FM: Lesson - Additional Notes on Pronouns - Special Uses

Special Uses

Because of their flexibility, Latin authors tend to use demonstratives more generally than we do in English. Let's explore some of the special uses of the demonstratives.

Neuter Plural

The neuter plural demonstratives (haec/illa) can be used to express a collection of things. 

  • Haec = these things = this
  • Illa = those things = that

Examples:

  1. Haec scimus.
    • Literal: We know these things.
    • Better: We know this. 
  2. Illa sunt vera.
    • Literal: Those things are true.
    • Better: That is true.

The former...the latter

There are times when there can be two people or objects, and the writer wants to express what each person or object is doing after introducing them. In English we use “the former...the latter” to express these connections. In Latin, hic and ille serve this purpose.

  1. Yesterday, I saw Maecenas and Agrippa. The former was meeting with poets while the latter planned a battle with Augustus.
    • Who is “the former”?
      • Maecenas is listed first, so he is “former”.
    • Who is “the latter”?
      • Agrippa is listed second, so he is the “latter”.

Latin uses Hic (latter) and Ille (former) for this purpose:

  1. Heri Maecenam et Agrippam vidi. Hic cum Augusto proelium paravit, ille cum poetis conveniebat.
    • Who is “hic”?
      • Hic refers to the closer name (Agrippa)
    • Who is “ille”?
      • Ille refers to the name the is further away in the sentence (Maecenas)

Remember that hic (near) and ille (far) express distance, and Latin takes that usage literally. So, hic = latter while ille = former.

Another example, for a bit more practice.

  1. In mensa erant duas res: vinum et pavo. Hunc optavi, illud optavisti.
    • On the table were two things: wine and peacock. You chose the former while I had the latter.
    • hunc = pavo (it is the closer of the two).
    • illud = vinum (it is the further of the two)

NB - the gender of the pronoun can help indicate which is which as well: illud is neuter because vinum is neuter.

Demonstrative Usage Review

Let's take a look at various ways in which demonstratives are used in Latin.

Additional Examples of Demonstratives

Latin Sentence

English Translation

Demonstrative Type

Additional Comments

Illos pueros non vidimus.

We did not see those boys.

adjective

illos agrees with pueros:

accusative plural masculine

Magister amico harum librum dedit.

Any of the following could work:

  • The teacher gave the book to their friend.
  • The teacher gave their book to a friend.
  • The teacher gave a book to these girls’ friend.

personal pronoun

We know that “they” are female, since the pronoun is harum.

Notice that it can be difficult with a genitive pronoun to determine the correct agreement. Use context to make the proper translation.

Coge haec animalia ex agris.

Collect these animals from the fields.

adjective

haec agrees with animalia:

accusative plural neuter

Specta illa!

Look at that!

Literally: Look at those things!

collective demonstrative pronoun

Accusative neuter plural: collective

Is puer aquam portat.

That boy is carrying water.

adjective

is agrees with puer - nominative singular masculine

Recall: is, ea, id may be used as demonstrative adjectives - they are called “weak” demonstratives and can translate as that.