Latin/Demonstratives Lesson 2

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New Grammar
If you want to skip the grammar, please feel free to jump to the sentences below and try them out.

In this series of lessons we’re looking at the Latin demonstrative forms
 * hic / haec / hoc = this (these); and
 * ille / illa / illud = that (those).

Last lesson, we learned the demonstrative pronoun forms used for nominative and accusative cases. This time, let’s look at the genitive (possessive), the dative, and the ablative. It may be a little easier because Latin does not always differentiate between genders for these cases. Check here for a table of the demonstrative pronoun forms.

Here is our attempt at just the forms of hic, haec, hoc and ille, illa, illud we’ll be practicing today:

Practice
Once you master all the various forms of the demonstrative pronouns plus the “regular” 3rd person pronouns, you’ll see some instances where a Latin passage can use hic, ille, and is to describe three separate entities, with much less confusion than would occur in English when pronouns conflict. For example, Hic ei librum illīus dat. = He gives him his book, or, Marcus gives Gaius Henry’s book. Just a little different: Hic illī librum suum dat. = He gives him his book, or Marcus gives Gaius his own (Marcus’) book. We don’t recommend these sentences for the beginning level, but think of them as a teaser for intermediate/advanced Latin syntax!

As always, we hope these lessons are helpful. Please leave any comments or questions on the talk page. Valēte et bonam fortūnam!