Wheelock - illa

[phil]

Hi all,<br /><br />I'm working through my Wheelock, and have a problem with this sentence from chapter 9 'In illo libro(in that book), illa de hoc homine scribet'.<br /><br />I looked at the 'scribet' (scribo, scribere) and thought '3rd person sing' - (s/he will write), so looked for a noun or pronoun to suit. I saw 'illa' and thought nominative sing fem - 'That woman will write about this man.' But the answers took illa to be neuter accusative plural and say 'He will write those things about this man.'<br /><br />Am I right, or possibly are we both right? ???<br /><br />Look forward to comments.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Phil.<br />

[klewlis]

I believe the illa is meant to be neuter accusative plural, not feminine nominative singular... hence "those things".

[benissimus]

I think you could both be right

[Magistra]

Just as in English, context is important.<br /><br />E.g. Is "read" present or past tense?<br /> Is "lead" a verb or an element (plumbum)?<br /> Does "light" mean "c" as in E=mc(2) or just not heavy?<br /> etc.<br /><br />Without context I'd lean towards "those things" but as Benissimus says -- both could be right gramatically.<br /><br />Magistra

[Episcopus]

is "egg" something that I throw at politicians or a credit card? <br /><br />good examples

[Moerus]

Both are correct. And I'm sure of it. If such a sentence is written in a text, you have to see which is best in the context. But without context both are correct.

[phil]

That's great,<br />thanks very much. Because I study on my own, it's easy to get disheartened when I just can't work something out. It's a great help to have a forum like this to turn to!<br /><br />Cheers<br />Phil