How to work through a Latin Sentence

1. How to work througha Latin Sentence 1) Remember always to read the sentence from left to right - don’t skip around! A Technique for Success 2)Always connect the Latin case ending to the word’s function in the sentence.

2. The order of words in a Latin sentence is rarely the same as its English translation, so beginning readers need a strategy to help relate Latin forms to English word order. What follows is a slow-motion method which simulates how an experienced reader’s brain processes the Latin text. Be patient and give it a try! Once you get used to the Latin system, you won’t have to keep doing this. The worst thing you can do as you start learning Latin is to take short cuts; this will cause a lot of trouble later on.

3. A complete sentence in English has certain predictable core elements which occur in a consistent word order: • Subject + Verb +/- Object • s +/- s As you identify the ending on a Latin word and the function it signals, fill in the appropriate blank in the English model. Nominative = Subject Accusative = Object Add “a” and “the” to your final translation as appropriate.

4. Subject + Verb +/- Object • (Nom.) s +/- (Acc.) Amīcī dōnum amant. Final translation: Friends love a gift.

5. Try this sentence and click to check your answer. Agricola agrōs laudat. Final Translation: The farmer praises the fields.

6. If the sentencehas an adverbial modifier, put it at the end of the sentence - then adjust your final translation. Agricola ab agrīsin casam rosam portat. The farmer carries a rose from the fieldsinto the house. Chapter 4

7. If the sentencehas an adjective, put it immediately before the noun it modifies. Put any genitive modifierimmediately after the noun it modifies. Amīcus agricolaepulchram rosam portat. The farmer’s friend carries a beautiful rose. Chapter 5