Question Words

Are you learning Latin with D'Ooge's Beginners Latin Book? Here's where you can meet other learners using this textbook. Use this board to ask questions and post your work for feedback and comments from others.
Post Reply
masuro
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 1:37 pm
Location: South Korea

Question Words

Post 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?

installer_swan
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:38 am
Location: Kanpur, India

Post 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

User avatar
benissimus
Global Moderator
Posts: 2733
Joined: Mon May 12, 2003 4:32 am
Location: Berkeley, California
Contact:

Post 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.
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

masuro
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 1:37 pm
Location: South Korea

Post by masuro »

Thanks for your help. I'll stick to keeping the question word first unless I feel poetic. :)

Post Reply