← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
21.1 I ego am able possum to see vidēre the temple templum
21.2 The boy puer is not able nōn potest to lift tollere the stone saxum
21.3 We nōs were able potuimus to reach adīre the city urbem
21.4 The soldiers mīlitēs are able possunt to fight pugnāre bravely fortiter
21.5 You tū will be able poteris to learn discere the words verba
21.6 The farmer agricola is able potest to work labōrāre in in the field agrō
21.7 They eī were not able nōn poterant to find invenīre the way viam
21.8 The girl puella is able potest to sing cantāre beautifully pulchrē
21.9 The teacher magister will be able poterit to explain explicāre the lesson lēctiōnem
21.10 I ego was able potuī to help iuvāre my friend amīcum meum
21.11 The sailors nautae are able possunt to see vidēre the shore lītus
21.12 We nōs will be able poterimus to build aedificāre a house domum
21.13 The horses equī are not able nōn possunt to carry portāre the load onus
21.14 You vōs were able potuistis to defeat vincere the enemy hostem
21.15 The priest sacerdōs is able potest to pray ōrāre at ad the altar āram
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21.1 Possum templum vidēre. I am able to see the temple.
21.2 Puer saxum tollere nōn potest. The boy is not able to lift the stone.
21.3 Potuimus urbem adīre. We were able to reach the city.
21.4 Mīlitēs fortiter pugnāre possunt. The soldiers are able to fight bravely.
21.5 Poteris verba discere. You will be able to learn the words.
21.6 Agricola in agrō labōrāre potest. The farmer is able to work in the field.
21.7 Eī viam invenīre nōn poterant. They were not able to find the way.
21.8 Puella pulchrē cantāre potest. The girl is able to sing beautifully.
21.9 Magister lēctiōnem explicāre poterit. The teacher will be able to explain the lesson.
21.10 Potuī amīcum meum iuvāre. I was able to help my friend.
21.11 Nautae lītus vidēre possunt. The sailors are able to see the shore.
21.12 Poterimus domum aedificāre. We will be able to build a house.
21.13 Equī onus portāre nōn possunt. The horses are not able to carry the load.
21.14 Potuistis hostem vincere. You were able to defeat the enemy.
21.15 Sacerdōs ad āram ōrāre potest. The priest is able to pray at the altar.
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21.1 Possum templum vidēre.
21.2 Puer saxum tollere nōn potest.
21.3 Potuimus urbem adīre.
21.4 Mīlitēs fortiter pugnāre possunt.
21.5 Poteris verba discere.
21.6 Agricola in agrō labōrāre potest.
21.7 Eī viam invenīre nōn poterant.
21.8 Puella pulchrē cantāre potest.
21.9 Magister lēctiōnem explicāre poterit.
21.10 Potuī amīcum meum iuvāre.
21.11 Nautae lītus vidēre possunt.
21.12 Poterimus domum aedificāre.
21.13 Equī onus portāre nōn possunt.
21.14 Potuistis hostem vincere.
21.15 Sacerdōs ad āram ōrāre potest.
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The verb "possum" (to be able) is an irregular verb that combines the forms of "potis" (able) and "sum" (to be). For English speakers, it's similar to "can/could" but with some important differences:
Principal Parts: -
possum (present) -
posse (infinitive) -
potuī (perfect) -
[no supine]
Present Tense: -
possum (I am able) -
potes (you are able) -
potest (he/she/it is able) -
possumus (we are able) -
potestis (you all are able) -
possunt (they are able)
Key Points for English Speakers: -
Construction with Infinitive: -
Always takes an infinitive, like English "can" -
Example: "possum vidēre" = "I can see/I am able to see" -
Negation: -
Use "nōn" before the form of possum -
Example: "nōn possum" = "I cannot/I am not able" -
Tense Usage: -
Present: "possum" = "I can/am able" -
Imperfect: "poteram" = "I was able" (continuous past) -
Perfect: "potuī" = "I was able" (completed past) -
Future: "poterō" = "I will be able"
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For English speakers, understanding "possum" requires cultural context: -
Roman Concept of Ability: -
Physical capability -
Legal permission -
Moral authority -
Divine allowance -
Usage in Different Contexts: -
Military: ability to fight/march -
Religious: ability to perform rites -
Educational: ability to learn/teach -
Social: ability to fulfill duties -
Historical Development: -
From Indo-European roots -
Evolution through Latin literature -
Influence on Romance languages -
Modern Connections: -
English "possible" comes from this root -
Similar to modern Romance language constructions -
Important in legal and religious terminology
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "De Officiis" (1.31):
Nothing nihil we nōs are able possumus to do facere rightly rēctē against contrā nature nātūram
Nihil possumus facere rēctē contrā nātūram. We can do nothing rightly against nature.
Cicero uses "possum" to express not just physical ability but moral capability, suggesting that acting against nature is both practically impossible and ethically wrong.
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"possumus" - first person plural present -
Takes infinitive "facere" -
"nihil" as emphatic accusative -
Word order emphasizes impossibility
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21.16 Lord Domine you are able potes to heal sānāre all omnēs our wounds vulnera nostra
21.17 We nōs are not able nōn possumus to live vīvere without sine your grace grātiā tuā
21.18 The faithful fidēlēs are able possunt to see vidēre God's love amōrem Deī in in all things omnibus rēbus
21.19 The priest sacerdōs will be able poterit to bless benedīcere the people populō
21.20 Through Christ per Christum we nōs are able possumus to overcome superāre sin peccātum
21.21 The angels angelī are able possunt to carry portāre our prayers prēcēs nostrās to ad heaven caelum
21.22 You tū Lord Domine are able potes to forgive ignōscere all sins omnibus peccātīs
21.23 The faithful fidēlēs were able potuerunt to endure tolerāre persecution persecūtiōnem
21.24 Mary Maria is able potest to intercede intercēdere for prō us nōbīs
21.25 The saints sanctī are able possunt to help adiuvāre us nōs through per their prayers prēcēs suās
21.26 We nōs will be able poterimus to see vidēre God Deum in in heaven caelō
21.27 The Church Ecclēsia is able potest to teach docēre the truth vēritātem
21.28 The Holy Spirit Spīritus Sānctus is able potest to guide dūcere us nōs
21.29 Christians Chrīstiānī are able possunt to find invenīre peace pācem in in prayer ōrātiōne
21.30 God Deus is able potest to make facere all things omnia new nova
21.16 Domine, potes sānāre omnēs vulnera nostra. Lord, you are able to heal all our wounds.
21.17 Nōn possumus vīvere sine grātiā tuā. We are not able to live without your grace.
21.18 Fidēlēs amōrem Deī in omnibus rēbus vidēre possunt. The faithful are able to see God's love in all things.
21.19 Sacerdōs populō benedīcere poterit. The priest will be able to bless the people.
21.20 Per Christum possumus peccātum superāre. Through Christ we are able to overcome sin.
21.21 Angelī prēcēs nostrās ad caelum portāre possunt. The angels are able to carry our prayers to heaven.
21.22 Tū, Domine, omnibus peccātīs ignōscere potes. You, Lord, are able to forgive all sins.
21.23 Fidēlēs persecūtiōnem tolerāre potuerunt. The faithful were able to endure persecution.
21.24 Maria prō nōbīs intercēdere potest. Mary is able to intercede for us.
21.25 Sanctī per prēcēs suās nōs adiuvāre possunt. The saints are able to help us through their prayers.
21.26 Poterimus Deum in caelō vidēre. We will be able to see God in heaven.
21.27 Ecclēsia vēritātem docēre potest. The Church is able to teach the truth.
21.28 Spīritus Sānctus nōs dūcere potest. The Holy Spirit is able to guide us.
21.29 Chrīstiānī pācem in ōrātiōne invenīre possunt. Christians are able to find peace in prayer.
21.30 Deus omnia nova facere potest. God is able to make all things new.
21.16 Domine, potes sānāre omnēs vulnera nostra.
21.17 Nōn possumus vīvere sine grātiā tuā.
21.18 Fidēlēs amōrem Deī in omnibus rēbus vidēre possunt.
21.19 Sacerdōs populō benedīcere poterit.
21.20 Per Christum possumus peccātum superāre.
21.21 Angelī prēcēs nostrās ad caelum portāre possunt.
21.22 Tū, Domine, omnibus peccātīs ignōscere potes.
21.23 Fidēlēs persecūtiōnem tolerāre potuerunt.
21.24 Maria prō nōbīs intercēdere potest.
21.25 Sanctī per prēcēs suās nōs adiuvāre possunt.
21.26 Poterimus Deum in caelō vidēre.
21.27 Ecclēsia vēritātem docēre potest.
21.28 Spīritus Sānctus nōs dūcere potest.
21.29 Chrīstiānī pācem in ōrātiōne invenīre possunt.
21.30 Deus omnia nova facere potest.
In Christian prayer texts, "possum" takes on particular grammatical patterns: -
Divine Ability: -
When referring to God's ability, often uses present tense to show eternal capability -
Frequently paired with infinitives of creation, healing, or transformation -
Example: "Deus facere potest" (God is able to make/do) -
Human Limitation: -
Often used with negative "nōn" to express human inability -
Frequently contrasted with divine ability -
Example: "Nōn possumus vīvere sine grātiā" (We cannot live without grace) -
Spiritual Context: -
Takes spiritual verbs as infinitives (ōrāre, benedīcere, intercēdere) -
Often uses future tense for eschatological statements -
Example: "Poterimus vidēre" (We will be able to see) -
Word Order: -
More flexible than classical Latin -
Often places "possum" near the end of clause -
Allows for emphasis on spiritual actions
These examples show how "possum" functions in ecclesiastical contexts while maintaining its basic grammatical rules.
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