Year 4C · Grade 8: Questions and Short Commands
Ask with num, nonne, and -ne, and learn the short commands dic, duc, fac, and fer.
What to notice
- num and nonne
- the question particle -ne
- dic, duc, fac, fer
Explanation
Latin can show what answer a speaker expects. Nonne expects yes: Nonne solem vides? means you see the sun, do you not? Num expects no: Num times? means you are not afraid, are you? The little ending -ne asks an open question and does not lean toward yes or no: Videsne?
Four common commands drop the final vowel of the singular imperative. Dic, duc, fac, and fer mean say, lead, do, and carry. The plural commands put the ending back in the ordinary way, except that fer uses ferte: dicite, ducite, facite, ferte.
Examples
- Nonne solem vides? — You see the sun, do you not? Nonne expects the answer yes.
- Num times? — You are not afraid, are you? Num expects the answer no.
- Videsne? — Do you see? -ne asks an open question.
- Dic! Duc! Fac! Fer! — Say! Lead! Do! Carry! These four singular commands drop the final e.
- Ferte aquam. — Carry the water, all of you. The plural of fer is ferte.
Latin in this lesson
- Nonne solem vides? — yes
- Num times? — no
- Videsne? — either yes or no
- dic — the singular command of dico
- fer — carry, to one person
- ferte — carry, to more than one person