grammar notebook appendices translation process. how to translate a latin sentence and remain sane

Grammar notebook appendices

Translation process

How to translate a Latin Sentence and remain sane

The Process

• 1. Read the whole sentence in Latin. If it clicks, consider yourself blessed. If not, start taking it apart like you would a math problem.

• 2. Always keep your sentence in context of the passage. Reread the previous sentence before you start. IT HAS TO MAKE SENSE! Make predictions in your mind about what that sentence might say.

• 3. Find the verb/verbs. This tells you how many clauses you have.– Three basic types of clauses:• Subject linking verb predicate nominative• Subject action verb direct object• Subject passive verbs ablative

–Figure out which kind of verb you have.•Linking verb some form of sum •Action/active verb

One formEnds with o/m/s/t/mus/tis/nt

Passive Verb

could be one form or two part verb

r/ris/tur/mur/mini/nturus,a, um /i,ae,a plus some

form of sum

Pattern One: SLVPN

• Linking verb:– Figure out the subject:

• o/m I• S you• T he, she, it or a nominative singular• Mus we• Tis you pl• Nt they or a plural nominative

– Find the predicate nominative which will be in the nominative case and will rename the subject; sometimes you will have a predicate adjective to describe your subject.

Examples

1. Elephanti sunt ingentes.Sunt is a linking verb;Ends with nt; therefore the subject must be either THEY or a NOMINATIVE PLURALThe elephants are Is there a word in the nominative that either renames or describes the subjectThe elephants are huge.

Elephanti erant arma Hannibalis.Elephanti subjectArma predicate nominativeHannibalis genitive modifier

Pattern two: action verb

• Figure out your subject:– o/m I– S you– T he,she, it nominative singular– Mus we– Tis you pl– Nt they nominative plural– Then you know who is doing the verb.– Then look for the accusative to receive the verb.

Examples

• Stultus puer puellam pulsat.– Pulsat action verb

• Ends with t: nominative singular subject• Puer pulsat The boy hits• Puellam = accusative• The boy hits the girl.

• Puella stultum puerum pulsat.– Pulsat hits– Puella girl nominative singular– Puerum acc– The girl hits the stupid boy.

Pattern 3: Passive Verbs

• Passive verb– Two part verbs are easier; the endings on the first

part tells you the gender of the subject• R= I• Ris = you• Tur = he, she, it or nominative singular• Mur = we• Mini= you pl• Ntur= they or nominative plural

– Then look for the ablative to show who or what does the verb

Examples

• Puella pulsata est a puero.– Pulsata est she was hit– Puella nominative singular– The girl was hit– A puero ablative of personal agent– The girl was hit by the boy.

• Mea filia est disciplinus.• My daughter is a student.• Mea filia terram studet.• Me filia est disciplinus quae terram studet.

What do I do with all those other words?

• Translate using the Socratic method. Ask yourself questions.– Whose? Genitive– To whom/for whom dative– What kind? Genitive, adjective, ablative– How? Ablative– Why? Ablative, dative– When? Ablative– Where? Ablative– How far? Accusative

– To where? Accusative– From where? Ablative– How much? Ablative, genitive