RTL Chapter III discussion: How to ask questions in Latin

​This lesson takes you through parts of pages 25-27. It may help to have your book with you as you go through it.

Asking questions

The form of the English question Is this an American villa? does not show whether "yes" or "no" is likely to be the answer.

Multiple Choice

The Latin question, estne vīlla Americāna? is like the English question in that it expects...

• either a yes or a no answer

• a no answer

• a yes answer

Multiple Choice

In Latin, such a question is indicated by the syllable...

• -ne

• num

• nōnne

Multiple Choice

This word is an enclitic, which means...

• it is stuck onto the end of another word.

• it is placed before a noun in the accusative case.

• it combines two shorter sentences into a longer sentence.

Multiple Choice

The enclitic -ne is attached to some emphatic word in the question, often the verb, and this emphatic word is placed...

• first.

• last.

• in the middle.

Multiple Choice

You would answer such a question by...

• speaking a relevant sentence.

• saying "yes"

• saying "no"

Multiple Choice

estne casa parva?

• casa est parva.

• casae sunt magnae.

Multiple Choice

estne fēmina Rōmāna?

• fēmina est Rōmāna.

• fēmina nōn est Rōmāna. fēmina est Americāna.

Multiple Choice

labōratne agricola?

• agricola nōn labōrat. agricola dormit.

• agricola labōrat.

Multiple Choice

labōratne ancilla?

• ancilla nōn labōrat. ancilla dormit.

• ancilla labōrat.

Multiple Choice

In the English question, "Isn't this an American villa?" can you tell what answer is expected?

• A "yes" answer is expected.

• A "no" answer is expected.

• You cannot tell: the answer could be either yes or no.

Multiple Choice

The Latin question Nōnne vīlla Cornēliāna est magna et pulchra? is a question of the same kind: the word ______ shows that the answer "yes" is expected.

• estne

• nōnne

• et

• est

Multiple Choice

Nōnne rosa est pulchra?

• fūfae, rose nōn est pulchra.

• rosa est pulchra.

Multiple Choice

Nōnne Colosseum est magna?

• Colosseum est parva.

• certē, Colosseum est magna.

Multiple Choice

Nōnne ancillae labōrant?

• certē, ancillae labōrant.

• ancillae nōn labōrant.

Multiple Choice

In English, when we wish to indicate that the answer "no" is expected, we are obliged to change the form of the question altogether. We say, for instance,...

• Doesn't the little hut have columns?

• Does the little hut have columns?

• The little hut doesn't have columns, does it?

Multiple Choice

This question is equivalent to the Latin...

• habetne casa parva columnās?

• Num casa parva columnās habet?

• Nōnne casa parva columnās habet?

Multiple Choice

That is, the word _____ at the beginning of the sentence shows that a negative answer is expected. The way of showing this in Latin is thus simpler than in English.

• num

• -ne

• nōn

How do you say "yes" or "no"?

There is no word in Latin exactly equivalent to "yes" or "no." To answer "yes," one or more emphatic words in the question, or the whole question, may be repeated; as, Habetne Tullia filias? Habet (or, Filias habet), Has Tullia any daughters? Yes. To answer "no," the emphatic words may be repeated with the addition of non. You may also add "certē" - certainly - to emphasize a "yes" answer. You may use "minimē" (a little bit) or even "fūfae" (disgusting!) to emphasize a "no" answer.

Multiple Choice

Habetne Tullia fīliās?

• fīliās habet.

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

nōnne puella est pulchra?

• certē, puella pulchra est.

• fūfae, puella pulchra nōn est.

• minimē, puella pulchra nōn est.

Multiple Choice

num fēmina est pulchra?

• certē, puella pulchra est.

• fūfae, fēmina pulchra nōn est.

• minimē, casa magna nōn est.

Multiple Choice

num casa est magna?

• certē, puella pulchra est.

• fūfae, fēmina pulchra nōn est.

• minimē, casa magna nōn est.