LATIN FOR RESEARCH IN THE HUMANITIES
SEMINAR 2
QUESTIONS
Direct questions (we will talk about other types of question later) are simple sentences and
take an indicative verb. There are two basic types of direct question.
(1) qu- questions
Some questions begin with an interrogative word, such as who, where, why. This word
usually comes first. The most important interrogative words are:
quis
quid
qui, quae, quod
uter
qualis
quantus
quotiens
who
what
what
which of the two
of what sort
how big
how often
quot (indecl.)
quando*
cur
ubi
quo
unde
quomodo
how many
when
why
where
where to
where from
how (in what way)
(2) ‘Fact’ questions
The second type of question does not contain an interrogative word of the variety examined
above. These are questions which are answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and can not inaccurately be
described as ‘fact’ questions because they offer us a fact to agree or disagree with. They need
some sign to distinguish them from plain statements of fact. In English and French, inversion
accomplishes this; in Latin –ne is added to the first word. If one word in the question is
emphatic, it comes first and carries the –ne. If no other word is especially emphatic, the verb
comes first and carries the –ne.
Venitne frater tuus?
Is your brother coming?
If there is a non in the question, it comes first.
Nonne pulchra est tua soror?
Isn’t your sister beautiful?
Similarly, a question may have the force of a negative statement, and invite the answer ‘no’. it
will then start in Latin with num (surely not):
Num pater tuus aeger est?
Surely your father isn’t ill? / Your father isn’t ill, is he?
Exercises
(1) Placetne tibi hic liber?
cf.
Num tibi placet hic liber?
(2) Tune idem putas?
cf.
Nonne tu idem putas?
(3) Hodiene sunt ludi?
*
N.B. Quando is never used as a time conjunction in adverb clauses, but only in direct or reported
questions (more of the latter soon…).
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(4) Num barbarorum Romulus rex fuit?
(5) Nonne haec saepe iam audivisis?
(3) Further points: ‘num quis’, ‘utrum…an…’ and deliberative questions
There are three further points to make about questions.
(i) Num quis
English questions beginning with the word ‘any’ are translated in Latin with ‘num quis’.
Num quis adest?
Is there anyone there?
This indefinite pronoun (quis – anyone; quid – anything, adj. form qui, qua, quod – any) is
‘enclitic’; that is, it must immediately follow ‘num’. Do not confuse this with the interrogative
‘quis’ or ‘quid’.
(ii) Utrum…an…
Questions involving alternatives are expressed by ‘utrum… an…’; they can be translated as
‘whether…or…’ questions.
Utrum mecum venire vis an domi manere?
Do you want to come with me, or stay at home?
Haec utrum abundantis an egentis signa sunt?
Are these the tokens of one who abounds or lacks?
CICERO
There are some variations on this. For example, ‘an non’ can express ‘or not’*:
Utrum hodie eum vidisti an non?
Have you seen him today or not?
‘an non’ can sometimes appear without ‘utrum’:
Isne est quem quaero an non?
TERENCE
Is that the man whom I am seeking or not?
‘an’ can introduce several alternatives:
Romamne venio, an hic maneo, an Arpinum fugio? CICERO
Do I come to Rome, or stay here, or flee to Arpinum?
(iii) Deliberative questions
When the writer is wondering what to do, a question is framed using a subjunctive form of the
verb.
Ubi gemmas celem?
Where am I to hide the jewels?
Quos deos precemur?
Which gods are we to pray to?
Exercises
(1) Utrum te laudavit an punivit?
(2) Anulum reddamus an retineamus?
(3) Utrum adhuc vivit annon?
(4) Num quid vis?
*
Be aware that this is replaced with ‘necne’ in reported questions, but more of those later…
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