§394. Exercises I and II. Subjunctive Characteristic, 2. Acc

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
Episcopus
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 2563
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2003 8:57 pm

§394. Exercises I and II. Subjunctive Characteristic, 2. Acc

Post by Episcopus »

You will see, some sound quite dodgy.
I would greatly appreciate a clear expression of the subjunctive of characteristic. I understand why "Quis est qui suam domum not amet?" is subjunctive and "Caesar est is qui nos ducat" but some which just describe seem indicative sometimes "there were some who didn't want to do it" or the like.

I. 1. In Germaniae silvis sunt multa genera ferarum quae reliquis in locis non sint.
In the forests of Germany there are many species of wild beast that are not to be seen in the remaining places.

2. Erant itinera duo quibus Helvetii domo discedere possent.
There were two ways by which the Helvetii could leave home.

3. Erat manus nulla, nullum oppidum, nullum praesidium quod se armis defenderet.
There was no hand, no town, no garrision which might defend itself with arms.

4. Toto frumento rapto, domi nihil erat quo mortem prohibere possent.
With all the grain having been seized, at home there was nothing by which they might be able to prevent death.

5. Romani Galbam ducem creaverunt et summá celeritate profecti sunt.
The Romans chose Galba leader and they set out with the greatest speed.

6. Neque erat tantae multitudinis quisquam qui morari vellet.
Nor was there any one at all of such a great multitude who wanted to delay. (Here why subjunctive...although I've been told that a relative clause describing its antecedent is subjunctive I don't see sometimes why)

7. Germani non ei sunt qui adventum Caesaris vereantur.
The Germans are not those who would fear the arrival of Caesar.
(I understand here...it's not an actual happening just description, so is 6. I know but...)

8. Consulibus occisis erant qui vellent eum regem creare.
Having killed the consuls some wanted to choose him king.
or, After the consuls were killed there were some who wanted to choose him king.
(this could be in the sense of whoever, quiconque, as whoever killed the consuls wanted to choose him king) But then again a natural translation sounds indicative.

9. Pace facta erat nemo qui arma tradere nollet.
Having made peace there was nobody who was not willing to hand over/give up arms.

10. Inter Helvetios quis erat qui nobilior illo esset?
Amongst the Helvetii who there who was more well known than he?
(there is an "is" missing before "qui" yes. This omission annoys me)

II. 1. The Romans called the city Rome.
Romani urbem Romam appellaverunt.

2. The city was called Rome by the Romans.
Roma urbs a Romanis appellata est.

3. The better citizens wished to choose him king.
Meliores Cives eum regem creare volebant.

4. The brave soldier was not the man to run.
Miles fortis non erat is qui curreret.

5. There was no one to call me friend.
Nemo erat qui me amicum vocaret/nominaret/appellaret.

6. These are not the men to betray their friends.
Hi non sunt (ei) qui amicos tradant.

7. There were some who called him the bravest of all.
Erant qui eum omnium fortissimum nominabant.

Episcopus
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 2563
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2003 8:57 pm

Post by Episcopus »

mwah I still don't understand the subjunctive of characteristic. Even if it's "these are the men who are pretty" will it be subjunctive? I understand that "these are the men to be pretty" "hi viri qui pulchri sint"; if some one is to do something because of some quality/characteristic I know it should be subjunctive. Also "quis est qui domum non amet" - I understand why subjunctive here too.
Yet not all relative clauses of description I see a need to insert a subjunctive. :? dodgy

Skylax
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 672
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:18 am
Location: Belgium

Post by Skylax »

Well, in phrases as sunt qui or quis est qui...? the use of the subjunctive indicates that you consider some logical class of things (I mean an category of things having some characteristic in common), not about a collection of concrete things in which you noticed personally some characteristic.

Skylax
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 672
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:18 am
Location: Belgium

Re: §394. Exercises I and II. Subjunctive Characteristic, 2.

Post by Skylax »

Episcopus wrote: 6. Neque erat tantae multitudinis quisquam qui morari vellet.
Nor was there any one at all of such a great multitude who wanted to delay. (Here why subjunctive...although I've been told that a relative clause describing its antecedent is subjunctive I don't see sometimes why)
I would say "indeterminate" or "abstract" meaning : there was nobody (of any kind)... belonging to the logical class with as characteristic "I want to delay".
7. Germani non ei sunt qui adventum Caesaris vereantur.
The Germans are not those who would fear the arrival of Caesar.
(I understand here...it's not an actual happening just description, so is 6. I know but...)
The Germans don't belong to the logical class of which the characteristic is "I fear the arrival of Caesar".
8. Consulibus occisis erant qui vellent eum regem creare.
Having killed the consuls some wanted to choose him king.
or, After the consuls were killed there were some who wanted to choose him king.
(this could be in the sense of whoever, quiconque, as whoever killed the consuls wanted to choose him king) But then again a natural translation sounds indicative.
By saying VELLENT you don't need anymore to answer the question : "What are their names ?" You say simply : "Take into account a class of men who want..."
10. Inter Helvetios quis erat qui nobilior illo esset?
Amongst the Helvetii who there who was more well known than he?
(there is an "is" missing before "qui" yes. This omission annoys me)
Don't be annoyed. The antecedent of QUI is QUIS. There is no need for an IS : "who was the one that..."
II.
3. The better citizens wished to choose him king.
Meliores Cives eum regem creare volebant.
Meliores : what would be the English corresponding with OPTIMI? The best?
I saw often OPTIMI CIVES, but never MELIORES CIVES.
7. There were some who called him the bravest of all.
Erant qui eum omnium fortissimum nominabant.
Why not NOMINARENT ? After all, in sunt qui, the use of subjunctive has become idiomatic.

Your Latin is now outstanding :)

Episcopus
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 2563
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2003 8:57 pm

Post by Episcopus »

Dah Skylax I can not say how much I appreciate you, helping me so often.

"The better" is out of two, but "best" of many (civium). Thankyou for that :)

Your logical class is a good explanation, I now understand it better. Can it be similar to "quiconque" in french?

So

Erant qui eum omnium fortissimum nominarent.

Galli (erant ii qui) Caesarem passerem nominabant.

Galli erant ii qui Caesarem passerem nominarent.

--The Gauls are those to call Caesar a sparrow.


But in latin the " erant ii qui" (nominabant) is not necessary because it is shown by "Galli" at the start of the sentence with the most emphasis.

I am very ignorant and if I do not know why something happens in detail I will not do it. By telling me that it is idiomatic I will just shut up and do it :wink:

Many thanks Skylax :D

Skylax
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 672
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:18 am
Location: Belgium

Post by Skylax »

French "quiconque" = Latin quicumque, sadly followed by the INDICATIVE (sigh!) in Classical times.

My dictionary says that French "quiconque" is English "whoever, anyone who".

Skylax
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 672
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:18 am
Location: Belgium

Post by Skylax »

Take your sentence : 7. Germani non ei sunt qui adventum Caesaris vereantur.

If you say Germani non ei sunt qui adventum Caesaris verentur., it would mean that some people (that you know) are actually fearing Caesar, but that these people are not the Germans.[/i]

Episcopus
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 2563
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2003 8:57 pm

Post by Episcopus »

I have it!

Ou est ce que je serais sans vous Skylax!! Je le comprends maintenant.

Pourtant "quiconque" en francais est suivi par le subjonctif n'est ce pas?

"If you say Germani non ei sunt qui adventum Caesaris verentur., it would mean that some people (that you know) are actually fearing Caesar, but that these people are not the Germans."

Nescio utrum magister an deus sis! Si haec bona verba sunt :lol:

Skylax
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 672
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:18 am
Location: Belgium

Post by Skylax »

Episcopus wrote: I have it!
Pourtant "quiconque" en francais est suivi par le subjonctif n'est ce pas?
I guess you mean "qui que ce SOIT" or "quelle que SOIT la difficulté" or "quelque bonnes que SOIENT vos raisons..."

But "quiconque est l'ennemi de notre ennemi est notre ami..."

Post Reply