This is all from Caesar A Legamus transitional reader Lesson 11
I am trying to understand the use of the correlatives quantus, tantus
The translations that I have examples of translate it
As far … as…
As great … as …
As many…as…
However much…so much…
Here are a few of the examples and exercises.
Tantum eorum multitudinem nostril interfecerunt, quantum fuit diei spatium.
As great a multitude of them our men killed as there was time of day.
Collis tantum in latitudinem patebat, quantum acies instructa ab aqua longius.
The hill extended as far in width as the drawn-up battle line could hold.
Quantas pecunias ab uxoribus dotis nomine acceperunt, tantas ex suis bonis.
(key had this)However much money they receive from their wives as a dowry, so much from their own goods.
(I had this) [The men share] As much money out of their own goods as they receive from their wives as a dowry.
I thought I was understanding it until I got to this sentence:
Quantum milites castra protulerant, tanto aberrant ab aqua longius.
(The answer key says) They were farther away from the water to the extent that the soldiers had moved the camp forward.
This doesn’t even make sense. Why isn’t it :
They were as far away from the water as the soldiers had moved the camp. (which still isn’t a great sentence in my opinion!)
If I stick with as far…as, as great …as, or as and whatever quantity word fits am I going to be okay?
Searching online I couldn’t find anything in Allen and Greenough that gave examples it only listed them as correlatives.
Thank you,
matermultorum