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[Beginning of the sample of the book available commercially.

The Art of Everyday Latin (I)

Based on Adler’s Exercises

A Bilingual Edition

Edited by Claude Pavur


© 2014 Claude Pavur: new, revised, reformatted, and partly rewritten edition of the first part of the exercises from George J.

Adler’s A Practical Grammar of the Latin Language; With Perpetual Exercises in Speaking and Writing for the Use of

Schools, Colleges, and Private Learners (Boston: Sanborn, Carter, Bazin, & Co. 1858). These exercises are presented here

bilingually pari passu in ebook format with a selective revision of the answers given in George J. Adler’s Key to the

Exercises Contained in Adler’s Practical Grammar of the Latin Language (Boston: Sanborn, Bazin & Ellsworth. 1858).
Introductory Note

If the ‘dead’ languages and literatures are not to retire into the background, they must be taught as
if they were alive.
— J. P. Postgate

Adler’s text follows the logic of most exercises: even if students never have to say (nor even read) what this book has

them trying to express in Latin, they will find here powerful devices for strengthening certain acts of understanding that

certainly have to be made repeatedly in the comprehension of Latin texts from all periods. Along the way, students will

accumulate much vocabulary and many idioms; above all, they can hope to begin to attain that rare and valuable thing —

a certain automatic and spontaneous feeling for the language.

The present volume also holds a decided advantage in using sense-based contemporary vocabulary items in the first stages

of language-learning: instead of patria, jus, consul, concordia, senatus, bellum, vis, and coniuratio, students will be using

the Latin words for sugar, coffee, thimble, cork, glove, button, paper, pencil, shoes, cloth, wood, brooms, and biscuits. Of

course, what was an “everyday” item in 1858 was not exactly what is everyday now. There were more candles, horses,

carriages, oxen, donkeys, and hay around then. No doubt an expansion and full updating of this material will one day

include cars, movies, computers, cameras, phones, televisions, tennis shoes, flashlights, touchdowns, shaving cream,

index cards, and so on. But at least our stretch back to Adler’s day is far less of an effort than the one that we might make

to the Renaissance or to Classical Antiquity. And there are still so many things we have in common: cheese, bread, dogs,

salt, hammers, hats, knives, and nails.

Adler’s A Practical Grammar is one of the very few that amply promotes a commonsense approach to learning Latin by

fostering the mastery of thousands and thousands of short communications. It solidly plants in students’ mind some basic

structures, essential particles, and mental habits that will serve as a sure foundation for a lifetime of reading Latin much

more fluently than they would ever otherwise have been enabled to achieve. The fact that the exercises go from English to

Latin only makes them all the more distictively valuable and effective. Restricting language-learning to translation from

the target language never really adequately confronts the practical underpinnings: “How would I say this in that

language?” Home is where we start from. If a language is to be interiorized, it is best to begin at home.

***
The contribution of this edition consists not merely in its being a digitized-text version for ebooks, but also in its focus on

the “perpetual exercises” extracted from Adler’s Grammar and arranged in groups of about ten each, alternating by pages

with the corresponding material from the answer-key so that on an ereader the Latin equivalents are only a page-turn

away. The point in language learning is not so much “coming up with the right answer,” but in the practiced repetition

that leads students to an immediate grasp of the words before them. The small repetitive units of these exercises are

perfectly crafted for this end. This format should make their use all the easier for everyone.

A Note on Revisions: There has been a good bit of rewriting. Frequently Adler has an old word like “thine” or an unusual

inversion like “Has he the paper?” These are altered to fit contemporary usage. Occasionally translations have been

slightly altered. The Latin particle num usually, but not always, expects a negative answer, so “Num id habet?” might be

rendered here as the Latin for “He doesn’t have it, does he?” whereas Adler might have put down the uncolloquial “Has

he it?” The word rusticus expresses Adler’s “peasant,” but as we do not typically use this term for a person living in the

country, a substitute phrase has been employed. Such deterrent blemishes are easy to remove; they should not prevent us

from using this excellent resource. One other point calls for special attention: Adler often interprets “will” not as a mere

indication of a future but as an intention, a “willing.” So “I will go” could be translated into Latin not as “ibo” (a simple

future tense) but as “Volo ire” (I have the will to go, I am intending to go, I want to go.).

Claude Pavur
Saint Louis, Missouri
September 19, 2014
Exercise 1.
Do you have a table?
Yes, Sir, I have a table.
Do you have my table?
I have your table.
Do you have your pen?
I have your pen.
Do you have the sugar?
I have the sugar.
Do you have my sugar?
1. DICTATA PRIMA.
Habesne mensam (Estne tibi mensa)?
Etiam, domine, mensam habeo (Est mihi mensa).
Habesne mensam meam (Estne tibi mensa mea)?
Mensam tuam habeo (Est mihi mensa tua).
Habesne pennam tuam (Estne tibi penna tua)?
Pennam meam habeo (Est mihi penna mea).
Habesne saccharum (Estne tibi saccharum)?
Saccharum habeo (Est mihi saccharum).
Habesne saccharum meum (Estne tibi saccharum meum)?
I have your sugar
Do you have the paper?
I have the paper.
Do you have your paper?
I have my paper.
Do you have the salt?
I have the salt
Do you have my salt?
I have your salt.
Saccharum tuum habeo (Est mihi saccharum tuum).
Habesne chartam (Estne tibi charta)?
Chartam habeo (Est mihi charta).
Habesne chartam tuam (Estne tibi charta tua)?
Chartam meam habeo (Est mihi charta mea).
Habesne sal (Estne tibi sal?)
Sal habeo (Est mihi sal).
Habesne sal meum (Estne tibi sal meum)?
Sal tuum habeo (Est mihi sal tuum).
Exercise 2.
Do you have a fine hat?
Yes, Sir, I have a fine hat
Do you have my bad hat?
I have your bad hat.
Do you have bad salt?
I have bad salt
Do you have your good salt?
I have my good salt.
Which salt do you have?
2. DICTATA ALTERA.
Habesne pileum pulchrum (Estne tibi pileus pulcher)?
Etiam, domine, pileum pulchrum habeo (Est mihi pileus pulcher).
Habesne pileum meum nequam (Estne tibi pileus meus nequam)?
Habeo pileum tuum nequam (Est mihi pileus tuus nequam).
Habesne (Estne tibi) sal vile?
Habeo (Est mihi) sal vile.
Habesne (Estne tibi) sal tuum bonum?
Sal meum bonum habeo (Est mihi sal meum bonum).
Quod sal habes (tibi est)?
I have your good salt.
Which sugar do you have?
I have my good sugar.
Do you have my good sugar?
I have your good sugar.
Which table do you have?
I have a fine table.
Do you have my fine table?
I have your fine table.
Which paper do you have?
Sal tuum bonum habeo (mihi est).
Quod saccharum habes (tibi est)?
Saccharum meum bonum habeo (mihi est).
Habesne (Estne tibi) saccharum meum bonum?
Saccharum tuum bonum habeo (mihi est).
Quam mensam habes (Quae mensa tibi est)?
Mensam pulchram habeo (Mihi est mensa pulchra).
Habesne mensam meam pulchram (Estne tibi mensa mea pulchra)?
Mensam tuam pulchram habeo (Est mihi mensa tua pulchra).
Quam chartam habes (Quae charta tibi est)?
I have bad paper.
Do you have my ugly paper?
I have your ugly paper.
Which bad hat do you have?
I have my bad hat.
Which fine ribbon do you have?
I have your fine ribbon.
Do you have my fine pen?
I nave your fine pen.
Chartam vilem habeo (Charta mihi vilis est).
Habesne chartam meam turpem (Estne tibi charta mea turpis)?
Chartam tuam turpem habeo (Est mihi charta tua turpis).
Quem pileum vilem habes (Qui pileus vilis tibi est)?
Meum pileum vilem habeo (Pileus meus vilis mihi est).
Quam taeniam pulchram habes (Quae taenia pulchra tibi est)?
Habesne pennam meam pulchram (Estne tibi penna mea pulchra)?
Habeo pennam tuam pulchram (Est mihi penna tua pulchra).
Exercise 3.
Do you have the wooden table?
No, Sir, I do not have it.
Which table do you have?
I have the wooden table.
Do you have my golden candlestick?
I do not have it.
Which stocking do you have?
I have the thread stocking.
You do not have have my thread stocking, do you?
3. DICTATA TERTIA.
Habesne mensam ligneam (Num tibi est mensa lignea)?
Non, domine, eam non habeo (Non, domine, non est).
Quam mensam habes (Quae tibi mensa est)?
Mensam ligneam habeo (Mensa mihi est lignea).
Habesne (Estne tibi) candelabrum meum aureum?
Non habeo (Non est).
Quod tibiale habes (Quod tibi tibiale est)?
Tibiale linteum habeo (mihi est).
Num tibiale meum linteum habes (tibi est)?
I do not have your thread stocking.
Which coat do you have?
I have my cloth coat.
Which horse do you have?
I have the wooden horse.
You don’t have my leather shoe, do you?
I do not have it.
Do you have the leaden horse?
I do not have it.
Do you have your good wooden horse?
Tibiale tuum linteum non habeo.
Quam togam habes (Quae toga tibi est)?
Togam meam e panno habeo.
Quem equum habes (Qui equus tibi est).
Equum ligneum habeo (Equus est mihi ligneus).
Num calceum meum scorteum habes (Num tibi calceus meus scorteus est)?
Non habeo (Non est).
Ecquid equum plumbeum habes (Estne tibi equus plumbeus)?
Non habeo (Non est).
Habesne equum tuum ligneum bonum?
I do not have it.
Which wood do you have?
I have your good wood.
You don’t have my good gold, do you?
I do not have it.
Which gold do you have?
I have the good gold.
Which stone do you have?
I have your fine stone.
Which ribbon do you have?
Non habeo.
Quod lignum habes (tibi est)?
Lignum tuum bonum habeo (mihi est).
Num aurum meum bonum habes (tibi est)?
Non habeo (Non est).
Quod aurum habes (tibi est)?
Aurum bonum habeo (mihi est).
Quem lapidem habes (Qui lapis tibi est)?
Lapidem tuum pulchrum habeo (Est mihi lapis tuus pulcher).
Quam taeniam habes (Quae taenia tibi est)?
I have your golden ribbon.
Do you have my fine dog?
I have it.
Do you have my ugly horse?
I do not have it.
Taeniam tuam auream habeo (Taenia tua aurea mihi est).
Habesne canem meum formosum (Estne tibi canis meus formosus)?
Habeo (Est).
Habesne equum meum turpem (Num est tibi equus meus turpis)?
Non habeo (Non est).
Exercise 4.
Do you have the leather trunk?
I do not have the leather trunk?
You don’t have my fine trunk, do you?
I do not have your fine trunk.
Which trunk do you have?
I have the wooden trunk.
Do you have my old button?
I do not have it.
Which money do you have?
4. DICTATA QUARTA.
Habesne riscum scorteum?
Riscum scorteum non habeo.
Num tibi est riscus meus bellus?
Non est mihi riscus tuus bellus.
Quem riscum habes?
Riscum ligneum habeo.
Habesne orbiculum fibulatorium meum vetulum?
Non habeo.
Quae pecunia tibi est?
I have good money.
Which cheese do you have?
I have old cheese.
Do you have anything?
I have something.
Do you have my large dog?
I do not have it
Do you have your good gold?
I have it.
Which dog do you have?
Est mihi pecunia bona.
Quem caseum habes?
Caseum vetulum habeo.
Estne tibi aliquid?
Est mihi aliquid.
Habesne canem meum magnum?
Non habeo.
An aurum tuum bonum habes?
Habeo.
Quem canem habes?
I have the tailor’s dog?
Do you have the neighbor’s large dog?
I do not have it.
Do you have the dog’s golden ribbon?
No, Sir, I do not have it.
Which coat do you have?
I have the tailor’s good coat.
You don’t have the neighbor’s good bread, do you?
I do not have it.
Do you have my tailor’s golden ribbon?
Canem sartoris habeo.
Num tibi est magnus vicini canis?
Non est.
An tibi est aurea canis taenia?
Non vero, domine, non est.
Quam togam habes?
Bonam sartoris togam habeo.
Num tibi est vicini panis bonus?
Non est.
Habesne auream sartoris mei taeniam?
I have it.
Do you have my fine dog’s ribbon?
I do not have it.
Do you have the good baker’s good horse?
I have it.
Do you have the good tailor’s horse?
I do not have it.
Are you hungry?
I am hungry.
Are you sleepy?
I am not sleepy.
Which candlestick do you have?
I have the golden candlestick of my good baker.
Habeo.
Estne tibi taenia canis mei belli?
Non est.
Habesne bonum pistoris boni equum?
Habeo.
Num equum sartoris boni habes?
Non habeo.
Esurisne?
Esurio.
Num es cupidus somni (somniculosus)?
Non sum cupidus somni.
Quod candelabrum habes?
Aureum pistoris mei boni candelabrum habeo.
Exercise 5.
Do you have my book?
I do not have it.
Which book do you have?
I have my good book.
Do you have anything ugly?
I have nothing ugly?
I have something fine.
Which table do you have?
I have the baker’s.
5. DICTATA QUINTA.
Habesne librum meum (Num librum meum habes)?
Non habeo.
Quem librum habes?
Librum meum bonum habeo.
Estne tibi aliquid turpe?
Nihil turpe habeo (Non est mihi quidquam turpe).
Aliquid belli habeo (Est mihi aliquid belli).
Quae mensa tibi est?
Est mihi mensa pistoris.
Do you have the baker’s dog or the neighbor’s?
I have the neighbor’s.
What do you have?
I have nothing.
Do you have good or bad sugar?
I have good (sugar).
Do you have (your) neighbor’s good or bad horse?
I have the good (one).
Do you have the golden or the silver candlestick?
I have the silver candlestick.
Utrum tibi est (Estne tibi) canis pistoris an vicini?
Est mihi canis vicini.
Quid habes?
Nihil habeo.
Habesne saccharum bonum an nequam?
Bonum habeo.
Utrum vicini equum habes bonum an malum?
Bonum habeo.
Aureumne tibi candelabrum est an argenteum?
Est mihi candelabrum argenteum.
Do you have my neighbor’s paper, or that of my tailor?
I have that of your tailor.
Are you hungry or thirsty?
I am hungry.
Are you sleepy or tired?
I am tired.
What have you that is fine (or “pretty”)?
I have nothing fine.
Do you have anything ugly?
I have nothing ugly.
Habesne chartam vicini mei an pistoris?
(Illam) pistoris tui habeo.
Utrum esuris an satis?
Esurio.
Esne (Utrum es) somniculosus an fessus?
Fessus sum.
Quid est tibi pulchri?
Non est mihi quidquam pulchri (Nihil pulchri habeo).
Habesne aliquid turpe?
Nihil turpe habeo.
Have you a leather shoe?
I do not (have [it]).
What good (thing) do you have?
I have good sugar.
Num calceum scorteum habes?
(Eum) non habeo.
Quid boni tibi est?
Est mihi bonum saccharum (Bonum saccharum habeo).
Exercise 6.
Hare you your cloth or mine?
I have neither yours nor mine.
I have neither my bread nor the tailor’s.
Do you have my stick or yours?
I have mine.
Do you have the shoemaker’s shoe or the merchant’s?
I have neither the shoemaker’s nor the merchant’s.
Do you have my brother s coat?
I do not have it.
6. DICTATA SEXTA.
Utrum pannum habes (Habesne pannum) tuum an meum?
Neque tuum neque meum habeo.
Neque meum panem nec sartoris habeo.
Habesne baculum meum an tuum?
Meum habeo.
Utrum tibi est calceus sutoris an mercatoris?
Non est mihi nec sutoris nec mercatoris.
Num tibi est toga fratris mei?
Non est.
Which paper do you have?
I have your friend’s.
Do you have my dog or my friend’s?
I have your friend’s.
Do you have my thread stocking or my brother’s?
I have neither yours nor your brother’s.
Do you have my good baker’s good bread or that of my friend?
I have neither your good baker’s nor that of your friend.
Which bread do you have?
I have mine.
Quam chartam habes?
Chartam amici tui habeo.
Habesne canem meum an (illum) amici mei?
Amici tui (canem) habeo.
Utrum tibiale linteum habes meum an fratris mei?
Nec tuum nec fratris tui habeo.
Utrum tibi est (Estne tibi) bonus pistoris mei boni panis an (ille) amici mei?
Non est mihi neque pistoris tui boni neque amici tui.
Quem panem habes?
Meum habeo.
Which ribbon do you have?
I have yours.
Do you have the good or the bad cheese?
I have neither the good nor the bad.
Do you have anything?
I have nothing.
Do you have my fine or my ugly dog?
I have neither your fine nor your ugly dog.
Do you have my friend’s stick?
I do not have it.
Quae taenia tibi est?
Est mihi tua.
Utrum caseum habes bonum an nequam?
Nec bonum nec nequam habeo (Non habeo neque bonum nec nequam).
Habesne aliquid?
Nihil habeo.
Utrum canem meum bellum an turpem habes?
Ego nec canem tuum bellum nec turpem habeo.
Num tibi est baculum amici mei?
Non est.
Are you sleepy or hungry?
I am neither sleepy nor hungry.
Do you have good or bad salt?
I have neither good nor bad.
Do you have my horse or the man’s?
I have neither yours nor the man’s.
What do you have?
I have nothing fine.
Are you tired?
I am not tired.
Utrum es cupidus somni an esuris?
Neque cupidus somni sum neque esurio.
Utrum sal habes bonum an vile?
Nec bonum nec vile habeo (Non habeo nec bonum nec vile).
Utrum tibi est equus meus an hominis?
Non est mihi neque tuus neque hominis.
Quid habes?
Nihil pulchri habeo.
Esne fessus (Num fessus es)?
Non sum fessus.
Exercise 7.
Which dog do you have?
I have neither the baker’s dog nor that of my friend.
Are you sleepy?
I am not sleepy.
I am hungry.
You are not hungry.
Am I thirsty?
You are not thirsty.
Do I have the cork?
7. DICTATA SEPTIMA.
Quem canem habes?
Ego neque pistoris neque amici mei canem habeo.
Num es somniculosus?
Non sum somniculosus.
Esurio.
Non esuris.
Sitione?
Non sitis.
Num embolus mihi est (Estne mihi embolus)?
No, sir, you do not have it.
Do I have the carpenter’s wood?
You do not have it.
Do I have the Frenchman’s good umbrella?
You have it
Do I have the carpenter’s iron nails or yours?
You have mine.
You have neither the carpenter’s nor mine.
Which pencil do I have?
You have that of the Frenchman.
Non vero, domine, non est.
Habeone lignum fabri tignarii?
Non habes.
An ego bonum Francogalli umbraculum habeo?
Habes.
Utrum ego clavos ferreos habeo fabri tignarii an tuos?
Meos habes.
Neque illos fabri tignarii neque meos habes.
Quem stilum cerussatum habeo?
Francogalli habes.
Do I have your thimble or that of the tailor?
You have neither mine nor that of the tailor.
Which umbrella do I have?
You have my good umbrella.
Do I have the Frenchman’s good honey?
You do not have it,
Which biscuit do I have?
You have that of my good neighbor.
Do you have my coffee or that of my boy?
I have that of your good boy.
Tuumne ego digiti munimentum habeo an sartoris?
Neque meum habes neque (illud) sartoris.
Quod umbraculum mihi est?
Tibi est umbraculum meum bonum.
Num ego bonum Francogalli mel habeo?
Non habes.
Quod buccellatum habeo?
Vicini mei boni (buccellatum) habes.
Estne tibi coffea mea an pueri mei?
Mihi est (illa) pueri tui boni.
Do you have your cork or mine?
I have neither yours nor mine.
What do you have?
I have my good brother’s good pencil.
Am I right (correct)?
You are right (correct).
Am I wrong (morally)?
You are wrong,
You are not wrong.
Am I right or wrong?
Utrum embolum habes tuum an meum?
Nec tuum nec meum habeo.
Quid habes?
Bonum fratris mei boni stilum cerussatum habeo.
Loquorne vere?
Recte loqueris.
Estne mihi nefas?
Est tibi nefas.
Non est tibi nefas.
Utrum ego recte loquor (Rectene loquor) an erro?
You are neither right nor wrong.
Am I hungry?
You are hungry,
You are not sleepy,
You are neither hungry nor thirsty,
What do I have good?
You have neither good coffee nor good sugar.
What do I have?
You have nothing.
What do you have?
I have something beautiful.
Neque recte loqueris neque erras.
Esurione?
Esuris.
Non es cupidus somni.
Tu neque esuris neque sitis.
Quid boni habeo?
Tu nec coffeam bonam nec saccharum bonum habes.
Quid mihi est (Quid habeo)?
Nihil habes.
Quid habes (Quid tibi est)?
Aliquid pulchri habeo (Est mihi quiddam pulchri).

[End of this sample of the book available commercially.


There are sixty groups of exercises in Part I.]

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