AP Latin : Poetic Syntax
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Poetic Syntax
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
How does "cum" (line 5) translate?
With
How
Since
When
When
When "cum" is paired with an indicative verb and no ablative object, it is translated as when.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #22 : Poetic Syntax
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
"Ausus es" (line 5) is best translated as which of the following?
Daring
Having been dared
You dare
You dared
You dared
"Ausus es" is an example of a periphrastic: a phrase that combines words to present a concept. Individually, the words translate as having been dared and you are, but together they can be translated as you dared.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #23 : Poetic Syntax
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res, 5
irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.
What word is the subject of "est" (line 2)?
"illi" (line 2)
"plurima" (line 1)
"haec" (line 2)
"laetitia" (line 2)
"haec" (line 2)
The subject of the verb "est" is "haec." It translates as this is...
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #24 : Poetic Syntax
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res, 5
irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.
What tense is "taceret"?
Imperfect
Perfect
Present
Future
Imperfect
The word "taceret" is an example of an imperfect tense subjunctive verb. It comes from "taceo," "tacere." The imperfect tense of the subjunctive looks like someone added endings to the infinitive form of the verb: "tacere" with a "t" added gives us "taceret."
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #25 : Poetic Syntax
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res, 5
irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.
To whom does the word "nostri" (line 3) refer?
Lesbia and the man
The author and the man
Lesbia and the author
The author
Lesbia and the author
The term "nostri" refers to the former relationship between the author and Lesbia.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #26 : Poetic Syntax
Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
How many words does "dicebas" (line 1) take as its object?
The word "dicebas" takes one word as its object: "te" (line 1), which then governs two indirect statements in the remainder of the sentence.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #27 : Poetic Syntax
Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
The word "ut" (line 3) translates as ___________.
as
in
that
so that
as
The word "ut" translates as as when used here, since it is not accompanied by a subjunctive verb.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #28 : Poetic Syntax
Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
Which grammatical construction is present in line 1?
Indirect Statement
Ablative of Manner
Relative Clause
Ablative Absolute
Indirect Statement
The construction present in line 1 is an indirect statement. The indirect statement is started by the word "dicebas," which governs the words "te nosse Catullum." In that phrase, you have an infinitive ("nosse") and an accusative case word ("te") that is acting as the subject of the clause. This is how you form an indirect statement. Together, the words translate: You were saying that you knew Catullus.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #29 : Poetic Syntax
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
Which word is the object of "videtur" (line 1)?
"Ille" (line 1)
"mi" (line 1)
"ille" (line 2)
"deo" (line 1)
"Ille" (line 1)
The subject of the verb "videtur" is "ille" in line 1. We know this because "ille" is the only noun in the nominative singular. Additionally, the subject of a verb typically comes before the verb in Latin.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #211 : Sight Reading
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
What word governs "superare" (line 2)?
"videtur" (line 1)
"ille" (line 2)
"esse" (line 1)
"si" (line 2)
"videtur" (line 1)
The word "superare" is acting as the object of the verb "videtur." Together, these words are translated as: he seems to surpass...
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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