AP Latin › Grammatical and Syntactic Terminology in Poetry Passages
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res, 5
irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.
What is the case of "mala" in line 1?
Accusative
Nominative
Ablative
Vocative
The word "mala" is an adjective describing the word "plurima" in this sentence. Identifying the case of this word is a bit tricky, since "plurima"is a substantive (an adjective acting as a noun), therefore, the case is a bit dubious. It is common, however, for Latin authors to use the neuter form of an adjective when using it as a substantive. This is the case here, which means that "plurima" has to be accusative plural, since the subject is in the singular.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res, 5
irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.
What is the use of "praesente" in line 1?
Describing manner
Describing means
Describing an instrument
Describing an accompaniment
The word "praesente"is being used to describe the manner in which the subject of "dicit" is speaking; that is - presently.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.
What use of the genetive is "nepotum" (line 1)?
Partitive genitive
Possessive genitive
Genitive of description
Genitive of value
The word "nepotum" is being used to indicate that the subject is part of the group grandchildren. This use is the partitive genitive.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
The word "nosse" in line 1 is an example of ___________.
a syncopated Verb
an adverb
enclitic
a participle
The word "nosse" is a syncopated form of the perfect infinitive "novisse." Often in syncopation, the "vi/ve" form of a word drops off, like it does here. While this is much more common with perfect tense verbs, it is not unusual to see syncopation in perfect infinitives.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
rumoresque senum severiorum
omnes unius aestimemus assis!
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux, 5
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus, 10
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus invidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.
"Nobis cum"in ine 5 is an example of __________.
Anastrophe
Ellipsis
Zeugma
Litotes
Typically in Latin, a preposition comes before its object, but here "nobis" comes prior to the word "cum"in the sentence. This inversion of the typical word order is an example of anastophe_._
Passage adapted from "Catullus 5," ln.1-13
Vallis erat piceis et acuta densa cupressu,
nomine Gargaphie succinctae sacra Dianae,
cuius in extremo est antrum nemorale recessu
arte laboratum nulla: simulaverat artem
ingenio natura suo; nam pumice vivo 5
et levibus tofis nativum duxerat arcum;
fons sonat a dextra tenui perlucidus unda,
margine gramineo patulos incinctus hiatus.
hic dea silvarum venatu fessa solebat
virgineos artus liquido perfundere rore. 10
quo postquam subiit, nympharum tradidit uni
armigerae iaculum pharetramque arcusque retentos,
altera depositae subiecit bracchia pallae,
vincla duae pedibus demunt; nam doctior illis
Ismenis Crocale sparsos per colla capillos 15
colligit in nodum, quamvis erat ipsa solutis.
How should the word "venatu" (line 9) be translated?
To hunt
With the hunt
For the hunter
With the hunter
The word "venatu" comes from the verb "venor, venari, venatus sum," which means to hunt. The form "venatu" is an example of a supine, which looks like the perfect passive participle with either a "-um" or "-u" ending, depending on how the supine is being used. Here, it is being used with "solebat" (she is accustomed to hunt). To hunt is the appropriate translation.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.155-171)
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris?
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli?
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe?
What is the case of the underlined word "Cupido" in line 3?
Nominative
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
The word "Cupido" comes from "Cupido," "Cupindinis." "Cupido" is the nominative singular form.
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
What part of speech is "dulce"(line 5)?
Adverb
Adjective
Noun
Verb
The word "dulce"as used here comes from the word "dulcis," "dulcis" meaning sweet. It is an adjective, but it is being used as an adverb to describe the action of smiling ("ridentem").
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
rumoresque senum severiorum
omnes unius aestimemus assis!
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux, 5
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus, 10
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus invidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.
"Dormienda"in line 6 is an example of a(n) __________.
gerundive
perfect passive participle
adjective
adverb
The "-nd-"in "dormienda"is a clue that this word is either a gerund or gerundive. Gerunds in Latin, however, are nouns that only take second declension singular endings. Since this word has first declension endings and is acting as an adjective, we know that it is a gerundive_._
Passage adapted from "Catullus 5," ln.1-13
Forsitan audieris aliquam certamine cursus
veloces superasse viros: non fabula rumor
ille fuit; superabat enim. nec dicere posses,
laude pedum formaene bono praestantior esset.
scitanti deus huic de coniuge 'coniuge' dixit 5
'nil opus est, Atalanta, tibi: fuge coniugis usum.
nec tamen effugies teque ipsa viva carebis.'
territa sorte dei per opacas innuba silvas
vivit et instantem turbam violenta procorum
condicione fugat, 'ne' c 'sum potiunda, nisi' inquit 10
'victa prius cursu. pedibus contendite mecum:
praemia veloci coniunx thalamique dabuntur,
mors pretium tardis: ea lex certaminis esto.'
illa quidem inmitis, sed (tanta potentia formae est)
venit ad hanc legem temeraria turba procorum. 15
sederat Hippomenes cursus spectator iniqui
et 'petitur cuiquam per tanta pericula coniunx?'
dixerat ac nimios iuvenum damnarat amores;
What is the use of "pedum" in line 4?
Genitive of Description
Genitive of Possession
Accusative Direct Object
Accusative Duration of Time
The word "pedum" comes from "pes, pedis,"which means foot. "Pedum" is the genitive plural form and is being used with the word "laude"in order to describe exactly how the person in this sentence is praised. This is called genitive of description.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 10. 560-578)