ille, hic,iste pronouns

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spqr
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ille, hic,iste pronouns

Post by spqr »

In chapter 9 Wheelock mentions that hic and ille can both mean 'he' but can iste also be used this way? Is there a difference in meaning or emphasis as compared to using 'is' to mean he?

Ulpianus
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Re: ille, hic,iste pronouns

Post by Ulpianus »

Yes, it can. It's usually, IIRC, emphatic and often contemptuous. If the prosecutor said, gesturing at the defendant, "She did it!" that might be a time for iste.

As far as the others are concerned, if you recall the "core" meanings of the pronouns (he, this [one], that [one]" but also remember that a literal translation will often be too much, you won't find it hard in practice.

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