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Question Words

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:12 am
by masuro
In Lesson VII of D'Ooge we are asked to translate the sentence, "Where does the farmer live?"

I wrote, 'Agricola ubi habitat?' but the answer key says, 'Ubi agricola habitat?'

I know Latin word order isn't set in stone but what about questions? Must the question word come at the beginning of a sentence?

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:14 am
by installer_swan
I think D'Ooge mentions somewhere that in questions the question word occurs first in a sentence usually.

Agricola ubi habitat? lay more stress on the agricola it is more like :[]b Where does the farmer live?[/b]

Shanth

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:32 am
by benissimus
That word order is often seen in poetry, but it is quite odd in most other cases to have the interrogative come afterwards, even when emphasis is desired.

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:14 am
by masuro
Thanks for your help. I'll stick to keeping the question word first unless I feel poetic. :)