Using vocabulary entries When we read Latin, it’s very important to use all the tools we have at our disposal. Vocabulary lists and entries are very important in this regard, but we have to know how to use them. In Wheelock’s Latin, vocabulary entries for verbs typically contain: first, the principal parts of the verb; next, the translation of the verb into English; and finally, in parentheses, a list of cognate words in English that help us remember the words with English words that are derived from Latin. In the instance of vocō, vocāre, the English translation “call, summon” is offered. These words are separated by a comma, which indicates that these are both roughly equivalent translations. We could translate this sentence: “Maecenas and Vergil are summoning me today” or “Maecenas and Vergil are calling me today”, and both would be correct. Note that in this translation, since we have named subjects, we don’t need a pronoun: “Maecenas and Vergil *they are summoning me today” would be incorrect! Some verbs, however, have translations separated by semi-colons, like dēbeō, dēbēre: “to owe; ought, must”. This verb appears in the next sentence, so let’s keep reading to see how we translate this verb!

We also need to understand what this verb means in English. Look at the vocabulary entry for vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum. What English verbs are suggested as the translation for this verb? Select all correct answers!

In umbrā, igitur, pugnābimus! How would you characterize the Spartan’s response in this line?

Fill in the blanks to complete the translation of the English sentence into Latin: 1. Many books of the Greeks will be lasting. Multī librī Graecōrum [erunt] perpetuī. 2. Your book will be great. Liber tuus [erit] magnus. 3. The country of the Roman people was beautiful. Patria populī Rōmānī bella [erat]. 4. If you (s.) were bad, I will be good. Sī malus [eras], bonus [ero]. Don’t forget to add macrons! You can copy and paste letters with macrons into the word with these letters: ā ē ī ō ū

Why do we say that the present, imperfect, and future tenses belong to the “present system”? Check all correct answers:

Noster, nostra, nostrum This is the vocabulary entry for the same adjectives. Notice that the base changes between the masculine nominative singular and the feminine and neuter nominative singulars, which exhibit the base nostr-. Which of the following 2nd declension nouns does this changing base most closely resemble?

Thermopylae: a Soldier’s Humor For the next few questions, consult the passage titled “Thermopylae: a Soldier’s Humor” from Wheelock, Caput V. As always, read aloud this passage to get an initial sense for it; here is an audio file with a reading: The context of the passage is a famous battle between the Greeks and the Persians during the second Persian invasion of Greece. In this battle, a band of 300 Spartan warriors, with their allies, attempted to block the Persian army’s advance by occupying a narrow mountain pass. Despite massively outnumbering the Spartans, the Persian forces were repeatedly frustrated by the maneuver, and were severely obstructed in their efforts, giving the remaining Greek forces time to rally. The story of these Spartans was recently retold in a Hollywood blockbuster, 300 (based on a graphic novel of the same name by Frank Miller).

To get started, watch this video on the use of the future and imperfect tenses!

-bi- is the tense marker for the future tense in 1st and 2nd conjugation verbs in all but the following person-numbers (check all correct answers):

Exercitus noster est magnus… Look up noster in the vocabulary for this chapter; what does it mean?