1. Grammar notebook appendices
Translation process

2. How to translate a Latin Sentence and remain sane

3. The Process
1. Read the whole sentence in Latin. If it clicks, consider yourself blessed. If not, start taking it apart like you would a math problem.
2. Always keep your sentence in context of the passage. Reread the previous sentence before you start. IT HAS TO MAKE SENSE! Make predictions in your mind about what that sentence might say.

4. 3. Find the verb/verbs. This tells you how many clauses you have.
Three basic types of clauses:
Subject linking verb predicate nominative
Subject action verb direct object
Subject passive verbs ablative

5. Figure out which kind of verb you have.
Linking verb some form of sum
Action/active verb
One form
Ends with o/m/s/t/mus/tis/nt

6. could be one form or two part verb r/ris/tur/mur/mini/ntur
Passive Verb
could be one form or two part verb
r/ris/tur/mur/mini/ntur
us,a, um /i,ae,a plus some form of sum

7. Pattern One: SLVPN Linking verb: Figure out the subject:
o/m I
S you
T he, she, it or a nominative singular
Mus we
Tis you pl
Nt they or a plural nominative
Find the predicate nominative which will be in the nominative case and will rename the subject; sometimes you will have a predicate adjective to describe your subject.

8. Examples Elephanti sunt ingentes. Elephanti erant arma Hannibalis.
Sunt is a linking verb;
Ends with nt; therefore the subject must be either THEY or a NOMINATIVE PLURAL
The elephants are
Is there a word in the nominative that either renames or describes the subject
The elephants are huge.
Elephanti erant arma Hannibalis.
Elephanti subject
Arma predicate nominative
Hannibalis genitive modifier

9. Pattern two: action verb
Figure out your subject:
o/m I
S you
T he,she, it nominative singular
Mus we
Tis you pl
Nt they nominative plural
Then you know who is doing the verb.
Then look for the accusative to receive the verb.

10. Examples Stultus puer puellam pulsat. Puella stultum puerum pulsat.
Pulsat action verb
Ends with t: nominative singular subject
Puer pulsat The boy hits
Puellam = accusative
The boy hits the girl.
Puella stultum puerum pulsat.
Pulsat hits
Puella girl nominative singular
Puerum acc
The girl hits the stupid boy.

11. Pattern 3: Passive Verbs
Two part verbs are easier; the endings on the first part tells you the gender of the subject
R= I
Ris = you
Tur = he, she, it or nominative singular
Mur = we
Mini= you pl
Ntur= they or nominative plural
Then look for the ablative to show who or what does the verb

12. Examples Puella pulsata est a puero. Pulsata est she was hit
Puella nominative singular
The girl was hit
A puero ablative of personal agent
The girl was hit by the boy.

13. Mea filia est disciplinus.
My daughter is a student.
Mea filia terram studet.
Me filia est disciplinus quae terram studet.

14. What do I do with all those other words?
Translate using the Socratic method. Ask yourself questions.
Whose? Genitive
To whom/for whom dative
What kind? Genitive, adjective, ablative
How? Ablative
Why? Ablative, dative
When? Ablative
Where? Ablative
How far? Accusative

15. To where? Accusative
From where? Ablative
How much? Ablative, genitive