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Practice and review for chapter 17

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:31 am
by dimrub
Salvete, amici!

I am somewhat at a loss about 2 of the sentences of "practice and review" in chapter 17, and I hope someone will be able to shed the light

1. Potens quoque est vis artium, quae nos semper alunt

The able is force of arts, which not always provide support? Doesn't really make sense. What am I missing?

3. Nam illa aetate pars populi in Italia iura civium numquam tenuit.

For during that era (?) part of the people in Italia never posessed [any] civil rights. How do I conciliate the 'never' and the 'during that time'? Shouldn't it be something like 'before this time'?

Re: Practice and review for chapter 17

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:30 pm
by cdm2003
dimrub wrote:Salvete, amici!

I am somewhat at a loss about 2 of the sentences of "practice and review" in chapter 17, and I hope someone will be able to shed the light

1. Potens quoque est vis artium, quae nos semper alunt

The able is force of arts, which not always provide support? Doesn't really make sense. What am I missing?
Close, but potens here is not acting as so literal a participle of posse. Think of it as forceful or influential:
Forceful too is the strength of the arts, which always nourishes us.
dimrub wrote:3. Nam illa aetate pars populi in Italia iura civium numquam tenuit.

For during that era (?) part of the people in Italia never posessed [any] civil rights. How do I conciliate the 'never' and the 'during that time'? Shouldn't it be something like 'before this time'?
Duration usually takes the accusative. "Ablative of time when" is what you're looking for:
For in that age, the part of the population in Italy (or, just the Italian people) never maintained the rights of citizenship.
Hope this helps a bit.

Vale,
Chris

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:42 pm
by dimrub
That helps a lot! Gratias ago, Chris!