Problem with emphatics

[sot]

I thought I was doing well with Latin for Beginners until I did the lesson on emphatic (69, pg.30), where I got more wrong than is acceptable.

9. Clara est insula Sicila.

I figured Clara would be emphatic.

and in the answer part of question 7. Longa est Italia, non lata.

I figured Longa would be emphatic.

They were not, so obviously my Latin word order is not up to snuff yet. But I only know what D'Ooge has told me so far! Have I missed something?

So I have a couple questions,

1. Why did I get those wrong?

2. If my word order should be better at this point in D'Ooge's text, could someone bring me up to speed?

So far I know: subject- modifier of subject- indirect object- direct object-adverb- verb.

Possesive pronouns and genetive of possessors follow their nouns unless emphatic, same with adjectives.

Ummm, I think thats all D'Ooge has coverd so far...

Thanks for reading this mess of a post. I look forward to any reply.

p.s. This is my first post! So greetings all!

[benissimus]

Having checked the exercise, I have to agree with you that in #9 clara is emphatic (it precedes its noun). For some reason the key does not underline any words for this exercise, which may be an error. In #7, longa is emphatic as well, but also has not been marked so in the key.

In my opinion, this is not a very vital exercise. Word order is a fine point of the Latin language and it will become much more intuitive through experience than from explanation and lessons geared toward it.

[sot]

Oh boy benissimus, I can't tell you how happy your post made me!

I was starting to doubt my abilities to learn Latin, getting a question wrong is only bad if you can't understand why you got it wrong. Which explains why I was a bit depressed about it.

Thank you benissimus for taking the time to look up the lesson and helping me out. I greatly appreciate it.

You really made my day.

Now back to the books with greater zeal!

[Junius]

Here's an example that may help:

Insula Sicila clara est. (Less emphatic)
Clara est insula Sicila

It may also help to think of a sentence or clause as "framed by its two most important words." Picture a bowtie. Good luck in your studies.