← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
92.1 Rogō I ask an whether sacerdōs the priest ad to templum the temple vēnerit has come
92.2 Nescimus we do not know an whether deus God precēs prayers nostrās our audiat hears
92.3 Quaerō I ask an whether episcopus the bishop Rōmae in Rome nunc now sit is
92.4 Dubitō I doubt an whether omnia all things peccāta sins mea my cōnfessus confessed sim I have
92.5 Interrogat he asks an whether monachī the monks in in monastēriō monastery māneant remain
92.6 Dīc tell mihi me an whether evangelium gospel lēgeris you have read
92.7 Incertum uncertain est it is an whether crās tomorrow missam mass celebrātūrus about to celebrate sit he is
92.8 Videndum it must be seen est is an whether haec these things haeresim heresy contineant contain
92.9 Pater father rogat asks an whether fīlius son baptismum baptism recipere to receive velit wishes
92.10 Nescīmus we do not know an whether angeli angels nōs us videant see
92.11 Papa the pope rogat asks an whether pāx peace an or bellum war futūrum about to be sit is
92.12 Quaerimus we ask an whether cardinālis the cardinal an or legātus legate veniat comes
92.13 Dubitant they doubt an whether mīrāculum miracle vērum true sit is
92.14 Interrogō I ask an whether animae souls in in pūrgatōriō purgatory sint are
92.15 Vidēte see an whether haec these verba words in in Bibliīs Bible scrīpta written sint are
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92.1 Rogō an sacerdōs ad templum vēnerit. I ask whether the priest has come to the temple.
92.2 Nescimus an deus precēs nostrās audiat. We do not know whether God hears our prayers.
92.3 Quaerō an episcopus Rōmae nunc sit. I ask whether the bishop is now in Rome.
92.4 Dubitō an omnia peccāta mea cōnfessus sim. I doubt whether I have confessed all my sins.
92.5 Interrogat an monachī in monastēriō māneant. He asks whether the monks remain in the monastery.
92.6 Dīc mihi an evangelium lēgeris. Tell me whether you have read the gospel.
92.7 Incertum est an crās missam celebrātūrus sit. It is uncertain whether he will celebrate mass tomorrow.
92.8 Videndum est an haec haeresim contineant. It must be seen whether these things contain heresy.
92.9 Pater rogat an fīlius baptismum recipere velit. The father asks whether the son wishes to receive baptism.
92.10 Nescīmus an angelī nōs videant. We do not know whether the angels see us.
92.11 Papa rogat an pāx an bellum futūrum sit. The pope asks whether there will be peace or war.
92.12 Quaerimus an cardinālis an legātus veniat. We ask whether the cardinal or the legate is coming.
92.13 Dubitant an mīrāculum vērum sit. They doubt whether the miracle is true.
92.14 Interrogō an animae in pūrgatōriō sint. I ask whether souls are in purgatory.
92.15 Vidēte an haec verba in Bibliīs scrīpta sint. See whether these words are written in the Bible.
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92.1 Rogō an sacerdōs ad templum vēnerit.
92.2 Nescimus an deus precēs nostrās audiat.
92.3 Quaerō an episcopus Rōmae nunc sit.
92.4 Dubitō an omnia peccāta mea cōnfessus sim.
92.5 Interrogat an monachī in monastēriō māneant.
92.6 Dīc mihi an evangelium lēgeris.
92.7 Incertum est an crās missam celebrātūrus sit.
92.8 Videndum est an haec haeresim contineant.
92.9 Pater rogat an fīlius baptismum recipere velit.
92.10 Nescīmus an angelī nōs videant.
92.11 Papa rogat an pāx an bellum futūrum sit.
92.12 Quaerimus an cardinālis an legātus veniat.
92.13 Dubitant an mīrāculum vērum sit.
92.14 Interrogō an animae in pūrgatōriō sint.
92.15 Vidēte an haec verba in Bibliīs scrīpta sint.
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For English speakers learning Latin, "an" has several important features: -
Basic Function: -
Introduces indirect questions -
Used in double questions (utrum...an) -
Creates rhetorical questions -
Common Constructions: -
After verbs of asking (rogō, quaerō) -
After verbs of doubting (dubitō) -
After verbs of uncertainty (nesciō) -
Subjunctive Use: -
Always takes subjunctive in indirect questions -
Present subjunctive for present/future -
Perfect subjunctive for past actions -
Word Order: -
Usually comes early in its clause -
Can be repeated in alternatives -
Often follows main verb directly -
Special Uses: -
In single indirect questions -
In double indirect questions -
In rhetorical questions
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Understanding "an" requires knowledge of medieval Christian context: -
Religious Questioning: -
Used in theological debates -
Common in spiritual guidance -
Important in doctrinal discussions -
Church Documents: -
Found in papal bulls -
Used in conciliar texts -
Present in theological treatises -
Pastoral Context: -
Used in confessional practice -
Important in spiritual direction -
Common in homiletic literature -
Modern Relevance: -
Still used in Vatican documents -
Important in canon law -
Present in liturgical texts
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From Augustine's "Confessions" (VIII.1.1):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Deus God meus my, recorder I recall in in grātiārum of thanks āctiōne action tibi to you et and cōnfitear may confess misericordiās mercies tuās your super upon mē, me, quaerēns seeking an whether fortē perhaps iam now perfecta complete sit might be redem[p]tiō redemption mea my.
"Deus meus, recorder in grātiārum āctiōne tibi et cōnfitear misericordiās tuās super mē, quaerēns an fortē iam perfecta sit redem[p]tiō mea."
My God, I recall in thanksgiving to you and may confess your mercies upon me, seeking whether perhaps my redemption might now be complete.
Augustine uses "an" here to express spiritual uncertainty and longing. The word helps create a tone of humble questioning typical of his confessional style.
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"an" introduces indirect question -
Subjunctive "sit" follows "an" -
Complex sentence structure -
Present subjunctive for contemplated possibility
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92.16 Magister teacher discipulum pupil interrogat asks an whether anima soul immortālis immortal sit is
92.17 Discipulus pupil respondet replies sē himself nescīre not to know an whether hoc this mystērium mystery comprehendere to comprehend possit he is able
92.18 Quaerit asks magister teacher an whether fīdēs faith an or ratiō reason fortior stronger sit is
92.19 Respondet replies discipulus pupil sē himself dubitāre to doubt an whether sine without grātiā grace vēritātem truth vidēre to see possīmus we are able
92.20 Rogat asks magister teacher an whether omnēs all animae souls ad to Deum God revertantur return
92.21 Discipulus pupil quaerit asks an whether angelī angels custōdēs guardians semper always nōbīscum with us sint are
92.22 Magister teacher interrogat asks an whether malum evil in in mundō world necessārium necessary sit is
92.23 Quaerit asks discipulus pupil an whether peccāta sins omnīnō entirely dēlērī to be destroyed possint are able
92.24 Magister teacher rogat asks an whether via way ad to caelum heaven angusta narrow an or lāta broad sit is
92.25 Respondet replies discipulus pupil sē himself dubitāre to doubt an whether multī many salvārī to be saved possint are able
92.26 Interrogat asks magister teacher an whether virtūs virtue sine without tentātiōne temptation crescere to grow queat is able
92.27 Discipulus pupil quaerit asks an whether dēmōnēs demons an or homō man ipse himself causae causes peccātī of sin sint are
92.28 Magister teacher rogat asks an whether precēs prayers mortuīs for dead prōsint benefit
92.29 Discipulus pupil quaerit asks an whether omne all tempus time aeternitātī to eternity comparātum compared minimum smallest sit is
92.30 Magister teacher interrogat asks an whether amor love Deī of God fīnem end habeat has
92.16 Magister discipulum interrogat an anima immortālis sit. The teacher asks the pupil whether the soul is immortal.
92.17 Discipulus respondet sē nescīre an hoc mystērium comprehendere possit. The pupil replies that he does not know whether he can comprehend this mystery.
92.18 Quaerit magister an fīdēs an ratiō fortior sit. The teacher asks whether faith or reason is stronger.
92.19 Respondet discipulus sē dubitāre an sine grātiā vēritātem vidēre possīmus. The pupil replies that he doubts whether we can see truth without grace.
92.20 Rogat magister an omnēs animae ad Deum revertantur. The teacher asks whether all souls return to God.
92.21 Discipulus quaerit an angelī custōdēs semper nōbīscum sint. The pupil asks whether guardian angels are always with us.
92.22 Magister interrogat an malum in mundō necessārium sit. The teacher asks whether evil is necessary in the world.
92.23 Quaerit discipulus an peccāta omnīnō dēlērī possint. The pupil asks whether sins can be entirely destroyed.
92.24 Magister rogat an via ad caelum angusta an lāta sit. The teacher asks whether the way to heaven is narrow or broad.
92.25 Respondet discipulus sē dubitāre an multī salvārī possint. The pupil replies that he doubts whether many can be saved.
92.26 Interrogat magister an virtūs sine tentātiōne crescere queat. The teacher asks whether virtue can grow without temptation.
92.27 Discipulus quaerit an dēmōnēs an homō ipse causae peccātī sint. The pupil asks whether demons or man himself are the causes of sin.
92.28 Magister rogat an precēs mortuīs prōsint. The teacher asks whether prayers benefit the dead.
92.29 Discipulus quaerit an omne tempus aeternitātī comparātum minimum sit. The pupil asks whether all time compared to eternity is minimal.
92.30 Magister interrogat an amor Deī fīnem habeat. The teacher asks whether the love of God has an end.
92.16 Magister discipulum interrogat an anima immortālis sit.
92.17 Discipulus respondet sē nescīre an hoc mystērium comprehendere possit.
92.18 Quaerit magister an fīdēs an ratiō fortior sit.
92.19 Respondet discipulus sē dubitāre an sine grātiā vēritātem vidēre possīmus.
92.20 Rogat magister an omnēs animae ad Deum revertantur.
92.21 Discipulus quaerit an angelī custōdēs semper nōbīscum sint.
92.22 Magister interrogat an malum in mundō necessārium sit.
92.23 Quaerit discipulus an peccāta omnīnō dēlērī possint.
92.24 Magister rogat an via ad caelum angusta an lāta sit.
92.25 Respondet discipulus sē dubitāre an multī salvārī possint.
92.26 Interrogat magister an virtūs sine tentātiōne crescere queat.
92.27 Discipulus quaerit an dēmōnēs an homō ipse causae peccātī sint.
92.28 Magister rogat an precēs mortuīs prōsint.
92.29 Discipulus quaerit an omne tempus aeternitātī comparātum minimum sit.
92.30 Magister interrogat an amor Deī fīnem habeat.
The theological dialogue section demonstrates several important grammatical features: -
Question Types: -
Simple indirect questions (an + subjunctive) -
Double indirect questions (an...an) -
Complex indirect statements with embedded questions -
Verb Patterns: -
Verbs of asking (interrogat, quaerit, rogat) -
Verbs of responding (respondet) -
Verbs of doubting (dubitat) -
Subjunctive Uses: -
In indirect questions after an -
In purpose clauses -
In result clauses -
Special Constructions: -
Indirect discourse with accusative-infinitive -
Double questions with repeated an -
Impersonal expressions -
Word Order Variations: -
Variable position of main verb -
Placement of an in questions -
Complex embedding of clauses
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