FM: Lesson - Using Demonstratives

Image: a statue of a Roman woman studying

Using Demonstratives

Though not common, some wealthy girls did participate in the ludus litterarius. The bronze statue in this image from the 1st century shows a young woman taking a lesson. This is a good example of the exceptions in the norms of Roman education, and how we know that some women did take lessons.

While the forms hic and ille are referred to as pronouns, they actually serve three major roles. In the above passage, the word this was used in two different ways: as an adjective (this image) and as a pronoun (This). The three roles of demonstratives are:

  1. They can be used as demonstrative pronouns
  2. They can be used as demonstrative adjectives
  3. They can be used as personal pronouns

Demonstrative Pronoun: This is my book.

In this example, the demonstrative this does not modify a noun, but rather points something out. The demonstrative is acting as the subject of the linking verb is, so is in the nominative case. Since it is referring to the noun book, it will take its gender and number from the noun: masculine and singular. In Latin, then, we would select the nominative, masculine, singular form of the demonstrative pronoun for this: hic.

  • Hic est meus liber.

Demonstrative Adjective: I have this book.

In the second example, the demonstrative is describing the noun book, which makes the pronoun an adjective. When it is acting as an adjective, the pronoun must obey the rules of noun-adjective agreement. 

Adjectives have to agree with the noun they modify in three ways:

  1. Case
  2. Number
  3. Gender 

This is describing the noun book, so we need to analyze book for its case, number and gender. The Latin noun liber, libri, m. means book. In this sentence, book is the direct object (accusative case) and it is singular. Therefore, the noun is masculine, accusative, singular. The forms of the demonstrative adjective are identical to the demonstrative pronoun, so we find the form: hunc.

  • Hunc librum habeo.

Personal Pronoun: He (That one) has a book.

In the third example, there is a personal pronoun, He, which is explained as that one. When referring to a person, hic or ille can be used in place of is, ea, id, especially when the personal pronoun is being specifically pointed out. Since "he" is a masculine singular pronoun, and is being used as the subject of the sentence, we can use the nominative, singular, masculine demonstrative form: ille.

  • Ille librum habet. 

Practice Activity