Familia Latina, p. 15
Magnine sunt fluvii Africae?
or
Suntne fluvii Africae magni?
Not sure if it means: Are the rivers of Africa big? or Are there big rivers in Africa?
Also is Africae (Genitive)? If so “in Africa” is probably wrong.
Magnīne sunt fluviī Āfricae?
In the second question I would put ‘magnī’ before ‘fluviī’:
Suntne magnī fluviī Āfricae?
I think, they are both translated as, “Are the rivers of Africa large?”, but in the first question there is more emphasis on ‘large’.
‘Āfricae’ should be the genitive because the second chapter of LLPSI does not cover the locative. Plus, if I remember correctly, LLPSI uses the locative only for the names of towns/cities.
PS. Not sure if the question “Suntne fluviī Āfricae magnī?” could also mean “Are there big rivers in Africa?” Someone more experienced than me probably can answer that.
Tibi gratias, Siegfried.
The locative is only for cities, small islands, rus, and domus. Āfricae is clearly genitive.
Allen and Greenough’s New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges 2.13
So: are Africa’s rivers large?
Thanks bedwere
Magnine sunt fluvii Africae?
or
Suntne fluvii Africae magni?
so both mean: Are Africa’s rivers large?
and “Are there large rivers in Africa” would be something entirely different?
As the emphasis is on the first word, I’d argue that the first is more are the rivers of Africa large?, while the second is more are there large rivers of Africa?
As for Are there large rivers in Africa?
Suntne fluvii magni in Africa?
Again many thanks, bedwere. Seems my suspicions weren’t wholly unjustified. 