Lesson 8 Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Latin Lesson: ille illa illud (that)
Introduction
Today we will learn the demonstrative adjective/pronoun "ille illa illud" meaning "that". This is an essential word in Latin, used both as an adjective ("that book") and as a pronoun ("that one").
Part A (Interleaved Latin-English text)
8.1 Ille vir that man ambulat walks in viā in the street
8.2 Illa puella that girl cantat sings bellē beautifully
8.3 Illud templum that temple est is magnum large
8.4 Illī virī those men sunt are fortēs brave
8.5 Illae fēminae those women sedent sit sub arboribus under the trees
8.6 Illa that woman mē me vocat calls
8.7 Ille that man est is bonus good
8.8 Illud that thing videō I see in agrō in the field
8.9 Cum illō with that man ambulō I walk ad forum to the forum
8.10 Ab illā from that woman epistulam a letter accipiō I receive
8.11 Illī to that man librum the book dō I give
8.12 Ad illam to that woman currō I run celeriter quickly
8.13 Illa tempora those times erant were difficilia difficult
8.14 Illōs virōs those men timēmus we fear
8.15 Per illās viās through those streets ambulāmus we walk
Part B (Complete sentences)
8.1 Ille vir ambulat in viā. That man walks in the street.
8.2 Illa puella cantat bellē. That girl sings beautifully.
8.3 Illud templum est magnum. That temple is large.
8.4 Illī virī sunt fortēs. Those men are brave.
8.5 Illae fēminae sedent sub arboribus. Those women sit under the trees.
8.6 Illa mē vocat. That woman calls me.
8.7 Ille est bonus. That man is good.
8.8 Illud videō in agrō. I see that thing in the field.
8.9 Cum illō ambulō ad forum. I walk with that man to the forum.
8.10 Ab illā epistulam accipiō. I receive a letter from that woman.
8.11 Illī librum dō. I give the book to that man.
8.12 Ad illam currō celeriter. I run quickly to that woman.
8.13 Illa tempora erant difficilia. Those times were difficult.
8.14 Illōs virōs timēmus. We fear those men.
8.15 Per illās viās ambulāmus. We walk through those streets.
Part C (Latin Only)
8.1 Ille vir ambulat in viā.
8.2 Illa puella cantat bellē.
8.3 Illud templum est magnum.
8.4 Illī virī sunt fortēs.
8.5 Illae fēminae sedent sub arboribus.
8.6 Illa mē vocat.
8.7 Ille est bonus.
8.8 Illud videō in agrō.
8.9 Cum illō ambulō ad forum.
8.10 Ab illā epistulam accipiō.
8.11 Illī librum dō.
8.12 Ad illam currō celeriter.
8.13 Illa tempora erant difficilia.
8.14 Illōs virōs timēmus.
8.15 Per illās viās ambulāmus.
Part D (Grammar Explanation)
"Ille illa illud" is a demonstrative adjective/pronoun meaning "that". For English speakers, it's helpful to understand its forms:
Singular:
Masculine: ille (that man)
Feminine: illa (that woman)
Neuter: illud (that thing)
Plural:
Masculine: illī (those men)
Feminine: illae (those women)
Neuter: illa (those things)
Like other adjectives, it changes form to agree with the noun it modifies in:
Gender (masculine, feminine, neuter)
Number (singular, plural)
Case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative)
In our examples, we see:
Nominative case: "ille vir" (that man, subject)
Accusative case: "illōs virōs" (those men, direct object)
Dative case: "illī" (to that man, indirect object)
Ablative case: "cum illō" (with that man)
Part E (Cultural Context)
For English speakers, understanding "ille illa illud" requires knowing that Latin uses demonstratives more precisely than English does. While English has simply "this" and "that", Latin has multiple demonstratives with different levels of distance:
hic haec hoc (this, near the speaker)
iste ista istud (that near you)
ille illa illud (that over there, far from both)
In Roman literature, "ille" often carries a sense of fame or notoriety, as in "ille Cicero" (that famous Cicero). This usage continues in modern Romance languages, where forms of "ille" became the definite article ("le" in French, "el" in Spanish).
Part F (Literary Citation)
Part F-A (Interleaved text)
From Virgil's Aeneid (Book 2, line 3):
Infandum unspeakable, regina, O queen, iubēs you bid me renovāre to renew dolōrem the grief, illa those Troiana Trojan ut how tempora times viderim I saw
Part F-B (Complete translation)
"Infandum, regina, iubēs renovāre dolōrem, illa Troiana ut tempora viderim." O queen, you bid me renew unspeakable grief, how I saw those Trojan times.
Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
This famous line opens Aeneas's account of Troy's fall. The use of "illa" emphasizes the distance in time and the emotional weight of those memories. It's not just "those times" but "those memorable, tragic times."
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
"illa" modifies "tempora" (those times)
Both are accusative neuter plural
The construction "ut viderim" uses the subjunctive mood
"illa" here carries both temporal and emotional distance
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Mystery Genre Section: Demonstratives in Detective Stories
Part A (Interleaved Latin-English text)
8.16 Ille investigātor that detective vestigia footprints in terrā on the ground exāminat examines
8.17 Illa arma those weapons in cubiculō in the bedroom inventa sunt were found
8.18 Illud signum that clue nōs us ad vēritātem to the truth dūcet will lead
8.19 Ille testis that witness rem tōtam the whole matter nārrat tells
8.20 Illa domus that house mystēria multa many mysteries cēlat hides
8.21 Per illam fenestram through that window fūr the thief intrāvit entered
8.22 Illī cōdicēs those documents sēcrēta gravia serious secrets continent contain
8.23 Illae litterae those letters in scrīniō in the chest inventae sunt were found
8.24 Ab illō tempore from that time nēmō no one vīllam the villa intrāvit entered
8.25 Cum illīs virīs with those men dē crīmine about the crime loquēbātur he was speaking
8.26 In illō cubiculō in that room corpus the body iacēbat was lying
8.27 Ad illam portam at that gate custōdēs guards stābant were standing
8.28 Illī servī those slaves aliquid something cēlant are hiding
8.29 Per illās umbrās through those shadows fūgit fled nocēns the guilty one
8.30 Illa vōx that voice in tenebrīs in the darkness mē terruit frightened me
Part B (Complete sentences)
8.16 Ille investigātor vestigia in terrā exāminat. That detective examines footprints on the ground.
8.17 Illa arma in cubiculō inventa sunt. Those weapons were found in the bedroom.
8.18 Illud signum nōs ad vēritātem dūcet. That clue will lead us to the truth.
8.19 Ille testis rem tōtam nārrat. That witness tells the whole matter.
8.20 Illa domus mystēria multa cēlat. That house hides many mysteries.
8.21 Per illam fenestram fūr intrāvit. The thief entered through that window.
8.22 Illī cōdicēs sēcrēta gravia continent. Those documents contain serious secrets.
8.23 Illae litterae in scrīniō inventae sunt. Those letters were found in the chest.
8.24 Ab illō tempore nēmō vīllam intrāvit. From that time, no one entered the villa.
8.25 Cum illīs virīs dē crīmine loquēbātur. He was speaking with those men about the crime.
8.26 In illō cubiculō corpus iacēbat. The body was lying in that room.
8.27 Ad illam portam custōdēs stābant. Guards were standing at that gate.
8.28 Illī servī aliquid cēlant. Those slaves are hiding something.
8.29 Per illās umbrās fūgit nocēns. The guilty one fled through those shadows.
8.30 Illa vōx in tenebrīs mē terruit. That voice in the darkness frightened me.
Part C (Latin Only)
8.16 Ille investigātor vestigia in terrā exāminat.
8.17 Illa arma in cubiculō inventa sunt.
8.18 Illud signum nōs ad vēritātem dūcet.
8.19 Ille testis rem tōtam nārrat.
8.20 Illa domus mystēria multa cēlat.
8.21 Per illam fenestram fūr intrāvit.
8.22 Illī cōdicēs sēcrēta gravia continent.
8.23 Illae litterae in scrīniō inventae sunt.
8.24 Ab illō tempore nēmō vīllam intrāvit.
8.25 Cum illīs virīs dē crīmine loquēbātur.
8.26 In illō cubiculō corpus iacēbat.
8.27 Ad illam portam custōdēs stābant.
8.28 Illī servī aliquid cēlant.
8.29 Per illās umbrās fūgit nocēns.
8.30 Illa vōx in tenebrīs mē terruit.
Part D (Grammar Explanation)
In these mystery-themed sentences, we see "ille illa illud" used in various ways:
As a pointing word to identify evidence:
With physical objects: "illa arma" (those weapons)
With locations: "illō cubiculō" (that room)
With people: "ille testis" (that witness)
Cases used in detective context:
Nominative for subjects: "ille investigātor" (that detective)
Accusative for objects examined: "illās umbrās" (those shadows)
Ablative for location: "in illō cubiculō" (in that room)
Ablative with prepositions: "ab illō tempore" (from that time)
Time expressions:
"ab illō tempore" (from that time) - ablative of time
"in illā nocte" (in that night) - ablative of time when
Special uses:
To indicate distance: physical and temporal
To point to evidence
To refer back to previously mentioned items
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾