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Saxony Latinum study materials
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Saxony Latinum practice questions

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Question 1Latin morphology and syntax

In "senatus populusque Romanus", what case and number is "populus"?

  1. Nominative singular Correct answer.
  2. Genitive singular
  3. Accusative plural
  4. Ablative singular

Explanation

Populus is nominative singular, coordinated with senatus by -que. Together they form the compound subject SPQR: "the Senate and the Roman people".

Question 2Latin morphology and syntax

What is the genitive singular of "urbs, urbis" (f., city)?

  1. urbis Correct answer.
  2. urbem
  3. urbe
  4. urbium

Explanation

Urbs is a 3rd-declension i-stem noun; genitive singular is urbis. That form also appears as the dictionary headword's second part.

Question 3Latin morphology and syntax

"Milites urbem defendunt." What person, number and tense is "defendunt"?

  1. 3rd person plural present indicative active Correct answer.
  2. 3rd person singular present
  3. 1st person plural perfect
  4. 3rd person plural imperfect

Explanation

Defendunt is 3rd plural present indicative active of defendo: "they defend". The subject milites matches the plural ending -unt.

Question 4Latin morphology and syntax

Which form is the perfect active indicative 1st person singular of "scribo, scribere"?

  1. scripsi Correct answer.
  2. scribo
  3. scribam
  4. scripseram

Explanation

Scribo has perfect stem scrips-; 1st singular perfect active is scripsi ("I wrote / have written").

Question 5Latin reading and translation

In "Dicit se venturum esse", "se" refers to:

  1. the same subject as dicit (indirect reflexive) Correct answer.
  2. a different third party always
  3. the addressee only
  4. an impersonal "one"

Explanation

In AcI after dicit, se refers back to the speaker of dicit: "He says that he (himself) will come".

Question 6Latin vocabulary and etymology

In political Latin, "res publica" most nearly means:

  1. the state / commonwealth / public affairs Correct answer.
  2. a public thing in the marketplace only
  3. the Roman people as a private club
  4. a republican political party in the modern sense

Explanation

Res publica covers the state, constitution, and public affairs - far broader than modern "republic" alone.

Question 7Latin vocabulary and etymology

"Virtus" in classical prose most often denotes:

  1. courage / excellence / manly excellence (context-dependent) Correct answer.
  2. virtue only in a Christian moral sense
  3. physical height
  4. wealth

Explanation

Virtus ranges from martial courage to moral excellence; in political/philosophical prose, context decides the nuance.

Question 8Latin vocabulary and etymology

"Hostis" typically means:

  1. public enemy / enemy of the state Correct answer.
  2. a personal enemy (private feud)
  3. a guest-friend
  4. a hostage

Explanation

Hostis = enemy in war / public enemy. Inimicus = personal enemy. Hospes = guest/host; obses = hostage.

Question 9Latin vocabulary and etymology

"Imperium" in Republican political language most nearly means:

  1. official power of command / supreme authority Correct answer.
  2. an empire as a territorial map only
  3. a mere suggestion
  4. a tax

Explanation

Imperium is the legally conferred power of command (consuls, praetors, etc.). Territorial "empire" is a secondary/extended sense.

Question 10Latin vocabulary and etymology

"Otium" as opposed to "negotium" means:

  1. leisure / free time from public business Correct answer.
  2. business and civic duty
  3. hatred
  4. noise

Explanation

Otium = leisure; negotium (nec-otium) = business/affair. Philosophical texts often debate otium vs. public negotium.

Question 11Roman culture, thought and reception

SPQR stands for:

  1. Senatus Populusque Romanus Correct answer.
  2. Senatus Primus Que Roma
  3. Summus Pontifex Qui Regnat
  4. Societas Populi Quinque Regionum

Explanation

SPQR = Senatus Populusque Romanus, "the Senate and the Roman People" - the Republican state's self-designation.

Question 12Roman culture, thought and reception

In the Roman Republic, two annually elected magistrates with imperium at the top of the cursus were the:

  1. consuls Correct answer.
  2. emperors
  3. tribunes of the plebs only without imperium as a pair of kings
  4. censors exclusively

Explanation

Two consuls held the highest regular annual imperium in the Republic. Emperors belong to the Principate; tribunes had potestas/sacrosanctitas, not consular imperium.

Question 13Roman culture, thought and reception

Livy (Titus Livius) is primarily a writer of:

  1. historiography (Ab urbe condita) Correct answer.
  2. stoic logic handbooks
  3. comedy
  4. love elegy

Explanation

Livy's Ab urbe condita is monumental Roman historiography - a model for Latinum historiographical passages.

Question 14Latin morphology and syntax

What is "laudatus" morphologically?

  1. Perfect passive participle (masculine nominative singular) of laudo Correct answer.
  2. Present active participle
  3. Future active participle
  4. Gerund

Explanation

Laudatus is the PPP of laudo ("having been praised / praised"), used in perfect passive periphrasis or as an adjective.

Question 15Latin morphology and syntax

Identify the form "amandi" in "ars amandi".

  1. Gerund, genitive Correct answer.
  2. Gerundive, nominative plural
  3. Present participle
  4. Infinitive

Explanation

Amandi is the genitive of the gerund of amo: "the art of loving". Ovid's title Ars amatoria / ars amandi uses this construction.

Question 16Latin morphology and syntax

What is the future active participle of "venio, venire, veni, ventum"?

  1. venturus Correct answer.
  2. veniens
  3. ventus
  4. veniturus

Explanation

Future active participles are formed from the supine stem + -urus: venturus ("about to come").

Question 17Latin morphology and syntax

"Ausus sum" (from audeo) means:

  1. I dared (semi-deponent perfect) Correct answer.
  2. I am dared
  3. I will dare
  4. I was daring (imperfect)

Explanation

Audeo is semi-deponent: active present system, passive-form perfect with active meaning. Ausus sum = "I dared".

Question 18Latin morphology and syntax

What case is "Caesare" in "duce Caesare" ("with Caesar as leader")?

  1. Ablative Correct answer.
  2. Nominative
  3. Accusative
  4. Genitive

Explanation

Duce Caesare is an Ablativus absolutus: both words ablative. "With Caesar as leader / Caesar being leader".

Question 19Latin morphology and syntax

Which is the correct 3rd person singular imperfect subjunctive active of "sum"?

  1. esset Correct answer.
  2. erat
  3. sit
  4. fuerit

Explanation

Imperfect subjunctive of sum is essem, esses, esset… Built on the infinitive esse + personal endings.

Question 20Latin morphology and syntax

"Ferunt" is a form of which irregular verb, and what does it mean here as 3rd plural present?

  1. fero - "they bring / they say" Correct answer.
  2. fio - "they become"
  3. volo - "they wish"
  4. eo - "they go"

Explanation

Ferunt is 3rd plural present of fero, ferre, tuli, latum: "they bring" or idiomatically "they say" (ferunt = "people say").

Question 21Latin morphology and syntax

Identify "delenda" in Cato's phrase "Carthago delenda est".

  1. Gerundive (feminine nominative singular) with est expressing necessity Correct answer.
  2. Gerund accusative
  3. Perfect passive participle only, no necessity sense
  4. Present participle

Explanation

Delenda is the gerundive of deleo agreeing with Carthago; with est it expresses necessity/obligation: "Carthage must be destroyed".

Question 22Latin morphology and syntax

"Potui" is which form of possum?

  1. 1st singular perfect indicative Correct answer.
  2. 1st singular present
  3. 1st singular imperfect
  4. 1st singular pluperfect

Explanation

Possum has perfect potui ("I was able / I could"). Present is possum; imperfect poteram; pluperfect potueram.

Question 23Latin morphology and syntax

In "haec urbs", what gender, case and number is "haec" if urbs is nominative singular?

  1. Feminine nominative singular Correct answer.
  2. Neuter nominative/accusative plural
  3. Feminine nominative plural
  4. Masculine nominative singular

Explanation

Urbs is feminine; haec as feminine nominative singular agrees: "this city". (Haec is also neuter nom./acc. plural - but not with feminine singular urbs.)

Question 24Latin morphology and syntax

Which form is the present passive infinitive of "amo"?

  1. amari Correct answer.
  2. amare
  3. amavisse
  4. amatum esse

Explanation

Present passive infinitive of 1st conjugation: amari ("to be loved"). Amare is active; amavisse perfect active; amatum esse perfect passive.

Question 25Latin morphology and syntax

"Mortuus est" from morior means:

  1. he died (deponent perfect) Correct answer.
  2. he was killed by someone (true passive of caedo)
  3. he will die
  4. he is dying (present)

Explanation

Morior is deponent; mortuus est is perfect with active meaning: "he died / he is dead".

Question 26Latin morphology and syntax

Identify "legendi" in "cupidus legendi" ("desirous of reading").

  1. Gerund, genitive Correct answer.
  2. Gerundive genitive agreeing with an omitted noun
  3. Perfect participle
  4. Supine

Explanation

After adjectives like cupidus, the genitive of the gerund expresses the object of the desire: cupidus legendi.

Question 27Latin morphology and syntax

What is the 2nd person singular present imperative active of "duco"?

  1. duc Correct answer.
  2. duce
  3. ducite
  4. ducas

Explanation

Duco has short imperative duc (also fac, fer, dic). The expected duce is not the classical short form.

Question 28Latin morphology and syntax

"Latus sum" (from fero) means:

  1. I was carried / I have been carried Correct answer.
  2. I carried
  3. I will carry
  4. I am carrying

Explanation

Fero's PPP is latus; latus sum is perfect passive: "I was / have been carried" (or "brought").

Question 29Latin morphology and syntax

What person/number/tense/mood is "amavissent"?

  1. 3rd plural pluperfect subjunctive active Correct answer.
  2. 3rd plural pluperfect indicative
  3. 3rd plural perfect subjunctive
  4. 3rd plural imperfect subjunctive

Explanation

Amavissent = ama- + -visse- + -nt → pluperfect subjunctive active 3rd plural ("they would have loved" / in historic sequence "they had loved").

Question 30Latin morphology and syntax

In "Dico te venire", what construction is "te venire"?

  1. Accusativus cum Infinitivo (AcI) Correct answer.
  2. Ablativus absolutus
  3. Ut-clause
  4. Relative clause

Explanation

After verbs of saying/thinking, Latin uses AcI: accusative subject te + infinitive venire = "that you are coming".

Question 31Latin morphology and syntax

"Urbe capta, hostes fugerunt." What is "urbe capta"?

  1. Ablativus absolutus Correct answer.
  2. AcI
  3. Absolute genitive
  4. Purpose clause

Explanation

Urbe capta is ablative absolute: "the city having been captured" / "after the city was captured".

Question 32Latin morphology and syntax

After a historic main verb, a contemporaneous subordinate subjunctive is usually:

  1. Imperfect subjunctive (consecutio temporum) Correct answer.
  2. Present subjunctive
  3. Perfect subjunctive
  4. Pluperfect subjunctive for same-time action

Explanation

Consecutio temporum: after historic primary? After historic main verbs, same-time/after-time subordinates take imperfect subjunctive; before-time take pluperfect.

Question 33Latin morphology and syntax

"Venit ut pacem peteret." What kind of clause is "ut pacem peteret"?

  1. Purpose clause (Finalsatz) Correct answer.
  2. Result clause (Konsekutivsatz)
  3. Fear clause
  4. Indirect question

Explanation

Ut + subjunctive after a verb of motion/action commonly expresses purpose: "He came in order to seek peace". Imperfect subjunctive shows historic sequence.

Question 34Latin morphology and syntax

In "Si id facias, erres", the condition is:

  1. Potentialis (should/would - present subjunctive) Correct answer.
  2. Realis (indicative)
  3. Irrealis of the present
  4. Irrealis of the past

Explanation

Present subjunctive in both clauses marks the potential condition: "If you should do this, you would be mistaken".

Question 35Latin morphology and syntax

"Si adesses, gauderem." This is:

  1. Present contrary-to-fact (Irrealis der Gegenwart) Correct answer.
  2. Past contrary-to-fact
  3. Simple real condition
  4. Potential condition

Explanation

Imperfect subjunctive in both clauses: "If you were here (but you are not), I would be glad".

Question 36Latin morphology and syntax

What case does "utor, uti" take for the thing used?

  1. Ablative Correct answer.
  2. Accusative
  3. Genitive
  4. Dative

Explanation

Utor, fruor, fungor, potior, vescor take the ablative: virtute utitur = "he uses virtue / he employs virtue".

Question 37Latin morphology and syntax

"Rogo quid facias." What construction is "quid facias"?

  1. Indirect question with subjunctive Correct answer.
  2. Relative clause of characteristic
  3. Purpose clause
  4. AcI

Explanation

After rogo, an interrogative + subjunctive forms an indirect question: "I ask what you are doing".

Question 38Latin morphology and syntax

"Timeo ne veniat" means:

  1. I fear that he may come Correct answer.
  2. I fear that he may not come
  3. I fear to come
  4. I do not fear that he is coming

Explanation

After verbs of fearing, ne introduces the feared positive event: "I fear that he may come". Ut / ne non = "that … not".

Question 39Latin morphology and syntax

What is the usual case for the agent with a passive verb ("by the consul")?

  1. A/ab + ablative Correct answer.
  2. Bare ablative without preposition
  3. Dative of agent only
  4. Accusative of agent

Explanation

Personal agent with passives: a/ab + ablative (a consule). Bare ablative often marks means/instrument (gladio interfectus est).

Question 40Latin morphology and syntax

"Est mihi liber" literally uses a dative to mean:

  1. I have a book (dative of possession) Correct answer.
  2. The book is for me as purpose
  3. I give a book
  4. The book is mine as a genitive

Explanation

Mihi est + nominative = "I have …": dative of possession. Est mihi liber = "I have a book".

Question 41Latin morphology and syntax

In oratio obliqua, classical Latin typically turns a direct indicative statement into:

  1. AcI Correct answer.
  2. Ut + subjunctive
  3. Indicative unchanged
  4. Imperative

Explanation

Reported statements become AcI. Questions become indirect questions (subj.); commands become ut/ne + subj. (or AcI after iubeo).

Question 42Latin morphology and syntax

The predicative dative idiom "dono dare" means roughly:

  1. to give as a gift Correct answer.
  2. to give to a gift
  3. to donate by means of a gift only
  4. to refuse a gift

Explanation

Double dative / predicative dative patterns like dono dare, auxilio mittere mean "give as a gift", "send as help".

Question 43Latin morphology and syntax

"Ad pacem petendam venit" uses which construction?

  1. Gerundive after ad expressing purpose Correct answer.
  2. Gerund after ad without agreement
  3. AcI of purpose
  4. Ut-clause only possible here

Explanation

Ad + accusative gerundive agreeing with a noun is a standard purpose construction: "He came to seek peace".

Question 44Latin morphology and syntax

"Maior sum quam tu" requires which case for the second member if quam is omitted?

  1. Ablative of comparison Correct answer.
  2. Genitive of comparison
  3. Dative of comparison
  4. Accusative of comparison

Explanation

Without quam, the thing compared goes into the ablative: maior te sum = "I am greater than you".

Question 45Latin morphology and syntax

In "interest omnium rem publicam salvare", omnium is:

  1. Genitive of the person interested (impersonal interest) Correct answer.
  2. Accusative subject of the infinitive
  3. Ablative of means
  4. Dative of advantage only

Explanation

Impersonal interest/refert takes a genitive of the person concerned: "It is in everyone's interest to save the state". The infinitive phrase is the subject matter.

Question 46Latin morphology and syntax

"Nescio an veniat" is best translated:

  1. I do not know whether he is coming Correct answer.
  2. I do not know that he is coming
  3. I know he is not coming
  4. I ask that he come

Explanation

Nescio an + subjunctive = "I don't know whether…" (often with a leaning toward "perhaps he is").

Question 47Latin morphology and syntax

"Pontem faciendum curavit" means:

  1. He had a bridge built (curo + gerundive) Correct answer.
  2. He cared about a bridge that must be built only as obligation on himself
  3. He built a bridge himself with facio finite
  4. He destroyed a bridge

Explanation

Curo + accusative + gerundive = "have something done": pontem faciendum curavit = "he had a bridge built".

Question 48Latin morphology and syntax

Relative clause of characteristic after "is est qui" typically uses:

  1. Subjunctive Correct answer.
  2. Indicative only
  3. Infinitive
  4. Imperative

Explanation

Is est qui + subjunctive = "he is the sort who…" (characteristic). Indicative would state a specific fact about a known person.

Question 49Latin morphology and syntax

"Ob eam causam … ut" most often introduces:

  1. A purpose or explanatory ut-clause tied to a stated reason Correct answer.
  2. An AcI
  3. An ablative absolute
  4. A bare indicative result without ut

Explanation

Ob eam causam / ea de causa … ut links a stated reason to a purpose/explanatory clause - common in historiography.

Question 50Latin vocabulary and etymology

"Fides" in political and ethical Latin commonly means:

  1. trustworthiness / good faith / loyalty Correct answer.
  2. only religious faith in a modern sense
  3. a stringed instrument exclusively
  4. a treaty breach

Explanation

Fides covers trust, credibility, and loyalty in public and private bonds; also the personified goddess Fides.