AP Latin : Grammatical and Syntactic Terminology in Prose Passages
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Example Questions
Example Question #112 : Prose
Ac mihi quidem videtur, iudices, hic introitus defensionis adulescentiae M. Caeli maxime convenire, ut ad ea, quae accusatores deformandi huius causa, detrahendae spoliandaeque dignitatis gratia dixerunt, primum respondeam. Obiectus est pater varie, quod aut parum splendidus ipse aut parum pie tractatus a filio diceretur. De dignitate M. Caelius notis ac maioribus natu et sine mea oratione et tacitus facile ipse respondet; quibus autem propter senectutem, quod iam diu minus in foro nobiscumque versatur, non aeque est cognitus, ii sic habeant, quaecumque in equite Romano dignitas esse possit, quae certe potest esse maxima, eam semper in M. Caelio habitam esse summam hodieque haberi non solum a suis, sed etiam ab omnibus, quibus potuerit aliqua de causa esse notus.
How is "pie" being used in the second sentence?
as an ablative place where
None of the other answers is accurate
As an ablative of means
As an ablative of specification
As an ablative of specification
The word "pie" is being used to specify exactly how the father is equal ("parum") to the son. This use of the ablative case is called ablative of specification.
(Passage adapted from Cicero's Pro Caelio, Section 2 (56 BCE))
Example Question #113 : Prose
Ac mihi quidem videtur, iudices, hic introitus defensionis adulescentiae M. Caeli maxime convenire, ut ad ea, quae accusatores deformandi huius causa, detrahendae spoliandaeque dignitatis gratia dixerunt, primum respondeam. Obiectus est pater varie, quod aut parum splendidus ipse aut parum pie tractatus a filio diceretur. De dignitate M. Caelius notis ac maioribus natu et sine mea oratione et tacitus facile ipse respondet; quibus autem propter senectutem, quod iam diu minus in foro nobiscumque versatur, non aeque est cognitus, ii sic habeant, quaecumque in equite Romano dignitas esse possit, quae certe potest esse maxima, eam semper in M. Caelio habitam esse summam hodieque haberi non solum a suis, sed etiam ab omnibus, quibus potuerit aliqua de causa esse notus.
What is the use of "filio" in the second sentence?
Ablative of Accompaniment
Ablative of Agent
Ablative of Manner
Ablative of Means
Ablative of Agent
The phrase "a filio" shoud be translated as by the son, indicating that an action or circumstance happened due to the son. This use of the ablative in order to indicate the cause of a circumstance or doer of an action is called ablative of agent.
(Passage adapted from Cicero's Pro Caelio, Section 2 (56 BCE))
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