Chapter 8 Questions

Types of Questions There are several types of Latin questions: Questions introduced by an interrogative word. Yes/no questions. Questions that expect a “yes” answer. Questions that expect a “no” answer.

Questions introduced by an interrogative word These questions simply begin with an interrogative word. Some interrogative words are: Quis? Ubi? Quid? Cur? Quantus? Quomodo?

Examples beginning with interrogative words Ubi pater et clientes ambulant?   Where are father and the clients walking?  Quis est filius Gai?    Who is the son of Gaius?   Quid portat?  What is he carrying? 

Yes/no questions When a question expects a yes (ita) or no (minime) answer, just add the particle –ne onto the end of the first word in the sentence.

Examples of yes/no questions Estne Gallia in Europā est?   Is Gaul in Europe? Ambulāsne ad forum?  Are you walking to the market?   Amasne comedere cibum mane?   Do you like to eat food in the morning? 

Questions that expect a “yes” (ita) When you expect that the answer will be yes (ita), begin the sentence with nonne.

Examples with nonne Nōnne Gallia in Europā est?  Gaul is in Europe, isn't it?    Nōnne ambulās ad forum? Aren’t you walking to the market?    Nōnne Caesar dictātor est? Caesar is dictator, isn’t he? 

Questions that expect a no (minime) When you expect the answer to be “no” (minime), begin the question with the word num.

Examples with num Num Asia in Europā est? Asia isn’t in Europe, is it?   Num natare diligis? You don’t like to swim, do you?     Num fessī sunt?   They aren’t tired, are they?