5.8 Agreement of Subject and Verb Latin
When it comes to grammar, one of the most fundamental rules is ensuring agreement between the subject and the verb. Even in Latin, this rule holds true, although the language may differ slightly from modern English.
In Latin, the subject and verb of a sentence must agree in both person and number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. Let`s take a look at some examples that illustrate this rule:
– Puella cantat. (The girl sings.) In this sentence, the subject “puella” (girl) is singular, so the verb “cantat” (sings) is also singular.
– Puellae cantant. (The girls sing.) Here, the subject “puellae” (girls) is plural, so the verb “cantant” (sing) is also plural.
It`s important to note that not all Latin sentences have explicit subjects. In such cases, the verb must still agree with the implied subject, which can often be deduced from the context. For example:
– Venit. (He/she/it comes.) Although there is no explicit subject in this sentence, the verb “venit” (comes) indicates that the implied subject is singular and third person.
– Veniunt. (They come.) Similarly, the absence of an explicit subject here means that the implied subject is plural and third person.
Another factor to consider in Latin subject-verb agreement is the use of relative clauses. In these cases, the verb must agree with the antecedent of the relative pronoun, rather than the pronoun itself. For example:
– Puella, quae canticum cantat, laeta est. (The girl who sings a song is happy.) In this sentence, the relative pronoun “quae” (who) refers to “puella” (girl), so the verb “cantat” (sings) agrees with the singular subject.
Finally, it`s worth noting that Latin word order is generally more flexible than English, which can sometimes lead to confusion regarding subject-verb agreement. In general, though, as long as you remember to match your subject and verb in both person and number, you should be well on your way to writing correct Latin sentences.
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