Page:The New Latin Primer (Postgate).djvu/100

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86
The New Latin Primer.

Noun that the Adjective can stand alone: āgnīnă (cărō) lamb, i.e. lamb's flesh, nātālĭs (dĭēs) birthday, dextră (mănŭs) the right (hand).

§ 159. Adjective for Adverb.—Adjectives are often used in Latin where English has Adverbs. This is always the case where the real reference is to some state or condition of a person or thing: scĭēns hōc fēcī I did this knowingly (I was aware what I did), rem tăcĭtŭs praetĕrīs you pass over the matter silently, i.e., saying nothing about it.

The Adverb, however, must be used if the Manner is referred to: cautē făcĕrĕ to act cautiously, in a cautious manner, tăcĭtē exĕcrārī to curse silently, i.e. not aloud.

Degrees of Comparison.

§ 160. Comparative.—In Comparison of two things the Comparative of Adjective or Adverb is used.

(1) That with which anything is compared is put in the same case as the thing compared, 'quam being used to show the comparison: mĕlĭŏr est certă pāx quam spērată victōrĭă certain peace is better than hoped-for victory.

(2) Instead of quam with a Nominative or Accusative (but no other case), the Ablative of Comparison, § 149, may be used: quid mollĭŭs undā? what (is) softer than water?

Where ambiguity would arise, only quam may be used: Brūtum nōn mĭnŭs ămō quam tū, paenĕ dīxī quam tē I love Brutus no less than you do, I almost said than I do you.

Pronouns.

§ 161. The Genitives of the Personal Pronouns are not used in the sense of Possession, nor in a Subjective sense. In these senses the Possessive Adjective is used instead: tŭă ūnīŭs vŏluptās the pleasure of you only (not tŭī), nostĕr tĭmŏr our fear (the fear we feel) (not nostrī).