AP Latin : Grammar, Syntax, and Scansion in Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla. 5
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive, 10
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita? 15
quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
"Impotens" (line 9) is an example of __________.
plural noun
present active participle
verb
gerund
present active participle
"Impotens" comes from "impotens, impotentis." It is a present active participle. All present active participles end in "-ns, -ntis."
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 8," ln.1-19)
Example Question #11 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.
"Disertissime" (line 1) is an example of which of the following?
Superlative adverb
Superlative adjective
Perfect infinitive
Pluperfect subjunctive
Superlative adjective
"Disertissime" is a superlative adjective. Even though it seems like it would be an adverb because of the "-e" ending, it is not being used to describe any verbs. In fact, "disertissime" is in the vocative case because it is referring directly to the subject of the poem.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Example Question #12 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.
What use of the genetive is "nepotum" (line 1)?
Genitive of value
Genitive of description
Possessive genitive
Partitive genitive
Partitive genitive
The word "nepotum" is being used to indicate that the subject is part of the group grandchildren. This use is the partitive genitive.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Example Question #13 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.
The use of "quot" in lines 2-3 is an example of which of the following?
Hendiadys
Oxymoron
Hyperbole
Tricolon crescens
Tricolon crescens
The word "quot" is used exactly three times in succession in order to emphasize the amount of people there have been throughout the years. The use of a word or phrasing three times to show emphasis is an example of tricolon crescens.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Example Question #14 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
What sort of clause is present in the underlined portion?
Result Clause
Purpose Clause
Indirect Statment
Temporal Clause
Purpose Clause
The phrase "ut...ardor" translates as: so that then the serious passion may acquiesce. It is an extension of the preceding phrase and is there to show the purpose of having the bird.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #15 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
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 is the case of "mala" in line 1?
Ablative
Vocative
Nominative
Accusative
Accusative
The word "mala" is an adjective describing the word "plurima" in this sentence. Identifying the case of this word is a bit tricky, since "plurima" is a substantive (an adjective acting as a noun), therefore, the case is a bit dubious. It is common, however, for Latin authors to use the neuter form of an adjective when using it as a substantive. This is the case here, which means that "plurima" has to be accusative plural, since the subject is in the singular.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #16 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
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 is the case of "mule" (line 3)?
Dative
Nominative
Vocative
Ablative
Vocative
The word "mule" comes from "mulus," "muli," the word for a mule (the animal). This is the vocative singular form of that word.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #17 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
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 is the use of "multo" in line 5?
Describing manner
Describing separation
Making a comparison
Describing degree of difference
Describing degree of difference
The word "multo" is being used in line 5 in order to describe the degree of difference ("multo acrior" translates as more bitter by much, since there is nothing to which Lesbia or her feelings are being compared) of Lesbia's anger; that is - the more she talks, the more passionate about the relationship she is.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #18 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
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 is the use of "praesente" in line 1?
Describing an instrument
Describing manner
Describing an accompaniment
Describing means
Describing manner
The word "praesente" is being used to describe the manner in which the subject of "dicit" is speaking; that is - presently.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #19 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages
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 "nosse" in line 1 is an example of ___________.
enclitic
a syncopated Verb
a participle
an adverb
a syncopated Verb
The word "nosse" is a syncopated form of the perfect infinitive "novisse." Often in syncopation, the "vi/ve" form of a word drops off, like it does here. While this is much more common with perfect tense verbs, it is not unusual to see syncopation in perfect infinitives.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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