discunt a magistro

[pmda]

In libro suo LLPSI Orberg rogat: Quid magister pueros docet?

Estne responsum rectum (cum ablativo) est: Pueri numeros et litteras discunt a magistro.

[Craig_Thomas]

In libro suo LLPSI Orberg rogat: Quid magister pueros docet?

Estne responsum rectum (cum ablativo) est: Pueri numeros et litteras discunt a magistro.

I think that does work, though it is perhaps best for you to rewrite your answer with the teacher as subject. That way you are answering more directly the question asked, i.e., you are saying what the teacher teaches, not what the children learn.

To answer with the students as subject, you would most likely use a passive form of doceo as your verb.

[pmda]

Thanks: Pueri multas res magistro docentur.

[Craig_Thomas]

Thanks: Pueri multas res magistro docentur.

No worries.

Though that should be "a magistro", otherwise it suggests that the teacher is teaching the children unwittingly, or against his will. There's a memorable example of this in Jones and Sidwell's Reading Latin: "uxore paene constrictus", means "almost strangled by his wife", but only "ab uxore paene constrictus" means she did it on purpose.

[pmda]

Thanks. Actually I've been wondering about that. Was about to type 'a magistro' and then decided not to. I'm not quite clear in what circumstances it is and isn't used. It seems, as you suggest, that if the relationship is purely instrumental - e.g. Puer pugnis pugnat - the boy fights with his fists. Or Iulius equo vehitur but if it's intentional in some way you get Puer a magistro verberatur. But you could have Puer baculo magistro verberatur. Is there a rule / guideline about this. Many thanks.

[adrianus]

But you could have Puer baculo magistro verberatur.

Not so, unless the teacher is a puppet. // Minimè, nisi automaton magister.

Magister puerum baculo verberat. VEL Puer à magistro baculo (vel per baculum, si mavis) verberatur.

Is there a rule / guideline about this.

As Craig_Thomas says // Ut dicit Craig_Thomas:
http://www.hhhh.org/perseant/libellus/aides/allgre/allgre.405.html
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qVpMZSQacVkC&pg=PA92&lpg=PA92&dq=the+voluntary+agent+after+a+passive+verb&source=bl&ots=bM3tRPXzpr&sig=ts_MDN2ReFDquELEiBbFivpOqZk&hl=en&ei=cPeyTJC9N4ufOvqi1cUK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=the%20voluntary%20agent%20after%20a%20passive%20verb&f=false

[pmda]

Thanks Adrianus

How would I write: the boy was beaten by the master with a stick. ?

Puer cum bacculo verberatus est a magistro. ?

[adrianus]

Jam suprà spriptum est // It is already written above:

Puer à magistro baculo * verberatur.

* The use of "per" and "cum" isn't good, really // Verum dicere, non bonum est usum "per" et "cum" praepositionum

[pmda]

thanks.

Puer cum bacculo verberatus est a magistro. ? would mean that the boy and the stick were beaten by the teacher....?

[adrianus]

The boy with the stick (who had a stick) was beaten (maybe because he HAD a stick and wasn't supposed to) // Puer baculum habens verberatus est (qui forsitàn habuerit quod non habendum fuerat)

[pmda]

Thanks Adrianus. Back to my studies.