AQU: Lesson - Sight Reading Passage - A Repaired Aqueduct

The image shows an illustration of a Roman bath.

Sight Reading Passage

It is very important to practice reading and understanding Latin sentences. Below you will find a sight reading passage. Read each sentence aloud. Think about the case of each noun you encounter. Is it nominative, accusative, or ablative? Is there a preposition present? Pay close attention to the verbs. Are they present, imperfect or future tense? Then practice translating each sentence into English. Rollover the blue words for helpful clues. Will Decimus repair the aqueduct?

Please listen to the narration of the Latin passage as you read along with the text below.

Sight Reading Passage - A Repaired Aqueduct
Latin Text: A Repaired Aqueduct Notes and Vocabulary Help

Note: words that are in bold are explained in the Notes section

Heri prima luce Decimus aquaductum spectabat. Decimus aquaductum explorabat. Decimus aquam non videt. Decimus saxa sub columna et muro videt. Mox Decimus murum magna cum cura aedificabat. Saxa et materiam cum diligentia parabat. Tum murum saxis novis complebat. Mox Decimus aquam iterum videt. Aqua augebat. Decimus murum et aquaductum reficiebat.
  • Heri - Yesterday (note: this is an adverb)
  • aquaductum - aqueduct (note: this is in the accusative case)
  • explorabat - was exploring
  • Mox - Soon (note: this is an adverb)
  • magna cum cura - with great care (note: the preposition "cum" is often placed between an adjective and noun)
  • Tum - Then (note: this is an adverb)
  • saxis novis - with new rocks (note: this is an example of the Ablative of Means)
  • iterum - again (note: this is an adverb)
  • reficiebat - was repairing

Nocte nuntius epistulam portat. Nuntius Decimo epistulam dat. Dux Decimum iubet. Decimus ad urbem iter facit. Decimus trans pontem cum celeritate ambulat. Decimus in via ad urbem ambulat. Decimus agricolas in agris videt. Rivum et arbores prope montem videt. Brevi tempore Decimus signum videt. Est urbs Pompeii.

Decimus in urbe manebit. Decimus balneas et fontes cum cura spectabit. Decimus epistulam stilo parabit. In epistula, Decimus balneas laudabit.
  • Decimo - to Decimus (note: this is the Dative case, which we will learn about soon)
  • iter fecit - travels (note: iter facere is an idiom with a few possible meanings: to march (military) or to travel are the two most common uses. It literally means "to make a journey")
  • Brevi tempore - In a short time/Soon (note: this is an example of the Ablative of Time)

Practice Activity

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