect)

Marcus, -i, m; Tullius, -i, m; Cicero, -onis, m (Marcus Tullius Cicero)

singularis, -e (extraordinary, special, singular)

vir, viri, m (man)

impius, -a, -um (evil)

haughty (superbus, -a, -um)

coniuratio, -onis, f (conspiracy)

Lucius, -i, m; Sergius, -i, m; Catilina, -ae, m (Lucius Sergius Catilina)

terribilis, -e (terrible)

subverto, -ere, -verti, -versum (subvert)

fundamentum, -i, n (foundation, fundamental)

noster, -tra, -trum (our)

res, rei, f; publica, -ae, f (republic)

"If we were drinking from the sweet nectar of the immortal gods, we would feel the divine force in our bodies: but we are drinking simple wine." (13 pts)

bibo, -ere, bibi, bibitum (drink)

ex + ablative (from)

dulcis, -e (sweet)

nectar, -aris, n (nectar)

immortalis, -e (immortal)

deus, -i, m (god)

divinus, -a, -um (divine)

vires, -ium (force: used only in plural)

in + ablative (in)

corpus, -oris, n (body)

sed (but)

simplex, -icis (simple)

vinum, -i, n (wine)

"Let's hear the wise words of Marcus Cicero, because he might say many things of great importance." (10 pts)

audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (hear)

sapiens, -entis (wise)

verbum, -i, n (word)

quia (because)

dico, -ere, dixi, dictum (say)

multus, -a, -um (much, many)

res, rei, f (thing)

magnus, -a, -um (great)

momentum, -i, n (importance)

"He may have believed the shrewd boy, but the father reprehended the boy, his son, because the boy had caused many harms. (12 pts)

credo, -ere, -didi, -ditum + dative (believe)

versutus, -a, -um (shrewd)

puer, -i, m (boy)

pater, patris, m (father)

reprehendo, -ere, -hensi, -hensum (reprehend)

suus, -a, -um (his)

filius, -i, m (son)

affero, -ferre, attuli, allatum (cause, bring into)

detrimentum, -i, n (harm)

”Although they should have waited until the end of the dinner, the guests might have already drunk all the wine, because they were singing Latin songs.” (13 pts)

quamquam (although)

exspecto, -are, -avi, -atum (wait)

usque ad + accusative (until)

finis, -is, m (end)

cena, -ae, f (dinner)

hospes, -itis, mf (guest)

iam (already)

bibo, -ere, bibi, bibitum (drink)

omnis, -e (all)

vinum, -i, n (wine)

cano, -ere, cecini, cantum (sing)

carmen, -inis, n (song)

Latinus, -a, -um (Latin)

III. AN EXAMPLE HOW TO DO IT:

"If the soldiers of Pompey had fought vehemently, Caesar would not have won." (6 pts)

si (if)

miles, -itis, m (soldier)

Pompeius, -i, m (Pompey)

bello, -are, -avi, -atum (fight)

vehemens, -entis (vehement)

Caesar, -aris, m (Caesar)

non (not)

vinco, -ere, vici, victum (win)

- you will easily identify "would not have won" as Subjunctive Pluperfect if you check the introduction about the Subjunctive. "Would have" (or "might have" and "should have") is usually Subjunctive. Since the first clause is introduced by "if", you are right to suspect that is a subordinate clause.
- You can also learn from the introduction that "had fought" is probably an English Pluperfect Subjunctive, and Latin translates it with the same construction, with a Pluperfect Subjunctive.
- Thus we have the two predicates translated, both as Pluperfect Subjunctives: "bellavissent" (1 pt), and "non vicisset". (1 pts)
- After translating the subjects in nominative (soldiers; Caesar) (1 + 1 pts), the possessive construction in genitive (of Pompey) (1 pt), and the adverb (vehemently) (1pt), we get the following solution:

"Si milites Pompei vehementer bellavissent, Caesar non vicisset."

Answers 9

"Si comitia Romana Marcum Tullium Ciceronem, virum singularem, non creavissent, coniuratio impia Lucii Sergii Catilinae fundamenta rei publicae nostrae terribiliter subvertisset."

"Si ex nectari dulci deorum immortalium biberemus, vires divinas in corporibus nostris sentiremus, sed vinum simplex bibimus."

"Verba sapientia Marci Ciceronis audiamus, quia multas res magni momenti diceret."

"Puero versuto crediderit, sed pater puerum, filium suum reprehendit, quia puer multa detrimenta attulerat."

"Quamquam usque ad finem cenae exspectavissent, hospites omne vinum iam bibissent, quia carmina Latina canebant."

March 12th - Day 12 of the Ludi Novi Romani – Question 10 of the Certamen Latinum

I. INTRODUCTION 10 - Indirect Speech

We have walked through a long path, but made huge steps, and within just 10 days we are arriving to the hardest height of Latin grammar, to the Indirect Discourse (or Indirect Speech) which includes the Sequence of Tenses rules and the Accusative with Infinitive, two things which made students of Latin cry since the Middle Age.

From the dictionary forms, where we had started, we went through all declensions of nouns and adjectives, we learned the formation of adverbs and the conjugations of Present and Past Tenses, and yesterday we met all tenses of the Subjunctive.

Today, on our last day, we will win and conquer the Indirect Speech, the jewel in our crown.

Now I confess I deceived you when I said we would only "try out" some minor things in the Latin, or when I said we would take a look at some little bits of Latin with these Quizzes. The truth is, that with these lessons we have learned almost all grammar of the Latin language, and almost every difficult feature in Latin. And now we are on the top, learning about the hardest grammar in Latin, which if you will be able to conquer, you will have conquered Goddess Latinitas Herself, and the doors of the "Roman Mind", and all Classical and Medieval Literature will re-open for you, forever.

I'm not joking when I say the Indirect Speech poisoned the lives of many schoolboys and girls since the Fall of the Roman Empire, especially with the terrible Accusative with Infinitive and the Sequence of Tenses - but I assure you by the end of the day you will laugh into the eyes of these monsters: they are monsters only to those who are not willing to domesticate them.

But first we must define what we are about to domesticate.

Indirect Speech (Reported Speech, or Indirect Discourse) refers to a sentence reporting what someone has said, thought, seen, heard or percieved by any mental activity. It is almost always used in spoken English.

Direct Speech is:

"Cicero said: 'I see Brutus in the garden'."

Indirect Speech is:

"Cicero said (that) he saw Brutus in the garden".

From this example we can see that there must be some rules about the Sequence of Tenses, because in the Indirect Speech "see" became "saw". Yes, there is a Sequence of Tenses rule in English, too, and we will see that the Latin rules are similar, but Latin uses them only in Indirect Questions, because in Indirect Statements Latin has chosen an entirely different solution: the Accusative with Infinitive. We will take care of this first.

Now, there are three types of Indirect Speech, depending on the reported sentence if it is a statement, order or question, an Indirect Speech can be Indirect Statement, Indirect Command, or Indirect Question. Let's start with the Indirect Statements.

1. Indirect Statements

In English, the verb tense of the reported, indirect sentence follows a simple logical Sequence of Tense rule: if the reporting verb ("said") is in the past, the reported clause will be in a Past Tense. If the reporting verb is present ("say"), the reported clause will be in a Present Tense:

With the reporting verb in Present:

"Cicero says: 'I see Brutus in the garden'." (Direct Statement)

"Cicero says (that) he sees Brutus in the garden." (Indirect Statement)

With the reporting verb in Past:

"Cicero said: 'I see Brutus in the garden'." (Direct Statement)

"Cicero said (that) he saw Brutus in the garden." (Indirect Statement)

Instead of this rule, in Latin we find that there is an entirely different construction, the Accusative with Infinitive, used for reporting statements.

1.1. Accusative with Infinitive

There is a similar construction in English, when you say "I see Brutus come," and "I see him go," where "come" is an infinitive without the usual "to" (otherwise it would have been "comes"), and "Brutus" is an accusative. English uses the Accusative plus Infinitive with verbs of wishing, believing and perception ("I believe Brutus to come"). The infinitive is usually introduced by "to", but in some cases (e.g. with "see") it's without "to".

"I see Brutus come."

"Video Brutum venire."

"I believe Brutus to come."

"Credo Brutum venire."

However, English does not use this construction with verbs of saying. There is no "I say Brutus to come". English puts it as "I say (that) Brutus comes". In Latin, however, we must always use the Accusative with Infinitive construction with all verbs of saying, thinking, perceiving or communicating.

"I say (that) Brutus comes."

"Dico Brutum venire." (Literally: "I say Brutus to come.")

1.2. Reported Statments' Timing in the Accusative with Infinitive Construction

1.2.1. If the Reported Statement is about an event which is contemporaneous, simultaneous with the time of the reporting verb, like "I say (that) Brutus comes (is coming)", or "I said (that) Brutus came (was coming), we use the Present Infinitive, i.e. the 2nd dictionary form:

amo, -are, -avi, -atum --> amare (to love)

facio, -ere, feci, factum --> facere (to make)

venio, -ire, veni, ventum --> venire (to come)

It does not matter of what tense the reporting verb is:

"I say (that) Brutus comes / is coming."

"Dico Brutum venire." (Literally: "I say Brutus to come.")

I said (that) Brutus came / was coming.

"Dixi Brutum venire." (Literally: "I said Brutus to come.")

1.2.2. If the action of the reported sentence is prior to the time of the reporting verb, like "I say (that) Brutus came (has come)", or "I said (that) Brutus had come", you must use the Perfect Infinitive. To form a Perfect Infinitive, you simply cut off the Perfect Tense "-i" ending of the 3rd dictionary form, and add ending "-isse" to the Perfect Stem:

amo, -are, -av|i, -atum --> amavisse (to have loved)

facio, -ere, fec|i, factum --> fecisse (to have made)

venio, -ire, ven|i, ventum --> venisse (to have come)

It does not matter of what tense the reporting verb is:

"I say (that) Brutus has come / came / was coming."

"Dico Brutum venisse." (Literally: "I say Brutus to have come.")

"I said (that) Brutus had come."

"Dixi Brutum venisse." (Literally: "I said Brutus to have come.")

All Latin Indirect Statements have to follow these rules, and all Latin Indirect Statements are to be transformed into such Accusative with Infinitive contructions.

2. Indirect Commands

An Indirect Command is a reported command. Indirect Commands express what someone begs, asks, urges or orders. Let's see an English example:

"I begged that Brutus come."

"Come" is an English Subjunctive here. Latin uses Subjunctive as well. If the verb introducing the Indirect Command is Present, Latin uses Present Subjunctive in the subordinate clause; if the main verb is Past, Latin uses Imperfect Subjunctive in the subordinate clause. English never varies, it uses always the Present Subjunctive. Let' see it on examples:

With the reporting verb in Present:

"I beg that Brutus come."

"Oro ut Brutus veniat."

With the reporting verb in Past:

"I begged that Brutus come."

"Oravi ut Brutus veniret." (Literally: "I begged that Brutus came/would come.")

All Latin Indirect Commands have to be in Present or Imperfect Subjunctive follow the rules above.

3. Indirect Questions

An Indirect Question is a reported question, it reports what someone asks, or could have asked. English Indirect Questions follow the same Sequence of Tenses rules as in the case of Indirect Statements, but there's an additional change in the structure of the sentence:

"From where does Brutus come?"

"Cicero asks from where Brutus comes."

We can see that English changes word order and does not use the auxiliary verb "do/does" for Indirect Questions. In Latin you must use the Subjunctive to indicate Indirect Question. The Latin Sequence of Tenses for Indirect Questions is the following:

3.1. Sequence of Tenses

3.1.1. If the time of the verb in the reported question is contemporaneous, simultaneous to the time the verb of asking that introduces the Indirect Question, you will use

a) Present Subjunctive: if the reporting verb is Present;

b) Imperfect Subjunctive: if the reporting verb is Past.

With the reporting verb in Present:

"I ask from where Brutus comes / is coming."

"Quaero unde Brutus veniat."

With the reporting verb in Past:

"I asked from where Brutus came / was coming."

"Quaesivi unde Brutus veniret."

3.1.1. If the time of the verb in the reported question is prior to the time of the reporting verb of asking that introduces the Indirect Question, you will use

a) Perfect Subjunctive: if the reporting verb is Present;

b) Pluperfect Subjunctive: if the reporting verb is Past.

With the reporting verb in Present:

"I ask from where Brutus came / has come / was coming."

"Quaero unde Brutus venerit."

With the reporting verb in Past:

"I asked from where Brutus had come."

"Quaesivi unde Brutus venisset."

You must use the Subjunctive always, in this Sequence of Tenses, whenever you translate an Indirect Question to Latin.

II. QUESTION 10

Translate the following complex sentences which contain Indirect Statements, Indirect Commands and Indirect Questions to Latin, using the Accusative with Infinitive construction where needed, and the Subjunctive Tenses according to the Sequence of Tenses, where they are needed. The sentences below are mostly sligt alterations of all sentences we have translated so far, so although it's 18 sentences, all of them were translated by you on the previous days. So don't be afraid, it's not as much as it seems. Your work will mostly consist of transforming the sentences we had translated so far into Indirect Speech. The Latin words needed to these translations are given below in their dictionary form. Use them.

Follow the guidelines here:

http://novaroma.org/nr/Declension
http://novaroma.org/nr/Conjugation
http://novaroma.org/nr/Latin_sentence

Be careful, and read ALL information on the pages!

”I say without doubt that my friend knew many women, but he has never found the perfect one.” (9 pts)

dico, -ere, dixi, dictum (say)

sine +ablative (without)

dubium, -i, n (doubt)

scio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (know)

multus, -a, -um (much, many)

mulier, -eris, f (lady, adult woman)

sed (but)

invenio, -ire, -veni, -ventum (find)

numquam (never)

optimus, -a, -um (perfect)

• Comment: The word “one” does not have to be translated.

”Lentulus saw that Popillia and Maria were slowly walking down to the forum, and that they suddenly stopped because of a nice cat.” (10 pts)

Lentulus, -i, m (Lentulus)

video, -ére, vidi, visum (see)

Popillia, -ae f (Popillia)

et (and)

Maria, -ae f (Maria)

lentus, -a, -um (slow)

descend, -ere, -scendi, -scensum (walk down)

in + accusative (to, into)

forum, -i, n (square, forum)

cum (when)

subito (suddenly)

consisto -sistere -stiti –stitum (stop)

propter + accusative (because of)

felis, -is, f (cat)

”Tullia asked why our guests were cheerfully singing Latin songs, and whether they had already drunk the sweet wine.” (11 pts)

Tullia, -ae, f (Tullia)

quaero, -ere, quaesivi, -itum (ask)

cur (why)

noster, -tra, -trum (our)

hospes, -itis, mf (guest)

cano, -ere, cecini, cantum (sing)

hilarus, -a, -um (cheerful)

carmen, -inis, n (song)

Latinus, -a, -um (Latin)

num (if, whether)

iam (already)

bibo, -ere, bibi, bibitum (drink)

dulcis, -e (sweet)

vinum, -i, n (wine)

• Comment: The phrase “in Latin” is expressed in Latin by an adverb, derived regularly from “Latinus, -a, um”.

"I don’t understand why the bad senators vehemently attacked Marcus Tullius Cicero with their angry speeches yesterday, because I know our Cicero was just defending the state with his proposals." (20 pts)

intellego, -ere, -lexi, -ectum (understand)

malus, -a, -um (bad)

senator, -oris, m (senator)

vehemens, -entis (vehement)

oppugno, -are, -avi, -atum (attack)

Marcus, -i, m; Tullius, -i, m; Cicero, -onis, m (Marcus Tullius Cicero)

suus, -a, -um (their, his)

iratus, -a, -um (angry)

oratio, -onis, f (speech)

heri (yesterday)

quia (because)

scio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (know)

tantum (just)

defendo, -ere, -endi, -ensum (defend)

res, -ei, f; publica, -ae, f (state, republic)

sententia, -ae, f (proposal)

• Comments: "with" is expressed here in both places by using the ablative without preposition.

"Atticus ordered that Cicero start to write his book on the nature of the gods, because Atticus knew that Cicero had finished his other duties, and that he had free time, but Cicero did not find the place where he had put down his pen." (25 pts)

Atticus, -i, n (Atticus)

impero, -are, -avi, -atum (order)

ut (that)

incipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum (start)

scribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptum (write)

suus, -a, -um (his)

liber, libri, m (book)

de + ablative (about; on)

natura, -ae, f (nature)

deus, -i, m (god)

finio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (finish)

ceterus, -a, um (other, the rest of)

officium, -i, n (duty)

habeo, -ere, -bui, -bitum (have)

liber, -era, -erum (free)

tempus, -oris, n (time)

locus, -i, m (place)

ubi (where)

depono, -ere, -posui, -positum (put down)

stylus, -i, m (stylus, writing utensil, pen)

"Lentulus asks whether Aelia, Aemilia, Aeternia, Caninus, Hadrianus Placidus and Valeria enjoyed our Latin competition, because Lentulus thinks that Aelia, Aemilia, Aeternia, Caninus, Hadrianus Placidus and Valeria fought admirably." (25 pts)

Aelia, -ae, f (Aelia)

Aemilia, -ae, f (Aemilia)

Aeternia, -ae, f (Aeternia)

Caninus, -i, m (Caninus)

Hadrianus, -i, m (Hadrianus)

Pacidus, -i, m (Placidus)

Valeria, -ae, f (Valeria)

probo, -are, -avi, -atum (enjoy, approve)

certamen, -inis, n (competition)

puto, -are, -avi, -atum (think)

bello, -are, -avi, -atum (fight)

mirabilis, -e (admirable)

III. AN EXAMPLE HOW TO DO IT:

"We heard that the soldiers of Pompey had fought vehemently, but we don't know why Caesar won." (7 pts)

audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (hear)

miles, -itis, m (soldier)

Pompeius, -i, m (Pompey)

bello, -are, -avi, -atum (fight)

vehemens, -entis (vehement)

nescio, -ire, -ivi, -itum (do/does not know)

cur (why)

Caesar, -aris, m (Caesar)

vinco, -ere, vici, victum (win)

- in the first part is an Indirect Statement, which means that we have to use the Accusative with Infinitive construction here. We see that the time of the reported statement's verb "had fought" is prior to the time of the reporting verb "heard", so "had fought" will be translated with a Perfect Infinitive: "bellavisse". (1 pt)
- We put "the soldiers" in accusative ("milites"), because that's the object of the construction "we heard the soldiers to have fought". (1pt)
- The second part is an Indirect Question (why Caesar won), thus we will use the Subjunctive. The time of the reported question's verb, "won" is prior to the time of the reporting verb "I don't know", which is a Present Tense. So, according to the rules of the Sequence of Tenses, after Present reporting verb if a verb of prior time follows, the repored verb shall be in Perfect Subjunctive. In this case it's "vicerit". (1 pt)
- After translating everything else (4 pts), which is not new grammar, we get the following result:

"Audivimus milites Pompei vehementer bellavisse, sed nescimus cur Caesar vicerit."

Answers 10

"Sine dubio dico meum amicum multas mulieres scivisse, sed optimam nunquam invenisse."

"Lentulus videbat Popilliam et Mariam in forum lente descendere, et propter felem pulchram subito consistere."

"Tullia quaesivit, cur nostri hospites carmina Latina hilare canerent, et num vinum dulce iam bibissent."

"Non intellego, cur mali senatores Marcum Tullium Ciceronem orationibus iratis suis heri vehementer oppugnaverint, quia scio Ciceronem nostrum tantum rem publicam sententiis suis defendisse."

"Atticus imperavit, ut Cicero librum suum de natura deorum scribere inciperet, quia Atticus sciebat Ciceronem cetera officia sua finivisse, et tempus liberum habere, sed Cicero locum non invenit, ubi stylum deposuerat."

"Lentulus quaerit, num Aemilia, Aeternia, Caninus, Hadrainus, Placidus et Valeria certamen Latinum nostrum probaverint, quia Lentulus putat Aeliam, Aemiliam, Aeterniam, Caninum, Hadrianum, Placidum et Valeriam mirabiliter bellavisse."

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