DI: Lesson - Interrogative Adjectives

Interrogative Adjectives

The image is a close up of a Roman death mask. What ancestor was worthy of such recognition?

In the question above, the interrogative what is being used to modify the noun ancestor, making it an adjective. Latin can also create an interrogative as an adjective, usually translated as which or what. The interrogative adjective is qui, quae, quod - which, what and uses the same forms as the relative pronoun:

qui, quae, quod - which?, that?

	Masculine		Feminine		Neuter
Case	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Nominative	qui	qui	quae	quae	quod	quae
Genitive	cuius	quorum	cuius	quarum	cuius	quorum
Dative	cui	quibus	cui	quibus	cui	quibus
Accusative	quem	quos	quam	quas	quod	quae
Ablative	quo	quibus	qua	quibus	quo	quibus

Nota Bene

• Irregular Adjective Reminder:
  • genitive singular = -ius (all genders): cuius
  • dative singular = -i (all genders): cui
  • The relative pronoun does have additional differences from a typical irregular form:
    • Masculine, accusative, singular uses -em: quem
    • Dative and ablative plural use -ibus: quibus
• Like personal pronouns, the interrogative adjective will attach -cum as an enclitic:
  • Singular: quocum/quacum - with whom, with which
  • Plural: quibuscum - with whom, with which

Examples of the Interrogative Adjective

Much like the interrogative pronoun, the interrogative adjective will be placed at the beginning of the question, regardless of its case.

1. Qui puer dona tibi dedit? - 
   • What boy gave you gifts? 
   • Which boy gave you gifts?
2. Quod nomen tibi est? - 
   • What is your name?
   • Literally: Which name is for you?
3. Quibuscum servis dicebas? - 
   • With which slaves were you speaking?
   • Which slaves were you speaking with?