05.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [4]; practice (3)

Complete the Latin translations with the words listed below each section.

[a]

[1] Cato was a candidate worthy of election. │ Catō candidātus __________ erat.

[2] My wife is truly loveable. │ Uxor mea vērē __________ est.

[3] The speaker’s words are worth hearing.* │ Verba ōrātōris __________ sunt.

[4] Brutus was a man worthy of praise among the Romans. │ Brūtus vir __________ apud Rōmānōs erat.

[5] I used to collect many jewels which were worth having. │ Multās gemmās __________ congerēbam.

[6] The very small fly is not to be seen (not visible). │ Musca minima nōn __________ est.

[7] The consuls put on games worth watching. │ Lūdōs __________ cōnsulēs ēdidērunt.

[8] I saw certain horses yesterday which were worth buying. │ Equōs quōsdam __________ heri vīdī.

[9] The huge knot was not to be untied. │ Nōdus ingēns nōn __________ erat.

[10] The very good cook was preparing a dinner worth eating. │ Coquus optimam cēnam __________ parābat.

[11] The soldier approaches the fearsome general [ = the general deserving of fear]. │ Imperātōrī __________ mīles appropinquat.

*Sentence [3] is a good example where, depending upon context, the sentence could translate as “The speaker’s words are worth hearing” or “The speaker’s words must be heard.”

amanda; audienda; edendam; ēligandus; emendōs; habendās; laudandus; solvendus; spectandōs; timendō; videnda

[b]

[1] These letters have to be sent. │ __________ __________ mittendae sunt.

[2] We need to send these letters. │ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt .

[3] Cicero has to send these letters. │ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt .

[4] Cicero’s daughter has to send these letters. │ __________ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt.

[5] All the pupils need to send these letters. │ __________ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt.

[6] These famous women have to send these letters. │ __________ __________ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt.

Cicerōnī; Cicerōnis; clārīs; discipulīs; fēminīs; fīliae; hae; illīs; litterae; nōbīs; omnibus

[d] Here all the participles function as adjectives i.e. they are not used with esse in any way. They have the same sense of obligation / necessity and modify the noun in gender, number and case. The translations will generally require a subordinate clause.

[1] He put the books which had to be read on the table.

Librōs __________ in mēnsā posuit.

[2] I have said nothing about the plan which must be hidden.

Nihil dīxī dē cōnsiliō __________.

[3] As she had to be punished, the citizens threw Tarpeia down from the rock.

Tarpēiam __________ cīvēs dē saxō deiecerent

[4] A grave and intolerable wrong [a wrong which must not be tolerated] has been done.

Gravia iniūria facta est et nōn __________.

[5] He gave the fields to the Helvetians to be inhabited.

Agrōs Helvētiīs __________ dēdit.

[6] I have given you a letter to be sent [I’ve give you a letter to send / which you need to send].

Epistulam __________ tibi dedī.

cēlandō; ferenda; habitandōs; legendōs; mittendam; pūniendam

Sentences 7-11

The gerundive is used in agreement with the object of the sentence to show that something is arranged to be done. The literal translation still retains the passive nature of the structure.

Claudius aquaeductum faciendum cūrāvit. │ Claudius arranged for an aqueduct to be built / had an aqueduct built; literally: …took care of an aqueduct [which was] to be built.

[7] The consuls caused / arranged for a theatre to be built / had a theatre built │ Theātrum cōnsulēs __________ cūrāvērunt.

[8]  The commander arranged for roads to be built. │ Imperātor viās __________ cūrāvit.

[9] He arranged for his tyrant brother to be killed. │ Frātrem tyrannum __________ cūrāvit.

[10] The king arranged for temples to be built. │ Rēx templum __________ cūrāvit. 

[11] He had provided hostages to be given between them. │ Obsidēs inter eōs __________ cūrāverat.

aedificanda; dandōs; faciendās; faciendum; interficiendum