SAT II Latin : Latin Noun Cases

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Latin Ablative Case

Vir __________ caeditur

Possible Answers:

per gladio

gladium

a gladio

cum gladio

gladio

Correct answer:

gladio

Explanation:

The correct answer is gladio. This is the example of the ablative of means, meaning an inanimate object was used to achieve an action. As such, there is no need for a preposition, as gladio in this context means "with a sword" already. 

Example Question #1 : Latin Noun Cases

Choose the correct translation for the underlined section of the sentence. 

Ego visus sum a Bruto.

Possible Answers:

with Brutus

at Brutus

by Brutus

for Brutus

to Brutus

Correct answer:

by Brutus

Explanation:

The sentence translates to "I was seen by Brutus." This is called the ablative of personal agent, which uses the preposition "a" before the noun that is doing the action. 

This construction is seen in the words "a Bruto."

Example Question #1 : Using Nominative Case In Latin

Aquitania __________ est. 

Possible Answers:

provincias

provinciae

provincia 

provinciarum

provinciam

Correct answer:

provincia 

Explanation:

The correct answer is provincia. Because of the verb est, which comes from the verb esse, to be, the nominative must be used instead of the accusative in a construction called the predicate nominative. 

Example Question #1 : Latin Nominative And Vocative Cases

Please choose the correct answer below

Tiberis et Padus __________ sunt. 

Possible Answers:

viae

maria

ponti

flumina

montes

Correct answer:

flumina

Explanation:

Tiberis and Padus are the latin names for the rivers Tiber and Po, respectively. The word for river in Latin is Flumen, the nominative singular is Flumina. 

Example Question #1 : Latin Dative Case

The correct dative plural of dux is __________.

Possible Answers:

duces

ducia

ducebus

ducibus

duxibus

Correct answer:

ducibus

Explanation:

The correct dative plural of dux is ducibus. As a third declension noun with a genitive of ducis, the proper ending, -ibus is added to the stem, resulting in ducibus. 

Example Question #1 : Latin Noun Cases

Dux mandat __________.

Possible Answers:

militum

militem

milites

militibus 

a militibus

Correct answer:

militibus 

Explanation:

The verb mandare takes the dative instead of the accusative; therefore the only correct answer can be militibus; since every other option is in the wrong case. 

Example Question #1 : Latin Noun Cases

Choose fill in the blank with the correct answer from the choices below

Senator mandat __________ in hortum

Possible Answers:

puer

pueros

puero

puerum

pueri

Correct answer:

puero

Explanation:

The correct answer is "puero". It should be rememebered that Mandare in Latin takes the dative case instead of the accusative; therefore, "puero" is the only viable option.

Example Question #1 : Latin Noun Cases

Please choose the correct answer from below

The English word littoral comes from which latin word __________.

 

 

 

Possible Answers:

littera—letter

lector—reader

litus—beach

litus—sentence

leto—kill

Correct answer:

litus—beach

Explanation:

The word in English, "littoral," means "pertaining to shores." It is not to be confused with the word "litteral" the noun for beach or shore in latin is "litus," the genitive being "litoris."

Example Question #1 : Latin Accusative Case

The accusative singular of vir is __________.

Possible Answers:

virūs

viram

vir

virum

virem

Correct answer:

virum

Explanation:

Even though the noun vir doesn't end in -us or -um, it is a second declension masculine noun; therefore the correct accusative singular is virum.

Example Question #1 : Latin Noun Cases

__________, veni in villam!

Possible Answers:

filii

filie

filius 

filies

filī

Correct answer:

filī

Explanation:

From the singular imperative veni and the exclamation mark, we know that this is a command, and that it is a singular subject; therefore, the subject is being directly addressed, so we must use the vocative case. The correct vocative for nouns ending in -ius is a simple -i, which is not to be confused with nouns that end in -us which take -e as the vocative ending. 

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