12.06.26: Level 1 (review); asking for directions; places in a town [5] Traupman [ii] notes

[1] Pōtesne … ? Can you…?

possum, posse [irr.]: to be able

This verb is irregular, but it is a “fusion” of potis (able) + the verb you already know i.e. sum, esse [irregular]: to be

possum: I am able; I can

potes: you (sg.) can

potest: (s)he / it can

possumus: we can

potestis: you (pl.) can

possunt: they can

[2] What you are able to do is expressed by an infinitive:

Potesne mē audīre? │ Can you hear me? [Are you able to hear me?]

Ignōsce mihi, tē audīre nōn possum. │ Forgive me / I’m sorry, I can’t hear [I am unable to hear] you.

Potesne mē adiuvāre? │ Can you help me?

Certē tē adiuvāre possum. │ Of course I can help you.

[3] volō, velle [irregular]: want

volō: I want

vīs: you (sg.) want

vult: (s)he / it wants

volumus: we want

vultis: you (pl.) want

volunt: they want

[4] Again, what you want to do is expressed by the infinitive:

Quid vīs facere ¦ in oppidō? │ What do you want to do ¦ in town?

In forō dēambulāre volō. │ I want to take a walk in the market place.

Quid vīs emere? │ What do you want to buy?

Cibum emere volō. │ I want to buy food.

[5] exadversum [either an adverb or a preposition with the accusative]: opposite; facing e.g. other side of the street

Priusquam ad portam veniās, apud ipsum lacum est pistrilla et exadversum est fabrica (Terence)

• Before you come to the gate, near the lake itself there is a small bakery and opposite there is a workshop.

[6] A nice – and polite – phrase to use when you’re completely lost, or possibly desperate:

Ubi terrārum est …? │ Where in the world is …?

Ubi terrārum est lātrīna?!! │ Where in the world is the toilet?!!

Tacitus makes a derogatory remark concerning a gladiatorial show put on by Vatinius:

…inter foedissima eius aulae ostenta fuit, sūtrīnae tabernae alumnus, …

• … one of the most conspicuously infamous sights in the imperial court, the product of a shoemaker's shop,…

Image #1: a taberna sūtrīna, a shoemaker or shoe repairer’s workshop

Image #2: Ubi terrārum est Argīlētum? │ Where in the world is the Argiletum?

The image shows you where in the world the Argiletum actually is.