Latin 6.4 & 6.7: 3. Slideshow Grammar (Key Syntax)

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §1)
Numquam sum magis dē occupātiōnibus meīs questus, quae mē nōn sunt passae aut proficīscentem tē valētūdinis causā in Campāniam prōsequī aut profectam ē vestīgiō subsequī.

Genitive + causā (idiom): “for the sake of your health.” The genitive comes right before causā.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §1)
Numquam sum magis dē occupātiōnibus meīs questus, quae mē nōn sunt passae aut proficīscentem tē valētūdinis causā in Campāniam prōsequī aut profectam ē vestīgiō subsequī.

Prepositional phrase: in + accusative = motion into/to (“to Campania”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §1)
Numquam sum magis dē occupātiōnibus meīs questus, quae mē nōn sunt passae aut proficīscentem tē valētūdinis causā in Campāniam prōsequī aut profectam ē vestīgiō subsequī.

Idiomatic prepositional phrase: “immediately, on the spot” (literally “from the footprint”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §1)
Numquam sum magis dē occupātiōnibus meīs questus, quae mē nōn sunt passae aut proficīscentem tē valētūdinis causā in Campāniam prōsequī aut profectam ē vestīgiō subsequī.

Complementary infinitives: prōsequī and subsequī complete passae (“allowed me to escort ... to follow”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §1)
Numquam sum magis dē occupātiōnibus meīs questus, quae mē nōn sunt passae aut proficīscentem tē valētūdinis causā in Campāniam prōsequī aut profectam ē vestīgiō subsequī.

Deponent verbs: passive form, active meaning (questus = complained, passae = allowed, proficīscentem = setting out, profectam = having set out).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §1)
Numquam sum magis dē occupātiōnibus meīs questus, quae mē nōn sunt passae aut proficīscentem tē valētūdinis causā in Campāniam prōsequī aut profectam ē vestīgiō subsequī.

Polyptoton: same root in two forms (present participle → perfect participle). Shows the shift from her leaving to her already gone.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §2)
Nunc enim praecipuē simul esse cupiēbam, ut oculīs meīs crēderem quid vīribus quid corpusculō apparārēs, ecquid dēnique sēcessūs voluptātēs regiōnisque abundantiam inoffēnsa trānsmitterēs.

Complementary infinitive: esse completes cupiēbam (“I wanted to be”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §2)
Nunc enim praecipuē simul esse cupiēbam, ut oculīs meīs crēderem quid vīribus quid corpusculō apparārēs, ecquid dēnique sēcessūs voluptātēs regiōnisque abundantiam inoffēnsa trānsmitterēs.

Epistolary tense: imperfect written from the reader’s point of view (by the time she reads it, it is past). Translate “I want / I wanted.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §2)
Nunc enim praecipuē simul esse cupiēbam, ut oculīs meīs crēderem quid vīribus quid corpusculō apparārēs, ecquid dēnique sēcessūs voluptātēs regiōnisque abundantiam inoffēnsa trānsmitterēs.

Purpose clause: ut + imperfect subjunctive, no degree word (“so that I might trust my own eyes”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §2)
Nunc enim praecipuē simul esse cupiēbam, ut oculīs meīs crēderem quid vīribus quid corpusculō apparārēs, ecquid dēnique sēcessūs voluptātēs regiōnisque abundantiam inoffēnsa trānsmitterēs.

Dative with special verb: crēdō takes the dative (“trust my eyes”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §2)
Nunc enim praecipuē simul esse cupiēbam, ut oculīs meīs crēderem quid vīribus quid corpusculō apparārēs, ecquid dēnique sēcessūs voluptātēs regiōnisque abundantiam inoffēnsa trānsmitterēs.

Indirect question: question word quid + subjunctive apparārēs (“what you were adding ...”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §2)
Nunc enim praecipuē simul esse cupiēbam, ut oculīs meīs crēderem quid vīribus quid corpusculō apparārēs, ecquid dēnique sēcessūs voluptātēs regiōnisque abundantiam inoffēnsa trānsmitterēs.

Dative with compound verb: ap-parō (ad + parō) takes the dative (“adding to your strength, to your little body”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §2)
Nunc enim praecipuē simul esse cupiēbam, ut oculīs meīs crēderem quid vīribus quid corpusculō apparārēs, ecquid dēnique sēcessūs voluptātēs regiōnisque abundantiam inoffēnsa trānsmitterēs.

Indirect question: ecquid (“whether”) + imperfect subjunctive trānsmitterēs.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §2)
Nunc enim praecipuē simul esse cupiēbam, ut oculīs meīs crēderem quid vīribus quid corpusculō apparārēs, ecquid dēnique sēcessūs voluptātēs regiōnisque abundantiam inoffēnsa trānsmitterēs.

Affectionate diminutive: corpus + -culum = “dear little body.” Shows tenderness about her health and weight.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §3)
Equidem etiam fortem tē nōn sine cūrā dēsīderārem;

Potential subjunctive + implied protasis: dēsīderārem = “I would miss,” and etiam fortem = “even if you were strong” is the hidden if-clause.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §3)
Equidem etiam fortem tē nōn sine cūrā dēsīderārem;

Litotes: “not without worry” = with real worry.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §3)
est enim suspēnsum et ānxium dē eō, quem ārdentissimē dīligās, interdum nihil scīre.

Relative clause of characteristic: relative pronoun + subjunctive describing a type of person (“someone whom you love most ardently”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §3)
est enim suspēnsum et ānxium dē eō, quem ārdentissimē dīligās, interdum nihil scīre.

Infinitive as subject: scīre (“to know nothing”) is the subject of est.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §4)
Nunc vērō mē cum absentiae tum īnfirmitātis tuae ratiō incertā et variā sollicitūdine exterret.

Objective genitives: absentiae and īnfirmitātis are what ratiō is thinking about (“the thought of your absence and your illness”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §4)
Nunc vērō mē cum absentiae tum īnfirmitātis tuae ratiō incertā et variā sollicitūdine exterret.

Correlatives: cum ... tum = “both ... and” / “not only ... but also.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §4)
Nunc vērō mē cum absentiae tum īnfirmitātis tuae ratiō incertā et variā sollicitūdine exterret.

Hyperbaton: mē and exterret are split far apart, and exterret (“terrifies”) is saved for the end for emphasis.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §4)
Nunc vērō mē cum absentiae tum īnfirmitātis tuae ratiō incertā et variā sollicitūdine exterret.

Ablative of means: “with uncertain and varied anxiety” (no preposition).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §4)
Vereor omnia, imāginor omnia, quaeque nātūra metuentium est, ea maximē mihi, quae maximē abōminor, fingō.

Anaphora (omnia repeated) + asyndeton (no et). The quick, choppy phrasing shows Pliny’s overwhelming anxiety.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §4)
Vereor omnia, imāginor omnia, quaeque nātūra metuentium est, ea maximē mihi, quae maximē abōminor, fingō.

Substantive participle: present participle used as a noun (“of those who fear”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §4)
Vereor omnia, imāginor omnia, quaeque nātūra metuentium est, ea maximē mihi, quae maximē abōminor, fingō.

Demonstrative & relative alignment: ea (“those things”) is the antecedent of quae (“which”): “those things which I most dread.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §5)
Quō impēnsius rogō ut timōrī meō cottīdiē singulīs vel etiam bīnīs epistulīs cōnsulās.

Indirect command: verb of asking (rogō) + ut + subjunctive (“I ask that you take care of ...”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §5)
Quō impēnsius rogō ut timōrī meō cottīdiē singulīs vel etiam bīnīs epistulīs cōnsulās.

Special verb + dative: cōnsulō + dative = “look after, take care of” (“take care of my fear”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §5)
Quō impēnsius rogō ut timōrī meō cottīdiē singulīs vel etiam bīnīs epistulīs cōnsulās.

Ablative of means: “with one or even two letters” (no preposition).

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §5)
Erō enim sēcūrior dum lēgō, statimque timēbō cum lēgerō. Valē.

Cum clause (temporal): “when / as soon as I have read.” Future perfect indicative, so it is just time, not cause.

Identify the bold grammar (6.4 §5)
Erō enim sēcūrior dum lēgō, statimque timēbō cum lēgerō. Valē.

Paradox / antithesis: reading calms him, but the fear comes back the moment he finishes.

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §1)
Scrībis tē absentiā meā nōn mediocriter afficī ūnumque habēre sōlācium, quod prō mē libellōs meōs teneās, saepe etiam in vestīgiō meō collocēs.

Indirect statement: head verb scrībis + accusative subject tē + infinitives afficī / habēre (“You write that you are affected and that you have ...”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §1)
Scrībis tē absentiā meā nōn mediocriter afficī ūnumque habēre sōlācium, quod prō mē libellōs meōs teneās, saepe etiam in vestīgiō meō collocēs.

Litotes: “not moderately” = deeply, very much.

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §1)
Scrībis tē absentiā meā nōn mediocriter afficī ūnumque habēre sōlācium, quod prō mē libellōs meōs teneās, saepe etiam in vestīgiō meō collocēs.

Ablative of cause: “because of / by my absence.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §1)
Scrībis tē absentiā meā nōn mediocriter afficī ūnumque habēre sōlācium, quod prō mē libellōs meōs teneās, saepe etiam in vestīgiō meō collocēs.

Substantive (appositive) clause: quod + subjunctive explains the sōlācium (“the one comfort, that you hold my books”). Subjunctive because it reports her words.

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §1)
Scrībis tē absentiā meā nōn mediocriter afficī ūnumque habēre sōlācium, quod prō mē libellōs meōs teneās, saepe etiam in vestīgiō meō collocēs.

Idiomatic prepositional phrases: prō mē = “in place of me”; in vestīgiō meō = “in my spot.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §2)
Grātum est quod nōs requīris, grātum quod hīs fōmentīs adquiēscis;

Substantive noun clause with quod: “the fact that you miss me” is the subject of grātum est. Indicative because it is a fact.

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §2)
Grātum est quod nōs requīris, grātum quod hīs fōmentīs adquiēscis;

Poetic / literary plural: nōs = “me.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §2)
Grātum est quod nōs requīris, grātum quod hīs fōmentīs adquiēscis;

Metaphor: Pliny’s books are fōmenta (warm medical compresses) that soothe the pain of missing him.

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §2)
invicem ego epistulās tuās lēctitō atque identidem in manūs quasi novās sūmō.

Frequentative verb: legō + -itō shows repeated action (“I read over and over”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §2)
invicem ego epistulās tuās lēctitō atque identidem in manūs quasi novās sūmō.

Conditional clause of comparison: quasi = “as if” (“as if they were new”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Sed eō magis ad dēsīderium tuī accendor:

Ablative of degree of difference: eō = “by that much” → “all the more.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Sed eō magis ad dēsīderium tuī accendor:

Objective genitive: tuī is the object of the longing (“longing for you”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Sed eō magis ad dēsīderium tuī accendor:

Metaphor (fire): “I am set on fire.” Her letters inflame his longing instead of satisfying it.

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
nam cuius litterae tantum habent suāvitātis, huius sermōnibus quantum dulcēdinis inest!

Partitive genitives: suāvitātis and dulcēdinis follow quantity words (“so much (of) sweetness,” “how much (of) delight”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
nam cuius litterae tantum habent suāvitātis, huius sermōnibus quantum dulcēdinis inest!

Correlatives: tantum ... quantum = “so much ... how much.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
nam cuius litterae tantum habent suāvitātis, huius sermōnibus quantum dulcēdinis inest!

Correlative relative clauses: cuius (“whose”) pairs with huius (“her”): “the woman whose letters ..., in her conversation ...”

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
nam cuius litterae tantum habent suāvitātis, huius sermōnibus quantum dulcēdinis inest!

Dative with compound verb: in-sum takes the dative (“is in her conversation”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Tū tamen quam frequentissimē scrībe, licet hoc ita mē dēlectet ut torqueat. Valē.

Superlative adverb with quam: quam + superlative = “as ___ as possible” (“as often as possible”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Tū tamen quam frequentissimē scrībe, licet hoc ita mē dēlectet ut torqueat. Valē.

Direct imperative: singular command (“write!”).

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Tū tamen quam frequentissimē scrībe, licet hoc ita mē dēlectet ut torqueat. Valē.

Concessive clause: licet + subjunctive = “although this delights me.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Tū tamen quam frequentissimē scrībe, licet hoc ita mē dēlectet ut torqueat. Valē.

Result clause: degree word ita + ut + subjunctive = “in such a way that it tortures me.”

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Tū tamen quam frequentissimē scrībe, licet hoc ita mē dēlectet ut torqueat. Valē.

Paradox of love: the same letters delight him and torture him, because they remind him she is absent.

Identify the bold grammar (6.7 §3)
Tū tamen quam frequentissimē scrībe, licet hoc ita mē dēlectet ut torqueat. Valē.

Imperative of valeō: “Farewell,” literally “be well.” Poignant because Calpurnia is sick.

Define
Objective genitive

A genitive that is the object of the action/feeling inside a noun. Translate “for / of / toward.” Ex: dēsīderium tuī = longing for you.

Define
Partitive genitive (genitive of the whole)

A genitive after a quantity word (tantum, quantum, plūs, satis, nihil). Ex: tantum suāvitātis = so much (of) sweetness.

Define
Genitive + causā / grātiā

Genitive placed before causā or grātiā = “for the sake of ___.” Ex: valētūdinis causā.

Define
Dative with special verbs

Some verbs take a dative instead of an accusative, but you translate it like a direct object. Ex: crēdō, cōnsulō, persuādeō, imperō, faveō.

Define
Dative with compound verbs

Verbs with prefixes like ad-, in-, prae-, sub- often take a dative. Ex: sermōnibus inest = is in her conversation.

Define
Ablative of means

A thing (not a person) used to do something, no preposition. Translate “with / by.” Ex: epistulīs = with letters.

Define
Ablative of cause

Ablative showing why something happens. Translate “because of / from / by.” Ex: absentiā meā.

Define
Ablative of degree of difference

Ablative with a comparative showing “by how much.” Ex: eō magis = by that much more = all the more.

Define
Complementary infinitive

An infinitive that completes a verb like possum, volō, cupiō, patior. Ex: simul esse cupiēbam = I wanted to be together.

Define
Infinitive as subject

An infinitive used as a noun subject, usually with est. Ex: nihil scīre est ānxium = to know nothing is anxious.

Define
Indirect statement

Head verb of saying/thinking/writing + accusative subject + infinitive. Translate “that ___.” Ex: scrībis tē afficī.

Define
Indirect question

Head verb + question word (quis, quid, cūr, ubi, ecquid) + subjunctive. Translate the verb normally. Ex: quid apparārēs.

Define
Indirect command

Verb of asking/ordering (rogō, imperō, persuādeō) + ut/nē + subjunctive. Translate “to ___” or “that ___ should.”

Define
Purpose clause

ut/nē + subjunctive, with NO degree word. Translate “so that / in order to / lest.” Ex: ut oculīs meīs crēderem.

Define
Result clause

Degree word (tam, ita, tantus, adeō) + ut / ut nōn + subjunctive. Translate “that ___.” Ex: ita ... ut torqueat.

Define
How to tell purpose vs. result

Result has a degree word (tam, ita, tantus, adeō) and uses ut nōn for negative. Purpose has no degree word and uses nē for negative.

Define
Concessive clause

Admits something “although.” licet + subjunctive, or cum + subjunctive with tamen in the main clause. Ex: licet hoc mē dēlectet.

Define
Cum clause: 3 meanings

cum + subjunctive = “when,” “since,” or “although” (tamen hints at although). cum + indicative = just “when.”

Define
Potential subjunctive

A subjunctive in a main clause meaning “would / could.” Ex: dēsīderārem = I would miss.

Define
Implied protasis

A hidden “if” clause suggested by a word or phrase instead of sī. Ex: etiam fortem tē = (even if you were) strong.

Define
Relative clause of characteristic

quī/quae/quod + subjunctive describing a type of person or thing. Translate “the kind of person who / someone whom.”

Define
Correlatives

Paired words that work together: cum ... tum (both ... and), tantum ... quantum (so much ... as/how much).

Define
Correlative relative clauses

A relative (cuius) paired with a demonstrative (huius) that refers back to it: “whose ... her.”

Define
Substantive participle

A participle used as a noun. Ex: metuentium = of those who fear.

Define
Substantive quod clause

quod = “the fact that,” and the whole clause acts like a noun. Ex: grātum est quod nōs requīris.

Define
Conditional clause of comparison

quasi, tamquam, or velut (sī) = “as if.” Ex: quasi novās = as if new.

Define
Epistolary tense

A past tense used in a letter from the reader’s point of view. Ex: cupiēbam = I want (as you read this).

Define
Deponent verb

Passive endings but active meaning. Spot: -r, -ris, -tur, -ntur, -ī, -us sum. Ex: queror, patior, proficīscor, vereor, imāginor.

Define
Frequentative verb

A verb stem + -tō / -itō that shows repeated action. Ex: legō → lēctitō = read over and over.

Define
quam + superlative

“as ___ as possible.” Ex: quam frequentissimē = as often as possible.

Define
Imperative mood

A direct command. Singular = present stem (scrībe, valē). Plural adds -te (scrībite, valēte).

Define
Poetic / literary plural

A plural used for a singular, often nōs for “I/me.” Ex: nōs requīris = you miss me.

Define
Litotes

Understatement by denying the opposite. Ex: nōn sine cūrā = with great worry; nōn mediocriter = greatly.

Define
Anaphora

Repeating a word at the start of back-to-back phrases. Ex: vereor omnia, imāginor omnia.

Define
Asyndeton

Leaving out conjunctions (et, -que) to make a list feel fast and urgent. Ex: vereor omnia, imāginor omnia.

Define
Hyperbaton

Separating words that belong together (or delaying a key word) for emphasis. Ex: mē ... exterret.

Define
Polyptoton

Repeating a root in different forms. Ex: proficīscentem → profectam.

Define
Metaphor

A comparison without “like/as.” Ex: books as fōmenta (medicine); accendor (set on fire with longing).

Define
Diminutive

Ending -ulus/-culus/-culum that makes something small or affectionate. Ex: corpusculum = dear little body.

Define
Present subjunctive: the “wrong vowel”

1st -ē- (amet), 2nd -eā- (habeat), 3rd -ā- (dīcat), 3rd -iō -iā- (capiat), 4th -iā- (audiat). Mnemonic: shE rEAds A dIAry.