Questions, expectations and negative particles
Learn this complete reference set, recall meanings and construction clues, then apply the grammar in original short practice.
Exam scope and assessment notes
Original teaching foundations for the 2026–2028 syllabus. Six prescribed texts have passage-specific sequences; all 693 printed vocabulary rows have been reconciled into 692 distinct records, with additional number, comparison and compound-verb practice. Linked teaching and lexical self-checks do not certify mastery. Complete line-by-line annotation, further translation and scansion practice, qualified Latin-teacher review, full timed papers and human marking remain outstanding. Open the assigned edition alongside these lessons: public ancient texts can differ in spelling, punctuation or editorial readings from the prescribed prose anthology. Practice explanations are formative, not Cambridge questions, marks or predicted grades. Cambridge has announced withdrawal; the last assessment is June 2028, in administrative zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 only. Confirm entry with your centre.
Before you begin
- Identify noun, verb and clause roles
- Recall the whole dictionary record rather than only its first spelling
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
What does a dictionary meaning fail to establish on its own?
What you will learn
- Recall interrogatives and distinguish direct/indirect questions
- Explain nonne, num and attached -ne without assuming an answer
Read the form, recall the meaning, then check the construction
Use the reference list to learn, then hide the meanings in recall practice. The usage note explains a grammatical clue or limit. Self-check labels do not award a grade or certify mastery.
13 of 13 entries shown · 0 marked for another review in this practice
cur?Question word or particle
why?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
-neQuestion word or particle
(introduces question)?
An attached question particle. Separate it from ne used for a negative purpose or command.
nonne?Question word or particle
surely?
A direct-question marker often suggests an expected yes answer; that expectation does not prove the answer is true.
num?Question word or particle
surely ... not?
In a direct question it often suggests an expected no answer. Distinguish num introducing an indirect whether-question.
qualis, -is, -e?Question word or particle
of what sort?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
quando?Question word or particle
when?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
quantus, -a, -um?Question word or particle
how large, how great?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
quis, quis, quid? (interrogative)Question word or particle
who, who, what?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
quo?Question word or particle
where to? whither?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
quomodo?Question word or particle
how?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
quot? (indeclinable)Question word or particle
how many?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
ubi?Question word or particle
where?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
unde?Question word or particle
where from? whence?
Identify what the question asks for and whether it is direct or embedded. An expected answer or a question marker does not prove the factual answer.
Ask the actual question
Cur asks why, quando when, ubi where, quo where to and unde where from. Quis asks who; qualis and quantus concern kind and size, while quot asks number. Translate the requested detail rather than offer a plausible but different answer.
The direct-question particle -ne is attached to a word and differs from independent ne used in negative purpose or command structures. An embedded num can introduce whether without carrying the same expectation as every direct num question.
Expectation is not evidence
Nonne often suggests an expected yes, direct num an expected no. Those rhetorical expectations do not prove what happened. An indirect question needs its governing expression and appropriate mood; the punctuation of a dictionary headword is not a complete sentence analysis.
Keep negation precise: non negates a statement, nondum is not yet and numquam never. These are different from nemo nobody and nihil nothing. Replacing one with another can change who acted, whether the act happened or when it might happen.
Sources for this lesson
Pause and explain
Does a nonne question prove its expected yes answer is true?
Worked example
Explain original ‘Nonne puer legit?’ without inventing whether he really reads.
Show the worked solution
- Identify a direct question.
- Nonne suggests expected agreement.
- Separate expectation from factual proof.
Answer Doesn't the boy read? or Surely the boy reads? The question suggests a yes expectation but does not itself establish that he does read.
Try a topic test
Choose Easy, Normal or Difficult. Save your answers and open worked review after finishing.
Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Guided: Match ubi, quo and unde to three location questions.
Give me a hint
Place, destination and source differ.
Compare my reasoning
- Ubi asks where.
- Quo asks where to.
- Unde asks where from.
The words distinguish location, destination and source. A correct response must answer that relation, rather than treat every place question as the same request.
Look for these in your work
- Uses location
- Uses destination
- Uses source
Independent: Compare nondum and numquam.
Give me a hint
Not yet differs from never.
Compare my reasoning
- Nondum denies completion so far.
- Numquam denies occurrence as never.
- Preserve their different time force.
Nondum is not yet, leaving a possible later event open; numquam is never. Substitution would alter the claim's time scope rather than merely change its style.
Look for these in your work
- Uses not yet
- Uses never
- Explains scope
Application: An embedded num is translated as though it guarantees a no answer. Explain the error.
Give me a hint
Use whether in an indirect question.
Compare my reasoning
- Identify the embedding expression.
- Read the relevant question construction.
- Do not impose every direct-question expectation.
In the indirect whether-question construction, num does not automatically guarantee or demand the direct-question no expectation. The actual clause and governing verb, not the isolated particle, control the translation.
Look for these in your work
- Uses embedding
- Uses construction
- Rejects factual inference
Common mistakes
- Making expectation a proven fact
- Confusing -ne and ne
- Answering where instead of where from
What can you explain now?
Does a nonne question prove its expected yes answer is true?
Compare with the explanation
No
A rhetorical expectation is not independent evidence of the event.
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Make it stick
Does a nonne question prove its expected yes answer is true?
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.