Latin language and literature (Intermediate Matriculation level)
This domain tests accurate reading of Latin and the ability to explain how literary Latin works. At Intermediate Matriculation level, tasks usually combine unseen translation and comprehension with grammar questions and prepared texts, so you must both construe sentences and comment on style.
Core rules and concepts
- Decide case by ending and function: nominative subject, accusative object, genitive possession, dative indirect object, ablative separation, instrument, or respect.
- In indirect statement, the subject goes into the accusative and the verb into the infinitive: dicit Caesarem venire, 'he says that Caesar is coming'.
- The ablative absolute uses a participle and noun or pronoun in the ablative, grammatically separate from the main clause: urbe capta, milites discesserunt, 'after the city had been captured, the soldiers left'.
- Subjunctive uses must be named: purpose (ut + subjunctive), result (ut + subjunctive after tam or tantus), cum temporal, causal or concessive, indirect command, and indirect question.
- In dactylic hexameter, scan feet as dactyl (- ∪ ∪) or spondee (- -); the last foot is normally a spondee or trochee, and the caesura often falls in the third foot.
Worked example
His rebus cognitis, Caesar legiones in castra reduxit. Reasoning: his rebus is ablative plural agreeing with cognitis, a perfect passive participle; together they form an ablative absolute, 'these things having been learned'. Caesar is nominative subject; legiones is accusative object; in castra is accusative of motion towards; reduxit is perfect active, 'led back'. Translate: 'When these things had been learned, Caesar led the legions back into camp.'
Traps that cost marks
Do not translate an ablative absolute as if it were the main verb. Watch deponent verbs, whose passive forms are active in meaning (hortatur, 'he urges'). Distinguish cum + ablative ('with') from cum + subjunctive ('when', 'since', 'although'). In verse, do not mistake a genitive plural in -um for an accusative singular.