Download 1. Translating Verbs 2. Personal Endings 3. Questions

Study Guide for Grammar Test 1, Chapters 1-3
1. Translating Verbs
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LATIN DOES NOT HAVE HELPING VERBS
If I asked you to translate: “Flavia is writing under the tree,” the answer would be:
Flavia sub arbore SCRIBIT.
You would NEVER say “Flavia EST SCRIBIT,” which would be like saying “Flavia is, is writing.”
Adding a “Latin” helping verb is the MOST FRQUENT ERROR students make—so BEWARE!
NEVER have EST in the sentence UNLESS IT IS THE MAIN VERB—She is a girl.
NEVER have SUNT in the sentence UNLESS IT IS THE MAIN VERB—They are boys.
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Latin verbs can be translated three different ways. Look at the following example:
Cornelia sub arbore sedet.
1. Cornelia sits under the tree.
2. Cornelia is sitting under the tree.
3. Cornelia does sit under the tree.
2. Personal Endings
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Personal endings refer to the person doing the verb; this person is the subject of the sentence.
We have learned that the subject is always a noun or pronoun.
The subject of a sentence is always in nominative case. The subject can be singular or plural (its
number) and it can be either masculine, feminine, or neuter (its gender).
We have learned that T on the end of a verb means HE, SHE, or IT is doing the verb. (He, she, or
it is the subject.)
We have learned that NT on the end of a verb means THEY are doing the verb. (They is the
subject).
3. Questions
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To ask a question in Latin, use one of the following words:
QUIS
Who?
QUID
What?
UBI
When OR Where?
CUR
Why?
Study Guide for Grammar Test 1
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Page 2
To ask a question with a Yes or No answer, use –NE.
o NE must be attached to the first word in the sentence; it CANNOT stand alone.
o “EST puer” means “He is a boy”; but “ESTNE puer?” means “IS HE a boy?”
o “SUNT puellae” means “They are girls.” “SUNTNE puellae?” means “ARE THEY girls?”
o Be careful: Remember that Latin word order differs from English; just because a
sentence starts with EST doesn’t mean it’s a question.
4. Other things to know
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Know the characters and story line for chapters 1 through 3.
Know the difference between ACTION verbs and LINKING verbs.
Know the terms Predicate Noun (renames the subject) and Predicate Adjective (describes the
subject).
Both predicate nouns and predicate adjectives follow LINKING verbs like are, is, or am.
Ms. Denny is the teacher.
Predicate Noun.
Predicate Adjective.
The students are smart.
Know the meaning of ITA and MINIME—yes and no.
Know the verbs FACIT and FACIUNT. Be able to use and translate them.
Know the 3rd person singular pronouns in English (he, she, and it), and the 3rd person plural
pronoun in English (they).
Know the Latin verb ending for 3rd person singular (T) and plural (NT). Be sure you can form
Latin verbs with these endings and know how to translate these verbs into English.
Know the English articles (a, an, the). Remember Latin does NOT have articles. You have to
supply them when translating:
“Est puella” means “She is A girl” or “She is THE girl.”
Define GENDER, NUMBER, CASE. Make sure you know how to make adjectives agree with the
nouns they describe/modify.
a tired girl: puella defessa
a tired boy: puer defessus
Be prepared to give the Latin for Who, What, Why, When, and Where. Be able to form questions
in Latin using these words.
5. Translation
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Be prepared to translate short passages into English. Remember, if your sentence doesn’t
sound right to you, you have probably made a mistake in word order. English and Latin word
order are different.