quin / quin ne

Latin Learning Latin
1

Salvete omnes!

Can anyone please explain to me the correct meaning of “quin”? I have the impression that it can be used sometimes as “that” and some other times as “that not”. Which can be extremely confusing, since you don’t really know if you’re affirming or negating what you’re saying…
:slight_smile:

Thanks,
Matthaeus

2

I don’t know if you checked Allen and Greenough’s New Latin Grammar yet, but if you haven’t see this page:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0001%3Ahead%3D%23296

3

Hi Matthaeus,

I can’t answer to your question but for the case that the link given by jjhayes84 is still not working, I think he was pointing to this page:

http://www.textkit.com/files/AG_New_Latin_Grammar_AR5.pdf#page=370

Best regards,

Andrus

4

Thanks a lot,

I guess I got it:

  • when quin has a sense of “that” (as in “Non dubio quin domi veniat”) it has a “positive sense” (“I do not doubt that he comes home”)
  • when quin has a sense of “who not” (qui non) (as in “Nemo adest quin domi veniat”) it has a “negative sense” (“There is nobody who does NOT come home”, i.e., everybody comes home).

Hope that’s correct :laughing:
Thanks again,
Matthaeus

5

Also, at the beginning of a sentence, quin can be a polite command or an encouragement, rather like “Why not…?” in English. You’ll find this construction in Virgil.

6

Salue Mattaei,

With regard to “come home,” “(to) home” in this sense must be expressed as domum. Domi means “at home.” I’d also personally feel more comfortable saying “domum redeo,” or even “domum reuenio,” but there’s nothing wrong with simply using “uenire” from what I can tell.

My favorite use of “quin” is in expressions such as “Quin ianuam aperis?” “Why don’t you open the door?” as an exhortation of sorts.

7

Gratias Luce!

And by the way, the site Lingua Latina you’re having as a footnote in your messages is quite interesting. I think it’s the best method to learn a language…

Mathaeus

8

waiting for a delighted response from Lucus

9

grins

I’m naturally delighted. I too think Lingua Latina is the best method, introductory or otherwise, to learning Latin. I highly recommend you try it out.