FOR CONSTRUING LATIN INTO ENGLISH. 1. Read to the stop, that follows the finite verb; observe the number and person of the verb which will determine its nominative case, either expressed or understood. 2. Construe the nominative case, if expressed, and if there be an adjective, participle, or pronoun agreeing with it, let the nominative in English follow the word that agrees with it. Note. If the adjective or participle agreeing with a substantive govern any other word, it is generally construed after the word with which it agrees, and before the word, which it governs. 3. Construe the verb, then the accusative case, then the dative, then the ablative, then the preposition with the word which it governs. Note. All these cases do not occur in every sentence. Where one is deficient, pass on to the next. And if to any of the substantives there belong an adjective, participle, &c. the same direction will apply as in Note to No. 2. 4. If there be a genitive case, it must follow the word that governs it. The vocative case generally stands alone, and is construed where it best suits the sense. The same may be said of the ablative absolute; and with respect to all the above cases after they have first been rendered according to the preceding directions, their order may be changed to make the sense of the passage clearer, or more expressive. 5. The remaining words are either interjections, conjunctions, which in construing go before the nominative case; or adverbs which accompany the adjective or verb, to which they belong. 6. The infinitive mood follows the verb, and sometimes the accusative case; especially if there be two accusatives in the sentence, and then the preceding accusative receives the word That before it, and infinitive is rendered as if it were the same tense of the indicative. 7. The verbs, Sum, Fio, Existo; also verbs of calling, &c. in the passive voice, and some others, will have the same case after them, as went before them. And such verbs are frequently construed between the substantive and adjective. 8. The relative qui, and such indefinite adjectives as quantus, qualis, quis, quotus, &c. of whatever case they may be, are to be taken in the beginning of the sentence. 9. The relative, by adhering to its antecedent, will bring forward its own sentence into the midst of the preceding, the remainder of which must follow the sentence to which the relative belongs. |