AP Latin : Grammar, Syntax, and Scansion in Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #212 : Sight Reading
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
What word(s) is/are the subject of "aberant" (line 3)?
"poena" and "verba"
"poena"
"poena" and "metusque"
"metus"
"poena" and "metusque"
We know that "aberant" must have a plural subject because the "-nt" ending is for the 3rd person plural form of verbs. Additionally, the subject of a verb usually comes before the verb. Since "poena" and "metus" are both singular and both nominative, they must both be the subject of this verb.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #213 : Sight Reading
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
The "-que" in line 2 joins which two words?
"rectum" and "colebat"
"fidem" and "lege"
"rectum" and "lege"
"rectum" and "fidem"
"rectum" and "fidem"
The enclitic "-que" joins the word it is attached to the word before it. Therefore, it is joining "rectum" and "fidem" in this sentence.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #214 : Sight Reading
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
The word "norant" (line 8) translates as ____________.
they knew
they walked
they know
they walk
they knew
The word "norant" comes from "nosco," "noscere," "novi," "notus," which means to know. "Norant" is actually a syncopated form of "noverant," so the best translation is they knew. It is common in some syncopated forms for the "vi/ve-" of the perfect tense form of a word to drop off. Additionally, if you look at the rest of this passage, you will notice that the rest of the verbs are mainly in the imperfect and perfect tenses. It would be an unusual tense shift to move from past tense to present, just to return to past tense one line later.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #31 : Poetic Syntax
Postquam Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso
sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,
auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.
Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris
perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos 5
et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.
tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus
canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit;
tum primum subiere domos; domus antra fuerunt
et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae. 10
semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis
obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.
How are the words "Saturno misso" (line 1) translated?
With Saturn thrown down
For the throwing of Saturn
For the lost Saturn
With Saturn throwing
With Saturn thrown down
The words "Saturno misso" is an example of an ablative absolute. The best translation is with Saturn thrown down, since "misso" is passive, which means the action must be being done to Saturn.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #32 : Poetic Syntax
Postquam Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso
sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,
auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.
Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris
perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos 5
et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.
tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus
canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit;
tum primum subiere domos; domus antra fuerunt
et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae. 10
semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis
obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.
What word should be inserted between "deterior" and "fulvo" of line 3?
sine
nam
et
sed
sed
The word "sed" should be supplied between the words "deterior" and "fulvo," since we have two phrases comparing opposites of one another (worse, in contrast to better, and gold, in contrast to bronze). Such phrases should be joined with the word "but," but it is omitted here. The word "sed" should be inserted.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #33 : Poetic Syntax
Postquam Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso
sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,
auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.
Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris
perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos 5
et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.
tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus
canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit;
tum primum subiere domos; domus antra fuerunt
et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae. 10
semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis
obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.
The words "auro deterior" in line 3 is an example of a(n) ___________.
ablative of means
comparative phrase
noun-adjective pair
jussive Clause
comparative phrase
The word "deterior" is an example of a comparative adjective. It is being combined with "auro" in the ablative case to form a comparative phrase. Together, the words are translated as: worse than gold.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #34 : Poetic Syntax
Postquam Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso
sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,
auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.
Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris
perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos 5
et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.
tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus
canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit;
tum primum subiere domos; domus antra fuerunt
et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae. 10
semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis
obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.
Why is the word "annum" in the accusative case (line 6)?
To function as a direct object
To denote a duration of time
To denote an extent of space
Because it is an exclamation
To denote a duration of time
The word "annum" is in the accusative case in order to denote a duration of time, in this case the duration of the four seasons throughout the year.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #35 : Poetic Syntax
Postquam Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso
sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,
auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.
Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris
perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos 5
et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.
tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus
canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit;
tum primum subiere domos; domus antra fuerunt
et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae. 10
semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis
obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.
The word "subiere" in line 9 translates as __________.
to pass under
they pass under
they are passed under
to be passed under
they pass under
The word "subiere" is a syncopated form of the word "subierunt," which comes from the verb "subeo," "subere," "subii", "subitus." We can tell it is syncopated because the "subi-" is the perfect stem of the verb, not the present stem. The best translation is they pass under.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #36 : Poetic Syntax
Postquam Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso
sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,
auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.
Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris
perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos 5
et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.
tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus
canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit;
tum primum subiere domos; domus antra fuerunt
et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae. 10
semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis
obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.
"Saturno misso" in line 1 is an example of ____________.
Dative Indirect Object
Indirect Statement
Ablative Absolute
Ablative of Manner
Ablative Absolute
The phrase "Saturno misso" are an example of an ablative absolute. You have a participle ("misso") combined with a noun, both in the ablative case. From the context of the first line, it is clear that these words are being used to set the setting for the rest of the passage/sentence. This is how an ablative absolute is used.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
Example Question #39 : Poetic Syntax
Tertia post illam successit aenea proles,
saevior ingeniis et ad horrida promptior arma,
non scelerata tamen; de duro est ultima ferro.
protinus inrupit venae peioris in aevum
omne nefas: fugere pudor verumque fidesque; 5
in quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolusque
insidiaeque et vis et amor sceleratus habendi.
vela dabant ventis nec adhuc bene noverat illos
navita, quaeque prius steterant in montibus altis,
fluctibus ignotis insultavere carinae, 10
communemque prius ceu lumina solis et auras
cautus humum longo signavit limite mensor.
nec tantum segetes alimentaque debita dives
poscebatur humus, sed itum est in viscera terrae,
quasque recondiderat Stygiisque admoverat umbris, 15
effodiuntur opes, inritamenta malorum.
The word "aenea" (line 1) is __________.
the subject of "successit" (line 1)
The object of "post" (line 1)
An imperative verb
an adjective, describing "proles" (line 1)
an adjective, describing "proles" (line 1)
The word "aenea" comes from the word "aeneus", "a," "um," an adjective meaning bronze/copper. Here, it is being used to describe the word "proles."
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
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