Lesson 50 Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Lesson: Latin Personal Pronoun "nōs" (we)
Part A (Interleaved English-Latin Text)
50.1 Nōs we in in hortō garden ambulāmus walk
50.2 Ad to templum temple sacrum sacred nōs we properāmus hurry
50.3 Pater father nōbīs to us librōs books dat gives
50.4 Magister teacher nōs us in in scholā school docet teaches
50.5 Rēx king exercitum army nostrī of us dūcit leads
50.6 Amīcī friends nostrum of us ad to cēnam dinner venīunt come
50.7 Vir man cum with nōbīs us prō in front of templō temple stat stands
50.8 Māter mother nōs us ad to forum forum vocat calls
50.9 Nōbīs for us via road longa long est is
50.10 Nōs we ad to mare sea nāvigāmus sail
50.11 Cīvēs citizens nōbīscum with us urbem city dēfendunt defend
50.12 Dux leader nostrī of us virtūtem courage laudat praises
50.13 Per through agrōs fields nōs we equitāmus ride
50.14 Nōs we dīs to the gods victimās sacrifices offerimus offer
50.15 Legiōnēs legions nostrum of us hostēs enemies vincunt conquer
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Part B (Complete Sentences)
50.1 Nōs in hortō ambulāmus. We walk in the garden.
50.2 Ad templum sacrum nōs properāmus. We hurry to the sacred temple.
50.3 Pater nōbīs librōs dat. Father gives books to us.
50.4 Magister nōs in scholā docet. The teacher teaches us in school.
50.5 Rēx exercitum nostrī dūcit. The king leads our army.
50.6 Amīcī nostrum ad cēnam venīunt. Our friends come to dinner.
50.7 Vir cum nōbīs prō templō stat. The man stands with us in front of the temple.
50.8 Māter nōs ad forum vocat. Mother calls us to the forum.
50.9 Nōbīs via longa est. The road is long for us.
50.10 Nōs ad mare nāvigāmus. We sail to the sea.
50.11 Cīvēs nōbīscum urbem dēfendunt. The citizens defend the city with us.
50.12 Dux nostrī virtūtem laudat. The leader praises our courage.
50.13 Per agrōs nōs equitāmus. We ride through the fields.
50.14 Nōs dīs victimās offerimus. We offer sacrifices to the gods.
50.15 Legiōnēs nostrum hostēs vincunt. Our legions conquer the enemies.
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
50.1 Nōs in hortō ambulāmus.
50.2 Ad templum sacrum nōs properāmus.
50.3 Pater nōbīs librōs dat.
50.4 Magister nōs in scholā docet.
50.5 Rēx exercitum nostrī dūcit.
50.6 Amīcī nostrum ad cēnam venīunt.
50.7 Vir cum nōbīs prō templō stat.
50.8 Māter nōs ad forum vocat.
50.9 Nōbīs via longa est.
50.10 Nōs ad mare nāvigāmus.
50.11 Cīvēs nōbīscum urbem dēfendunt.
50.12 Dux nostrī virtūtem laudat.
50.13 Per agrōs nōs equitāmus.
50.14 Nōs dīs victimās offerimus.
50.15 Legiōnēs nostrum hostēs vincunt.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
For English speakers learning Latin, the pronoun "nōs" (we) has several important features:
Forms:
Nominative: nōs (we)
Genitive: nostrum/nostrī (of us, our)
Dative: nōbīs (to/for us)
Accusative: nōs (us)
Ablative: nōbīs (by/with/from us)
Key Differences from English:
Latin distinguishes between nostrum (partitive) and nostrī (objective)
The ablative case has no direct English equivalent
The pronoun often can be omitted when it's the subject
Common Uses:
Subject of verb (nominative)
Direct object (accusative)
Indirect object (dative)
Possession (genitive)
With prepositions (varies by preposition)
Important Notes:
Verb endings already show person and number
"Nōs" adds emphasis when used as subject
Forms must agree with their function in the sentence
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Part E (Cultural Context)
Understanding "nōs" in Roman culture:
Social Implications:
Romans emphasized collective identity
Group membership was crucial in society
"We" often indicated social class or status
Historical Usage:
Political speeches used "nōs" to build unity
Military commands emphasized group action
Legal documents used precise pronouns
Modern Comparisons:
Similar to English "we" but more formal
Used differently in official contexts
Cultural emphasis on group over individual
Literary Context:
Authors used "nōs" for different effects
Could indicate authority or humility
Important in rhetorical techniques
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Part F (Literary Citation)
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Adapted expanded text based on Vergil's "Aeneid" (1.1):
Arma arms virumque and the man canō I sing Trōiae of Troy quī who prīmus first ab from ōrīs the shores // ad to nōs us vēnit came
Part F-B (Complete Translation)
"Arma virumque canō, Trōiae quī prīmus ab ōrīs ad nōs vēnit." I sing of arms and the man who first came to us from the shores of Troy.
Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
In this adapted text we use "nōs" to connect the Roman audience to their legendary past. The pronoun creates immediacy and personal connection with the epic's events.
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
"Nōs" is accusative, object of preposition "ad"
Shows direction toward the Romans
Part of complex sentence structure
Links past to present through grammar
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Genre Section: Military Dispatch
Part A (Interleaved Text)
50.16 Nōs we castra camp nostra our prope near flūmen river pōnimus place
50.17 Hostēs enemies nōbīs against us bellum war parant prepare
50.18 Dux leader nostrī of us mīlitēs soldiers ad to arma arms vocat calls
50.19 Legiōnēs legions nōbīscum with us fortiter bravely pugnant fight
50.20 Nōs we hostium of enemies impetum attack sustinēmus withstand
50.21 Equitēs cavalry nostrum of us campum field tenent hold
50.22 Sagittāriī archers nostrī our multōs many hostēs enemies necant kill
50.23 Ad to nōs us auxilia reinforcements magnā great cum with celeritāte speed veniunt come
50.24 Nōbīs for us victōria victory certa certain vidētur seems
50.25 Imperator commander nōs us ob because of virtūtem courage laudat praises
50.26 Nōbīscum with us multī many sociī allies pugnant fight
50.27 Hostēs enemies ā from nōbīs us superātī overcome sunt have been
50.28 Nōs we ad to urbem city triumphantēs triumphant redīmus return
50.29 Cīvēs citizens nostrī our victōriam victory celebrant celebrate
50.30 Dux leader nōbīs to us praemia rewards magna great dat gives
Part B (Complete Sentences)
50.16 Nōs castra nostra prope flūmen pōnimus. We place our camp near the river.
50.17 Hostēs nōbīs bellum parant. The enemies prepare war against us.
50.18 Dux nostrī mīlitēs ad arma vocat. Our leader calls the soldiers to arms.
50.19 Legiōnēs nōbīscum fortiter pugnant. The legions fight bravely with us.
50.20 Nōs hostium impetum sustinēmus. We withstand the enemy's attack.
50.21 Equitēs nostrum campum tenent. Our cavalry hold the field.
50.22 Sagittāriī nostrī multōs hostēs necant. Our archers kill many enemies.
50.23 Ad nōs auxilia magnā cum celeritāte veniunt. Reinforcements come to us with great speed.
50.24 Nōbīs victōria certa vidētur. Victory seems certain to us.
50.25 Imperator nōs ob virtūtem laudat. The commander praises us for our courage.
50.26 Nōbīscum multī sociī pugnant. Many allies fight with us.
50.27 Hostēs ā nōbīs superātī sunt. The enemies have been overcome by us.
50.28 Nōs ad urbem triumphantēs redīmus. We return to the city triumphant.
50.29 Cīvēs nostrī victōriam celebrant. Our citizens celebrate the victory.
50.30 Dux nōbīs praemia magna dat. The leader gives us great rewards.
Part C (Latin Text Only)
50.16 Nōs castra nostra prope flūmen pōnimus.
50.17 Hostēs nōbīs bellum parant.
50.18 Dux nostrī mīlitēs ad arma vocat.
50.19 Legiōnēs nōbīscum fortiter pugnant.
50.20 Nōs hostium impetum sustinēmus.
50.21 Equitēs nostrum campum tenent.
50.22 Sagittāriī nostrī multōs hostēs necant.
50.23 Ad nōs auxilia magnā cum celeritāte veniunt.
50.24 Nōbīs victōria certa vidētur.
50.25 Imperator nōs ob virtūtem laudat.
50.26 Nōbīscum multī sociī pugnant.
50.27 Hostēs ā nōbīs superātī sunt.
50.28 Nōs ad urbem triumphantēs redīmus.
50.29 Cīvēs nostrī victōriam celebrant.
50.30 Dux nōbīs praemia magna dat.
Part D (Grammar Explanation)
The military dispatch genre demonstrates specific uses of "nōs" in Roman military context:
Military Commands and Reports:
Clear, direct language typical of military communication
Use of present tense for immediate actions
Perfect tense for completed actions
Strategic placement of pronouns for emphasis
Case Usage in Military Context:
Nominative nōs for active military actions
Ablative nōbīs for instrumental actions
Dative nōbīs for receiving orders or rewards
Ablative nōbīscum for allied actions
Genitive nostrī/nostrum for possession
Word Order Patterns:
Verb-final position common in formal reports
Subject-initial position for emphasis
Strategic placement of modifiers
Position of nōs varies for emphasis
Military Vocabulary Integration:
Technical terms: castra, legiōnēs, auxilia
Combat terminology: pugnant, superātī sunt
Command structure: dux, imperator
Military outcomes: victōria, praemia
Stylistic Features:
Concise, clear sentences
Official tone maintained throughout
Logical progression of events
Focus on collective action
Special Constructions:
Ablative absolute
Purpose clauses
Result clauses
Temporal sequences
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