There are a variety of words and constructions in Latin that can can function syntactically as the equivalent of a noun, and should be thought of as nouns when analyzing the structure of a sentence or clause. The list of noun-equivalents is given below:
| Core Only | Core orModifier | Modifier Only |
| verbal noun infinitive dependent noun clauses finite indirect question indirect command noun result noun relative non-finite indirect statement non-finite indirect command (objective infinitive) | substantive adjective substantive participle pronoun | gerund |
3.1 SUBSTANTIVE ADJECTIVE (ItL Ch5)
A possibility common in Latin and other languages is that an adjective can appear without any noun-head at all and be functioning as a noun-equivalent. Such adjectives are referred to as substantive adjectives.
A substantive adjective can be recognized by two features:
- the presence of an adjective
- the absence of a noun-head, whether actual or implied
Example:
Fortem Fortuna adiuvat. Fortune helps the brave person.
Here, the adjective Fortem has no noun-head and is the syntactic equivalent of a noun. Fortem is not a modifier but functions by itself as a core element (here the direct object). As with a noun, its case (accusative) indicates its function in the sentence (direct object).
When translating a substantive from Latin into English, it is usually best to supply an appropriate generic noun-head for the adjective, such as person, people, woman, women, man, men, thing, or things. The choice of an appropriate noun-head to supply in English depends on the gender and number of the substantive adjective. In the example above, Fortem is masculine or feminine singular, and thus is translated as the brave person.
3.2 SUBSTANTIVE PARTICIPLE
A participle (verbal adjective) is also used substantively in Latin, i.e., as a noun. While it is possible for any tense of the participle to be a substantive, this most often occurs with the present and perfect participles. As with the substantive adjective (see §3.1), in translating it is necessary to supply an appropriate noun-head for the participle.
Examples:
Laborantes sunt fessi. Those working are tired.
Victorem a victo superatum esse saepe videmus. We oftens see that the victor has been overcome by the vanquished one/one having been defeated.
Tempus futura revelabit. Time will reveal future things/things about to come.
3.3 PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES (ItL Ch9, 18)
A pronoun usually refers to a person, thing, or event that was previously mentioned. However, sometimes both the pronoun and noun to which it refers are present in the sentence. This use of the pronoun is called the pronominal adjective. Pronominal adjectives depend on the context of a connected text for their meaning and referent.
Common pronominal adjectives and their adjectival meanings are:
is, ea, id this, that
idem, eadem, idem the same
hic, haec, hoc this, these
quidam, quae, quoddam a certain
ille, illa, illud that, those
iste, ista, istud that (of yours)
ipse, ipsa, ipsum him/her/itself, themselves
aliquis, aliqua, aliquod some, any
Examples:
Hic discipulus this student
Illa urbs that city
Eo tempore at this time
Romani ipsi the Romans themselves
3.4 THE REFLEXIVE PRONOUN SE (ItL Ch13)
Both Latin and English distinguish between the pronouns in such pairs of sentences as:
Puella se videt in pictura. The girl sees herself in the picture.
Puella eam videt in pictura. The girl sees her in the picture.
Herself in the first sentence is an example of a reflexive pronoun, which “reflects” back to the subject girl. Her in the second sentence is a personal pronoun, which does not “reflect” back to the subject girl, but refers to another person.
Unlike English, the Latin reflexive pronoun looks the same in the singular and the plural and can represent any gender; it conveys the notion “same entity as Subject”. Because a reflexive pronoun only refers back to the subject and does not function as the subject in finite clauses, it does not occur in the nominative. The 3rd person reflexive pronoun has the following forms:
| genitive | sui |
| dative | sibi |
| accusative | se |
| ablative | se |
| Memorandum |
| In most instances, the suffix -self/-selves is used when translating se, but not in indirect statement, where English uses the personal pronoun he/she/it/they. Example: Troiani dixerunt se Italiam quaerere. The Trojans said that they (the Trojans) were seeking Italy. |
3.5 THE REFLEXIVE POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE SUUS A UM (ItL Ch15)
The adjective suus a um is a reflexive adjective which shows possession by the subject. The referent is always the subject, but, as with any adjective, it agrees in case, number and gender with its nounhead.
Examples:
Pater filias suas amat. The father loves his (own) daughters.
Puella fratres suos videt. The girl sees her (own) brothers.
Pueri cum amico suo currunt. The boys run with their (own) friend.
| Memorandum |
| Suus is often used in the plural as a substantive; in the masculine it means subject’s (own) people/men and in the neuter subject’s (own) possessions/goods. |
3.6 APPOSITION
An apposition is a type of adjectival modifier. It is a noun that modifies another noun or pronoun and agrees with it (usually only) in case. Nouns in apposition are very common with proper names and are frequently set off by commas.
Examples:
Rex Latinus Aenean, ducem Troianum, evocavit ad colloquium. King Latinus called forth Aeneas, the Trojan leader, to a parley.
Antonius capiti Caesaris diadema, insigne regium, imposuerat. Antony had placed on Caesar’s head a diadem, the mark of a king.
A noun clause, such as an indirect command, can be used as an appositive. Such a clause is usually in apposition to a neuter singular demonstrative, such as hoc or id, or a noun of wish or command, e.g., signum, iussus, imperium.
Examples:
Di hoc volunt, ut me Roma caput orbis terrarum sit. The gods want this, that my Rome be the head of the world.
Hannibal urbem cepit, signo dato ut omnes incolae interficerentur. Hannnibal captured the city, with the signal given that all the inhabitants be killed.
3.7 CONNECTING RELATIVE (ItL CH30)
The relative pronoun most commonly functions as a subordinator for adjectival and noun relative clauses. However, in passages of connected text, the relative pronoun is often used in sentence-initial position (i.e. after a period or semi-colon) as a non-subordinating referential pronoun. It refers back to someone or something mentioned in the immediately preceding sentence or clause, and when it has this role we refer to it as a connecting relative. Because it does not subordinate, it does not raise the expectation of a dependent clause. The connecting relative agrees with its referent in gender and number, and is best translated as a demonstrative or personal pronoun: he/she/it/they/this/these things. The connecting relative is often used as a demonstrative adjective; in this case it should be translated as this or these.
Examples:
Mox Faustulus pastor eos collectos Accae Laurentiae coniugi educandos dedit. Qui postea, Amulio interfecto, Numitori avo regnum restituerunt. Soon the shepherd Faustulus gave them, having been gathered together, to his wife Acca Laurentia to be raised. Later they, after Amulius had been killed, restored the kingdom to their grandfather Numitor.