Chap 6

Question 1

Imperfect Active Indicative: First and Second Conjugations

Answer 1

• The personal endings are the same as those used in the present tense (§5) except for the first person singular where -m replaces -ō.
• A long vowel (here in -bā-) shortens before final -m, -t, -nt. This is a general rule, which you have already seen in the present tense (§5 - notice the third person singular and plural forms of amō and moneō) and will see again in other verb forms.

The imperfect tense in Latin usually indicates an action going on in the past but not completed. It can be translated into English in a variety of ways, depending on the context of the sentence.

Question 2

Future Active Indicative: First and Second Conjugations

Answer 2

The future of first and second conjugation verbs can be recognised by the tense sign -bi- between the verb stem and the personal endings.
I shall…
Again , the personal endings are the same as those used in the present tense . Notice two points here :

• In the first person singular , the ending -bō is contracted from -biō .
• In the third person plural , -bu- replaces -bi- .

Question 3

Sum: Imperfect and Future Indicative

Answer 3

Like the present tense of sum, the imperfect and future tenses are irregular and must be memorised . These forms , like the present tense forms , will be used to form other tenses of regular verbs , so you will see them frequently as you read Latin.

Question 4

Infinitive Use: As a Noun

Answer 4

The infinitive in Latin, just as in English, is a verbal noun, which retains properties of both verbs and nouns. When used as a complementary infinitive (§7b), it functions to complete the meaning of another verb. When used as a noun, the infinitive is considered neuter and singular, but retains its ability to govern an object and is modified by an adverb (not an adjective). This use of the infinitive is particularly common as the subject or subject complement of sum and with certain impersonal verbs.

Question 5

Dative of Possession

Answer 5

Dative of Possession In Chapter 3 you learned two common uses of the dative case (§19): to show the indirect object and for more general reference. Another common use is the dative with a form of sum to show possession:

• Possession - the person who possesses Virō est liber. The man has a book. (the book belongs to the man)

Puerīs pecūnia erat. = The boys used to have money.

In expressing possession, the Dative with sum emphasizes the fact of possession, while the Genitive signals the possessor as a subordinate point in the sentence.

Question 6

The Gap

Answer 6

Latin can leave out (“gap”) words in a sentence that are expected. This is especially common when a coordinating conjunction (§14) is present, but can occur without a conjunction too. Pay close attention to the case of each word and what should be present in the sentence.

In Latin identical subjects, verbs or direct objects can be gapped in either the first or second coordinate clause; in the example below.

Puer virum sed nōn puella laudat. =

The boy praises the man, but the girl does not.
or, The boy praises the man, but the girl does not praise the man.

Question 7

How can the imperfect tense be translated?

Answer 7

Continuous action - he was advising or he kept advising

Repeated or Habitual action - he used to advise or he advised every year

Attempted action - he tried to advise

Beginning of an action - he began to advise