Latin for Beginners · Lesson LXXIX · Part 16: Final review of syntax
79. Review of the verb: gerund, infinitive, subjunctive
Goal: Your child reviews every use of the gerund, gerundive, infinitive and subjunctive in the book, and can name the construction in any sentence.
You'll need
- The book (the lesson pages)
- A notebook and pencil
- Index cards from earlier lessons
What's in the book
The last lesson: the gerund (§ 455), the gerundive (§ 456), the uses of the infinitive including indirect statement (§ 457), and the uses of the subjunctive: purpose, result, characteristic, cum clauses and indirect questions (§ 458). Then ten Latin and eight English sentences. The reading matter begins on the following leaves.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Ask your child to list every use of the subjunctive they know. Write the list down.
Gerund and gerundive
Read §§ 455 and 456. Ask: what is the difference between the gerund and the gerundive? When must the gerundive be used?
The infinitive
Read § 457: as subject, as a completing infinitive (possum īre), as object with a subject accusative after verbs of wishing and commanding, and in indirect statement.
The subjunctive
Read § 458 and check it against your child's list: purpose, result, characteristic, cum clauses, indirect questions. Add fear clauses and substantive clauses after verbs of asking and commanding from earlier lessons.
Latin to English
Translate the ten sentences, naming every construction. Two of them:
Nēmō relinquēbātur quī arma ferre posset.
Tam ācriter ab utrāque parte pugnābātur ut multa mīlia hominum occīderentur.
English to Latin
Write the eight sentences. The footnotes help: number 6 uses quaerere ab, number 7 must not use an infinitive, and number 8 uses the gerundive with ad.
Wrap-up
Celebrate: the grammar of the book is done. Talk about what comes next: the reading selections at the back, starting with the Labors of Hercules.
Afterwards
Spend two or three days on this review. Then move on to the reading matter, which the book links to the lessons.
Answers to the book's problems
1. Caesar, when he had arrived, urged the soldiers not to give up the plan of taking the town. 2. The king, having pitched camp near the town, sent scouts to find out where the Roman army was. 3. No one was left who could bear arms. 4. The messengers saw that a huge quantity of arms had been thrown from the wall into the ditch. 5. The leader ordered his men to cross the river. But to cross this river was very difficult. 6. Although the Romans were annoyed at this disaster, nevertheless they refused to turn their backs. 7. When this rumor was heard, such terror seized the minds of all that not even the bravest were willing to join battle. 8. There were some who thought that the season of the year was not suitable for making a march. 9. There was such fierce fighting on both sides that many thousands of men were killed. 10. What do you fear? I fear that the Romans intend to conquer all Gaul and to inflict wrongs upon us.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.