Latin for Beginners Part 34

> >, _some one, any one_ (substantive) > > or > >, _some, any_ (adjective), --483 > > >, >, _a certain, a certain one_, --485 > > or > (no plural), _any one_ (at all) (substantive), --486 > >, _each one, every one_ (substantive), --484 > > >, _each, every_ (adjective), --484

[Transcriber's Note: In the original text, the combined forms (masculine/feminine) were printed in the "masculine" column.]

NOTE. The meanings of the neuters, _something_, etc., are easily inferred from the masculine and feminine.

_a._ In the masculine and neuter singular of the indefinites, >forms and >forms are mostly used as substantives, >forms and >forms as adjectives.

_b._ The indefinites > and > never stand first in a clause, and are rare excepting after >, >, >, > (as, >, _if any one_; >, _if anything_; >, _unless some one_). Generally

_c._ The forms > and > and >

_d._ Observe that > (qui + -dam) is declined like >, except that in the accusative singular and genitive plural > of > becomes > (cf. --287.a): >, >, >, > also that the neuter has > (substantive) and > (adjective) in the nominative and accusative singular. > is the least indefinite of the indefinite p.r.o.nouns, and implies that you could name the person or thing referred to if you cared to do so.

_e._ > and > (substantive) are declined like >

_f._ >, _any one_ (> or >, _anything_), is always used substantively and chiefly in negative sentences. The corresponding adjective _any_ is > (--108).

<298.>> EXERCISES

First learn the special vocabulary, p. 295.

I. 1. Aliquis de ponte in flumen decidit sed sine ullo periculo servatus est. 2. Est vero in vita cuiusque hominis aliqua bona fortuna. 3. Ne militum quidem[1] quisquam in castris mansit. 4. Si quem meae domi vides, iube eum discedere. 5. Si quis pontem tenet, ne tantus quidem exercitus capere urbem potest. 6. Urbs non satis munita erat et meridie rex quidam paene copias suas trans pontem traduxerat. 7. Denique miles quidam armatus in fluctus desiluit et incolumis ad alteram ripam oculos vert.i.t. 8. Quisque illi forti militi aliquid dare debet. 9. Tanta vero virtus Roma.n.u.s semper placuit. 10. Olim Corinthus erat urbs satis magna et paene par Romae ipsi; nunc vero moenia deciderunt et pauca vestigia urbis illius reperiri possunt. 11. Quisque libertatem amat, et aliquibus vero nomen regis est invisum.

II. 1. If you see a certain Cornelius at Corinth, send him to me.

2. Almost all the soldiers who fell down into the waves were unharmed.

3. Not even at Pompeii did I see so great a fire. 4. I myself was eager to tell something to some one. 5. Each one was praising his own work.

6. Did you see some one in the country? I did not see any one. 7. Unless some one will remain on the bridge with Horatius, the commonwealth will be in the greatest danger.

[Footnote 1: Observe that > and > are different words.]

<299.>> HOW HORATIUS HELD THE BRIDGE (_Concluded_)

Mox, ubi parva pars pontis mansit, Horatius iussit comites discedere et solus mira constantia impetum illius totius exercitus sustinebat.

Denique magno fragore pons in flumen decidit. Tum vero Horatius tergum vert.i.t et armatus in aquas desiluit. In eum hostes multa tela iecerunt; incolumis autem per fiuctus ad alteram ripam tranavit. Ei propter tantas res gestas populus Roma.n.u.s non solum alia magna praemia dedit sed etiam statuam Horati in loco publico posuit.

>

LESSON LIII

REGULAR COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

[Special Vocabulary]

>, _swift, quick_ (celerity). Cf. > >, m., _scout, spy_ (explorer) >, gen. >, adj., _huge, vast_ >, _middle, middle part of_ (medium) >, f., _mind_ (mental). Cf. >, _opportune_ >, adv., _than_. With the superlative > gives the force of _as possible_, as > audacissimi viri, _men as bold as possible_ >, gen. >, adj., _recent_ >, adv., _so_. Always with an adjective or adverb, while > is generally used with a verb

>, _ask, inquire, seek_ (question). Cf.

>

<300.>> The quality denoted by an adjective may exist in either a higher or a lower degree, and this is expressed by a form of inflection called comparison. The mere presence of the quality is expressed by the positive degree, its presence in a higher or lower degree by the comparative, and in the highest or lowest of all by the superlative. In English the usual way of comparing an adjective is by using the suffix _-er_ for the comparative and _-est_ for the superlative; as, positive _high_, comparative _higher_, superlative _highest_. Less frequently we use the adverbs _more_ and _most_; as, positive _beautiful_, comparative _more beautiful_, superlative _most beautiful._

In Latin, as in English, adjectives are compared by adding suffixes or by using adverbs.

<301.>> Adjectives are compared by using suffixes as follows:

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE clarus, -a, -um clarior, clarius clarissimus, -a, -um (_bright_) (_brighter_) (_brightest_) (BASE clar-) brevis, breve brevior, brevius brevissimus, -a, -um (_short_) (_shorter_) (_shortest_) (BASE brev-) velox velocior, velocius velocissimus, -a, -um (_swift_) (_swifter_) (_swiftest_) (BASE veloc-)

_a._ The comparative is formed from the base of the positive by adding <-ior>> masc. and fem., and <-ius>> neut.; the superlative by adding <-issimus, -issima,="" -issimum="">>.

<302.>> Less frequently adjectives are compared by using the adverbs >, _more_; >, _most_; as, >, _suitable_; >, _more suitable_; >, _most suitable._

<303.>> > Adjectives of the comparative degree are declined as follows:

SINGULAR PLURAL MASC. AND FEM. NEUT. MASC. AND FEM. NEUT.

_Nom._ clarior clarius clariores clariora _Gen._ clarioris clarioris clariorum clariorum _Dat._ clariori clariori clarioribus clarioribus _Acc._ clariorem clarius clariores clariora _Abl._ clariore clariore clarioribus clarioribus

_a._ Observe that the endings are those of the consonant stems of the third declension.

_b._ Compare >, _long_; >, _brave_; > (base, >), _recent_; and decline the comparative of each.

<304.>> Adjectives in <-er>> form the comparative regularly, but the superlative is formed by adding <-rimus>>, <-a>>, <-um>> to the nominative masculine of the positive; as,

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE acer, acris, acre acrior, acrius acerrimus, -a, -um (BASE acr-) pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum pulchrior, pulchrius pulcherrimus, (BASE pulchr-) -a, -um liber, libera, liberum liberior, liberius liberrimus, -a, -um (BASE liber-)

_a._ In a similar manner compare >, >.

<305.>> The comparative is often translated by _quite, too_, or _somewhat_, and the superlative by _very_; as,

<306.>> EXERCISES

First learn the special vocabulary, p. 296.

I. 1. Quid exploratores quaerebant? Exploratores tempus opportfuissimum itineri quaerebant. 2. Media in silva ignis quam creberrimos fecimus, quod feras tam audacis numquam antea videramus. 3. Antiquis temporibus Germani erant fortiores quam Galli. 4. Caesar erat clarior quam inimici[1] qui eum necaverunt. 5. Quisque scutum ingens et pilum longius gerebat. 6. Apud barbaros Germani erant audacissimi et fortissimi.

7. Mens hominum est celerior quam corpus. 8. Viri aliquarum terrarum sunt miserrimi. 9. Corpora Germanorum erant ingentiora quam Romanorum.

10. Acerrimi Gallorum principes sine ulla mora trans flumen quoddam equos velocissimos traduxerunt. 11. Aestate dies sunt longiores quam hieme. 12. Imperator quidam ab exploratoribus de recenti adventu navium longarum quaesivit.

II. 1. Of all birds the eagle is the swiftest. 2. Certain animals are swifter than the swiftest horse. 3. The Roman name was most hateful to the enemies of the commonwealth. 4. The Romans always inflicted the severest[2] punishment on faithless allies. 5. I was quite ill, and so I hastened from the city to the country. 6. Marcus had some friends dearer than Caesar.[3] 7. Did you not seek a more recent report concerning the battle? 8. Not even after a victory so opportune did he seek the general's friends.h.i.+p.

[Footnote 1: Why is this word used instead of >?]

[Footnote 2: Use the superlative of >.]

[Footnote 3: Accusative. In a comparison the noun after > is in the same case as the one before it.]

N.B. Beginning at this point, the selections for reading will be found near the end of the volume. (See p. 197.)