19.01.27: Vincent and the Headache (5); step-by-step; stepping up

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/06/210626-vincent-and-headache-1-step-by.html

So far, we’ve looked at some important points:

(1) A large amount of information does not have to be learned at the same time.

(2) There is a need to identify what are the fundamental words and ideas for the early stages.

(3) Some learners are content with a random list of words on a page, but it does not have to be exclusively that way. It can be:

illustrated

heard

classified either grammatically (nouns, verbs etc.), or by theme (parts of the body);

practised verbally and expanded by active usage in simple contexts where there are patterns e.g. X mihi dolet / dolent;

explored e.g. by looking at derivatives

Now step up (if you choose to):

In Vincent’s video there are a few points that would normally follow on from the most basic stages. However, even here, we can highlight those features which take considerable time and study as opposed to those which can be quickly grasped. Whatever you’re learning in Latin, you cannot do it all at once. I’ve included some notes and links to features that you may feel ready to ‘explore’.

The first one below forms one of the backbones of Latin:

[1] Apart from the present tense (ambulō, faciō, sciō), Vincent uses three other verb tenses:

[i] Solēbam legere | I was in the habit of reading

Of the three tenses referred to, this one is the easiest to spot because it has a distinctive ‘marker’: -ba- / -bā-

imperfect tense: what was happening / used to happen

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/469186202359320/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/tenses%3A%20imperfect

[ii] Et hoc satis erit. | And this will be enough.

future tense: what will happen

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/469186389025968/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/tenses%3A%20future

[iii] ut dīxī | as I (have) said

perfect tense: what (has) happened

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/469186502359290/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/tenses%3A%20perfect

[2] difficilius est animum intendere | it is more difficult to concentrate

difficilis, -e: difficult > difficilior [masc. / fem.] difficilius [neuter]: more difficult; this is the comparative form of the adjective which can also translate as ‘rather difficult’ but stick with ‘more’ at the beginning.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/809090198368917/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/degrees%20of%20comparison

[3]

hoc prōdest et mihi et eī | this benefits both me and him [ = this is of benefit both to me and to him]

quia sciō ambulātiōnem mihi prōdesse | because I know walking is good for me / is of benefit to me.

the verb prōsum, prōdesse (to benefit) is followed by the dative case i.e. this benefits me = this is of benefit to me

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/730075776270360

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/verbs%20with%20the%20dative%20case

[4] How English translates a phrase may not match what the Latin actually says:

oportet mē … ambulāre | I have to … walk

oportet fruī serēnitāte | I have to enjoy the peacefulness

However, oportet is an impersonal verb, i.e. it does not have a subject. There are impersonal verbs in English, French and German, good examples of which are weather phrases:

It is raining / Il pleut / Es regnet

That ‘it’ is not referring to anything. In fact, the Latin equivalent uses no pronoun at all:

pluit: it’s raining; ningit: it’s snowing

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/427927846485156

Another impersonal construction is in the video:

Difficilius est … | It is more difficult …

What ‘oportet’ literally means is: It is necessary / right / proper (to do something) but English would rework that into a less clumsy expression:

oportet mē … ambulāre | It is necessary for me to walk = I have to / ought to / should … walk

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/impersonal%20verbs

A light-hearted PS: if you want oportet mē to stick in your head forever, then remember one of the bizarre translations that dictionaries give: ‘it behooves me’, and that’s fine – if you want to pretend you’re living in the 17^th century.

Anyway, it behooves me to stop writing about Vincent’s headache.

Are there other features that I haven’t talked about?

Yes.

Will I talk about them?

Eventually.