Language/Latin/Grammar/Coordinating-Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are an essential part of Latin grammar. They are used to connect words, phrases, and clauses that have equal importance in a sentence. In this lesson, we'll explore coordinating conjunctions in Latin, including their forms and usage.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: How to Use Have & Latin alphabet.
Overview of Coordinating Conjunctions
In Latin, coordinating conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank. Unlike subordinating conjunctions, coordinating conjunctions do not create a dependent clause. Instead, they work to join two or more independent clauses or groups of words that have the same function in the sentence.
Here are the coordinating conjunctions in Latin:
- Et - "And"
- Sed - "But"
- Atque - "And also"
- Vel - "Or"
- Aut - "Or"
- Tamen - "However"
- Quoque - "Also"
In the following sections, we'll take a closer look at these conjunctions and how they are used in Latin.
Et
"Et" is one of the most common coordinating conjunctions in Latin. It is used to connect words, phrases, and clauses that have equal importance.
Here are some examples:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Puella et puer | poo-EHL-lah et poo-ehr | The girl and the boy |
| Roma est magna et pulchra | ROH-mah ehst MAH-gnah et PULL-krah | Rome is big and beautiful |
| Veni, vidi, et vici | WEH-nee, WEE-dee, et WEE-kee | I came, I saw, and I conquered |
In the last example, we can see how "et" is used to connect three independent clauses.
Sed
"Sed" is used to introduce a contrasting idea. It is often translated as "but."
Here are some examples:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Puella pulchra est, sed stulta | poo-EHL-lah PULL-krah ehst, sed STOOL-tah | The girl is pretty, but foolish |
| Carthago delenda est, sed faber quisque fortunae suae | KAR-tah-goh deh-LEN-dah ehst, sed FAH-behr KWIHS-kweh for-TOO-nah-eh SWAH-eh | Carthage must be destroyed, but every man is the maker of his own fortune |
Atque
"Atque" is a conjunction that is used to connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. It means "and also."
Here are some examples:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Roma atque Athenae sunt pulchrae | ROH-mah AHT-kweh ah-THEH-neh ehst PULL-krah-eh | Rome and Athens are beautiful |
| Iuppiter atque Iunone regnant | YOOP-pih-tehr AHT-kweh YOO-noh-neh REHG-nahnt | Jupiter and Juno rule |
Vel and Aut
"Vel" and "Aut" are both coordinating conjunctions that have the same translation in English: "or." However, they are used in different contexts.
"Vel" is used to give a choice between two options, while "Aut" is used to indicate that there are more than two options.
Here are some examples:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vel hunc librum vel illud librum legere possum | well hoonk LEE-broom well EEL-lood LEE-broom LEH-geh-reh POHS-soom | I can read either this book or that book |
| Aut hunc librum aut illud librum aut tertium legere possum | aht hoonk LEE-broom aht EEL-lood LEE-broom aht TEHR-tee-oom LEH-geh-reh POHS-soom | I can read either this book or that book or a third one. |
In the first example, "Vel" is used to indicate a choice between two options. In the second example, "Aut" is used to indicate that there are three options.
Tamen
"Tamen" means "however." It is used to contrast two ideas that are surprising or unexpected.
Here are some examples:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Pueri ludunt, sed puellae tamen plorant | POO-eh-ree LOOD-oont, sed PWEHL-lah-eh TAH-men PLOR-ahnt | Boys play, but girls however cry |
| Hoc difficile est, tamen non impossibile | hohk DEE-fih-kah-leh ehst, TAH-men nohn im-POS-sih-beh-leh | This is difficult, but not impossible |
In the second example, "Tamen" is used to contrast two ideas that may seem contradictory: something that is difficult but not impossible.
Quoque
"Quoque" means "also." It is used to add an idea that agrees with what has already been said.
Here are some examples:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Caesar imperator et dux et orator quoque erat | YOO-lee-oos KAI-sahr im-peh-RAH-tohr et duhks et oh-RAH-tor KWOH-kweh EH-raht | Julius Caesar was both an emperor, a general and also an orator. |
| Mors certa est, vita quoque incerta est | mohrs KEHR-tah ehst, WEE-tah KWOH-kweh in-KER-tah ehst | Death is certain, life is also uncertain |
In the second example, "Quoque" is used to add the idea that "life is also uncertain."
Conclusion
Coordinating conjunctions are a key part of Latin grammar, allowing us to link words, phrases, and clauses of equal importance. In this lesson, we've learned about the coordinating conjunctions in Latin and how they are used. As we progress through this course, we'll continue to explore more complex sentence structures and the use of conjunctions in Latin.
With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Possessive Case in Latin & Latin Articles.