Latin question formation from "summary" of English Grammar for Students of Latin by Norma Goldman
This topic focuses on understanding how to form questions in Latin. It provides guidance on constructing those questions correctly so that they are grammatically correct and effective for communication. It is a useful guide for anyone wishing to learn to use Latin.- Latin question formation is made up of three specific elements: the word order of an interrogative sentence, the intonation with which it's spoken, and the use of certain particles such as ‘ne’ or ‘nonne’.
- In Latin written language, questions are usually marked by the initial use of quis, qui, quid, ubi, cur, quando or quomodo as the first word in the sentence.
- In Latin verbal communication, questions are created through different word orders that break up the usual flow of a sentence, as well as by changing the pitch when speaking the words.
- From a syntactic point of view, there should only be one verb in the principal clause of a question in Latin.
- If a comparascriptio construction is employed, the comparative term comes first followed by the interrogative expression and the whole phrase is typically put into an accusative case.
- Although the declension of the interrogatives remains regular, the rules for corresponding contraction differ depending on the letter preceding the final consonant of the word.
- When culminating a questioning phrase with an imperative form, honoris causa (for politeness. the form utinam, si, numquam or ne is often used to soften the tone.
- The word order of an interrogative sentence changes only slightly from indicative sentences; both start with the interrogative words followed by the person addressed and then the predicate phrase.
- When asking a yes-no question, a particle such as 'ne' can be used to convey the sense of interrogation. Nonne expressess more emphasis than ne.
- Unanswered questions may have the added suffix -nam after the interrogative word.
