i don’t understnad how this works what so ever does anyone else?
Hi Wazabell,
I don’t understand hic haec hoc yet, either, but that’s not surprising since I just started learning Latin and haven’t yet gotten to this topic yet. However, I’m sure many others here can help you with it.
I just wanted to welcome you to Textkit. How long have you been studying Latin?
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Hi Wazabell,
I’m fairly new to Latin too - that’s the good thing about this forum; everytime I’ve posted a question thinking "I must be stupid not to know this’, I find that others have been having the same problem!
Anyway, back to your question, I’ve just done hic,haec hoc, so let’s see if I’ve learned it properly:
Basically, it means ‘this’ or ‘these’ e.g. ‘this book’, ‘these boys’ etc. But because Latin nouns all have gender (masculine/feminine or neuter), we need three versions of ‘this’. For example. puer (boy) is masculine, so we’d use ‘hic puer’ for ‘this boy’. Similarly, puella is feminine, so ‘haec puella’. Time (tempus) is neuter, so ‘hoc tempus’ means ‘this time’.
Then we need plural versions (this vs these) so we get ‘hi pueri’, these boys, and ‘hae puellae’ these girls.
Then you need to add in all the cases (accusative, dative etc). So, if we give something to the boys, it would be ‘his pueris’- both ‘these’ and ‘boys’ are plural datives.
Basically, all you need to know is that the version of hic/haec/hoc you choose must be the same gender and case as the noun you’re talking about.
Once you’ve understood this (and it’s not as difficult as it sounds), you’ll be ready for iste,ista,istud and ille,illa,illud!
Hope this helps
Phil
Thanks for the explanation Phil. I love how latin is so “regular”. I wasn’t surprised at all about how there are masculine, feminine, and neuter versions, and how each of these three can be declined for Nom, Gen, Dat, Acc, and Abl.
How does hic haec hoc compare with is ea id? I haven’t covered is ea id yet in my M&F book, but I remember learning about it when I was working through BLD. is ea id also means “this”, doesn’t it?
ugh I still get all those ones all mixed up!
Time for some review and drilling on those maybe… 
Perhaps someone would be kind enough to write a Tutorial on all this…
Hint hint hint hint ! ;D
[quote author=mariek link=board=3;threadid=736;start=0#7179 date=1064806855]
is ea id also means “this”, doesn’t it?
[/quote]
Ummm, I think it means more sort of ‘a’ as in “There is a book on the table”, you would use ‘is liber’ when you want to slightly emphasize the book. The phrase I remember is ‘weak demonstrative’, if that helps.
Perhaps it’s time for someone who knows what they’re talking about to take over from me!
I think is/ea/id is more along the lines of “that”. It’s weaker than ille or iste, and can be translated any number of ways. Just think of that kooky phrase “How do you them apples?”
I haven’t come across ille or iste yet. I’m afraid I’ll be in for a rough ride when I get there… :-<br />
As for the kooky phrase “How do you like them apples?” … it makes me think of a scene from the movie Good Will Hunting.
is, ea, id &c. is generally used of “he”, “she” or “it”&c. although was occasionally used as “that” when relating to a common (as opposed to proper) noun that has been mentioned earlier on in the passage. is, ea, id &c. is not used as a substantive (noun) meaning “this” or “that”. It is the least emphatic of these three demonstrative pronouns.
hic, haec, hoc &c. is generally used of “this” relating to something near the speaker, either physically or figuratively, such as “this love of mine” or “this room”. It can aslo mean “he”,“she” or “it” &c. but is used such less commonly than is, ea, id &c. and more commonly in speech than general prose. When used as a substantive in itself, such as “I hate this”, the same rules of closeness of object apply.
ille, illa, illud &c. is used of things further away than hic, haec, hoc &c. If you think about how you use “this” and “that” in English, the former is used of things close to the speaker, the latter of things further away or close to a third person. Such is the case in Latin. Once again (surprise, surprise) ille, illa, illud &c. can be used for the pronouns, “he”,“she” and “it” &c., but this is the rarest such use of all three demonstrative pronouns.
ille, illa, illud &c. is used in comparions and rhetoric of things of less importance than hic, haec, hoc. hic…ille…means “the former…the latter…” as in such comparisons Romans regarded the former as emphatic.
Apologies for this confusign explanation!
~dave
~dave
Thanks, Dave! I’ve filed these subtleties away in my “grammar” notes so I’ll have them with me when I start learning all this.
The Cambridge kid has it on lock.
Alternatively see the excellent clear explanation of Dr. D’Ooge. His book is available from the site. (And I didn’t capitalize the “His” because it came after a full stop) 
I often just think of it in a simple way of, say, holding up the book you are reading and saying “I like this book” using “is”, and then being in a bookshop pointing to one out of many books and saying “I like this book” (this one out of a group) using “hic”. I often find visualising a phrase helps me understand it better. (Maybe I’m just a slow learner!)
And iste is something that is far from the speaker but close to the addressee.
i.e. Bring that book (near you) to me. :
It is very frequently used derogatorily
i.e. Not that book! >:(
I love how you emphasize your examples with emoticons.
I love the way he always seems to be able to explain everything-and explain it simply! Thanks, Benissimus.
Haha thanks guys 
You’re welcome!
D’Ooge’s explanation is brilliant; he does it graphically.
Did I mention that? 
But D’Ooge is not groovy.