Reading Understood Subjects

Stage 7

Connect to English

• In English, our main use is with commands.

• Go to the store! • (You) go to the store!

• However…

Some Confusion…

• Did I mean…

• (You) go to the store (all by yourself)! • OR…• (You all) go to the store (and leave me alone)!

Answer?

• The only way to tell is by context.

• Go to the store!• Is this singular or plural? Take a look at the

context on the following slides.

SingularGo to the store!

PluralGo to the store!

It’s not always that easy…

• What about when there are no pictures?• There are other tricks…

• ______ am going to the store now.• What word must go in the blank?• You am going to the store now. Nope• He am going to the store now. Nope• I am going to the store now. Yes!• Only one way works!

More confusion

• ______ will go to the store now.• I will go to the store now. Yes.• He will go to the store now. Uh oh.• They will go to the store now. Oh no!

• What to do? They all work!

The Rule

• English has a rule that (unless it is a command), a sentence MUST contain a written…

• Subject• Verb• For a refresher on this topic, watch this video.

But now for Latin

• ______ sum amicus.• In Latin, unlike English, only one word can go

in the blank. What is it?• Ego sum amicus.• So, do you really need the word Ego?

Regular Latin verbs

• Amo I love• Amasyou love• Amathe/she/it loves

• Amamus we love• Amatis y’all love• Amant they love

Unique

• Since each ending is unique, the subject can be “understood.”

Some more examples

• _______ in culina cantas.• Tu in culina cantas.• _______ in culina cantat.• Grumio in culina cantat.• _______ in culina cantamus.• Nos in culina cantamus.• _______ in culina cantant.• Grumio et Melissa in culina cantant.

Look at the following example:

• mercator Caecilium visitat. mercator villam intrat.

• A merchant is visiting Caecilius. The merchant enters the house.

In Stage 7 you will learn a shorter way of translating

the same sentences.

Look at the same sentence

• mercator Caecilium visitat. villam intrat.

• A merchant is visiting Caecilius. He enters the house.

• Notice villam cannot do the action. Something else must. So we add the word he.

Example #1

• amici cum Caecilium cenant. amici coquum laudant.• Friends are dining with Caecilius. The friends praise

the cook.

• amici cum Caecilium cenat. coquum laudant.• Friends are dining with Caecilius. They praise the

cook.

• Coquum cannot do the action!

Example #2

• ancilla in atrio laborat. ancilla dominum salutat.• The slave-girl is working in the atrium. The slave girl

greets the master.

• ancilla in atrio laborat. dominum salutat.• The slave-girl is working in the atrium. She greets

the master.

Stage 7 Grammar

Note that Latin does not have to include a separate word for he, she, or they. Intrat can mean he enters or she enters. It depends on

the context and the preceding sentence.

Try these in your head. The answers are on the following slide.

Practice #1•Grumio in culinam laborat.

cenam parat.

Answer #1

• Grumio in culina laborat. cenam parat.• Grumio is working in the kitchen. He

is preparing dinner.

Practice #2• actores in theatro clamant.

fabulam agunt.

Answer #2

• actores in theatro clamant. fabulam agunt.• The actors are shouting in the

theatre. They are acting in a play.

Practice #3•Metella non est in villa. in

horto ambulat.

Answer #3

• Metella non est in villa. in horto ambulat.• Metella is not in the house. She is

walking in the garden.