Where does the accent fall when you add an enclitic, like –que ? Does it remain where it is when the word stands alone, or does it move over if the last syllable is long? For example, is it “pax lí-ber-tas-que” or “pax li-ber-tás-que”? Thanks for any help. I’m trying to read aloud as I learn, and I’d hate to pick up bad habits. (Why is it always easier to pick up a bad habit then to unlearn it?)
Salve Emerita
The accent falls on the last syllable (long or short) before the enclitic. Some disagree about the short. I stick with the ancient grammarians in saying both long and short.
Accentum in syllabam ultimam (aut longam aut brevem) ante encliticum cadit. Sunt qui dissentiunt de breve. Ego equidem cum grammaticis antiquis sto et brevem et longam in dicendo.
Multas gratias tibi ago. Tuam consuetudinem suasam adoptabo. (Probably not entirely correct. I’m trying to say, “Thank you very much. I’ll follow your recommended usage/practice.”)
Looks good to me, what you wrote. You’re welcome.
Id mihi bonum videtur, quod scripsisti. Libenter.