Hello all
Two quick questions:
- How do you pronounce the perfect verb ending in words like “monui”? Is it pronounced “mon-vi” or “mon-u-i”?
- “Solus hunc iuvare potes.” - Only you can help this? I’m confused as to what function “solus” serves.
Thanks
HI Sigma
About the question of “ui” I am not sure but I think v after a consonant is pronounced as a vowel. I would either pronounce monui either of two ways:
1 mon-wee
2. mon-u-ee
As for the question concerning “solus”, it is said, I think, to be a general principal that latin often will use adjectives where we (english speakers that is) would use an adverb. Thus, we we may say “ONLY (adverb) you can help.” Whereas a Roman might have said: Solus (adjective but with advervbial force in English translation) Caesar nos potest salvare! Only Caesar can save us. Translating these advectives more literally, we would use ALONE. Sola magistra vertatem scit - The lady teacher ALONE knows the truth. Maybe others can think of examples where different adjectives are used with adverbial force.
I hope this helped.
Kynetus
Hi again Sigma
I guess I contradicted myself about “monui” .. first I said that it is not probably to be pronounced as a consonant but then proceeded to give “mon-wee” as an option. Of course mon-wee would be pronouncing the “u” as a conssonant. Once again I have messed up and left you with the same question that you started with! Sorry about that. I gotta say though I think either are acceptable.
I assume “monui” is from “moneo, monere, monui, monitum”. In that case I believe it is a vowel /u/, not a consonant /w/, therefore “mon-u-i”. My textbook differentiates between ‘u’ and ‘v’ and in this verb it uses ‘u’.
- “monui” has three syllables.
- “Solus” is modifying the subject of “potes.”
“Solus hunc iuvare potes.”
Couldn’t this also mean something like “You alone can please him”? (I came to think of Vergil’s “Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit” - Perhaps some day it will bring pleasure to remember even these things).
Int
Thanks!
One more question (for now): What’s the difference between nimis and nimium? Wheelock’s gives both words, but doesn’t say what the difference is between them (if there is one); they’re both defined as “too, too much”.
I was wondering the same thing recently!
I’m fairly certain there’s no difference between them, rather like nil and nihil, or sat and satis.
Does anyone think otherwise?
David
Vergil’s “Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit” - Perhaps some day it will bring pleasure to remember even these things).
Hi all, i imagine they would mean the same just as the use of “Forsan” - for “perhaps” wheras i always learnt it as Forsitan.
I think it is pronounced as mo-nu-vi, three syllables.
Oh yes, and i forgot, oops 
I am pretty certain Monui has three syllables just as zhongv1979 said. At least this is how my old Latin teacher taught it and he did his PhD. (as he liked to point out when pupils called him Mr. by accident 
)
Also the textbook distinguished V’s and U’s and it was spelt Monui.
Hope this helps
Yes, ‘monui’ has three syllables. There is unfortuntely one exception to the easy v/u rule of distinction: namely, svavis, which most books will write suavis. To write in the latter manner is totally deceiving; there are only two syllables in svavis.