← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōnibus praecēdentibus multās praepositiōnēs dīdicimus. Hodiē ultimam partem praepositiōnum absolvēmus — praepositiōnēs quae positiōnem relātīvam exprimunt.
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lessons we learned many prepositions. Today we shall complete the final part of prepositions — prepositions which express relative position.
Citrā et ultrā — “on this side” et “beyond.” Circā et inter — “around” et “among.” Hae praepositiōnēs subtīlēs sunt sed ūtilissimae! Discāmus!
On this side and beyond. Around and among. These prepositions are subtle but most useful! Let us learn!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Ergā towards praeceptōrem the teacher ingrātus ungrateful fuī. I was. Iuxtā near viam the road currēns, running, citrā on this side of stagnum the pool cōnstitit. he stood. Deinde then ultrā beyond stagnum the pool prōgressus. having proceeded. Obībat he was going circā around palūdēs. the marshes. Oberrābat he was wandering inter among nemora. the groves.
Ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus fuī — I was (fuī) ungrateful (ingrātus) towards (ergā) the teacher (praeceptōrem). Ergā + accusative means “towards” (in attitude, not physical motion) — expressing one’s disposition or feelings toward someone.
Iuxtā viam currēns, citrā stagnum cōnstitit — Running (currēns) near (iuxtā) the road (viam), he stood (cōnstitit) on this side of (citrā) the pool (stagnum). Iuxtā + accusative = “near, beside.” Citrā + accusative = “on this side of” (nearer to the speaker).
Deinde ultrā stagnum prōgressus — Then (deinde) having proceeded (prōgressus) beyond (ultrā) the pool (stagnum). Ultrā + accusative = “beyond, on the far side of” — the opposite of citrā.
Obībat circā palūdēs — He was going around (obībat) around (circā) the marshes (palūdēs). Circā (or circum) + accusative = “around.”
Oberrābat inter nemora — He was wandering (oberrābat) among (inter) the groves (nemora). Inter + accusative = “among, between.”
Ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus fuī. I was ungrateful towards the teacher.
Iuxtā viam currēns, citrā stagnum cōnstitit. Running near the road, he stood on this side of the pool.
Deinde ultrā stagnum prōgressus. Then having proceeded beyond the pool.
Obībat circā palūdēs. He was going around the marshes.
Oberrābat inter nemora. He was wandering among the groves.
Ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus fuī. Iuxtā viam currēns, citrā stagnum cōnstitit. Deinde ultrā stagnum prōgressus. Obībat circā palūdēs. Oberrābat inter nemora.
Praepositiō Significātiō Exemplum ergā towards (attitude) ergā praeceptōrem iuxtā near, beside iuxtā viam citrā on this side of citrā stagnum ultrā beyond, on far side ultrā stagnum circā / circum around circā palūdēs inter among, between inter nemora
Both can mean “towards,” but differently:
Praepositiō Ūsus Exemplum ad physical motion towards Ad urbem eō (I go to the city) ergā attitude towards Ergā amīcōs fīdēlis (faithful towards friends)
Ergā is never used for physical motion — only for feelings, attitudes, or duties.
These are spatial opposites:
Praepositiō Significātiō Relātiō citrā on this side of nearer to speaker ultrā beyond farther from speaker
Citrā flūmen = “on this side of the river” (where we are) Ultrā flūmen = “beyond the river” (on the far side)
Praepositiō Significātiō circā / circum around (encircling) inter among, between (in the midst of)
Circā urbem = “around the city” (encircling it) Inter urbēs = “among/between the cities” (in their midst)
Verbum Partēs Prīncipālēs Significātiō cōnsistō cōnsistō, cōnsistere, cōnstitī to stand, halt prōgredior prōgredior, prōgredī, prōgressus sum to proceed obeō obeō, obīre, obiī to go around oberrō oberrō, oberrāre to wander about
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō ergā praepositiō (+ acc.) towards (attitude) praeceptor, -ōris (m.) nōmen teacher ingrātus, -a, -um adiectīvum ungrateful iuxtā praepositiō (+ acc.) near, beside citrā praepositiō (+ acc.) on this side of stagnum, -ī (n.) nōmen pool, pond cōnsistō, cōnsistere, cōnstitī verbum to stand, halt ultrā praepositiō (+ acc.) beyond prōgredior, prōgredī, prōgressus verbum (dep.) to proceed circā / circum praepositiō (+ acc.) around palūs, palūdis (f.) nōmen marsh, swamp obeō, obīre verbum to go around inter praepositiō (+ acc.) among, between nemus, nemoris (n.) nōmen grove, wood oberrō, oberrāre verbum to wander about
Adulēscēns a young man quīdam certain ergā towards praeceptōrem the teacher ingrātus ungrateful fuerat. had been. Ergā towards parentēs his parents quoque also impius. undutiful.
Ōlim one day ē from domō home fūgit. he fled. “Līber “free erō!” I shall be!” clāmāvit. he cried. “Nēmō “no one mihi me imperābit!” will command!”
Iuxtā near viam the road currēbat. he was running. Ad to stagnum a pool vēnit. he came. Citrā on this side of stagnum the pool cōnstitit. he stood. “Quō “where eam?” should I go?” sēcum to himself cōgitāvit. he thought.
Deinde then ultrā beyond stagnum the pool prōgressus having proceeded est. he did. In into regiōnem a region incognitam unknown vēnit. he came.
Circā around palūdēs the marshes obībat he was going — sēmitam — a path quaerēns. seeking. Inter among nemora the groves obscūra dark oberrābat he was wandering — timēns. — fearing.
Nox night vēnit. came. Frīgidus cold et and sōlus alone erat. he was. Cibum food nōn not habēbat. he had. Tēctum a roof nōn not habēbat. he had.
“Heu!” “alas!” inquit. he said. “Domī “at home tēctum a roof habēbam. I had. Domī at home cibum food habēbam. I had. Domī at home amōrem love habēbam I had — etsi — even if eum it nōn not agnōscēbam!” I was acknowledging!”
Postrīdiē on the next day domum home rediit. he returned. Parentibus to his parents dīxit: he said: “Ergā “towards vōs you ingrātus ungrateful fuī. I was. Nunc now intellegō I understand quam how pretiōsus precious sit is amor the love vester!” your!”
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Quī he who ergā towards suōs his own ingrātus ungrateful est, is, mox soon discet will learn quam how pretiōsī precious sint! they are! Ultrā beyond domum home lībertas freedom nōn not est is — sed — but sōlitūdō! solitude!
Adulēscēns quīdam ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus fuerat. A certain young man had been ungrateful towards the teacher.
Ergā parentēs quoque impius. Towards his parents also undutiful.
Ōlim ē domō fūgit. “Līber erō!” clāmāvit. “Nēmō mihi imperābit!” One day he fled from home. “I shall be free!” he cried. “No one will command me!”
Iuxtā viam currēbat. Ad stagnum vēnit. Citrā stagnum cōnstitit. He was running near the road. He came to a pool. He stood on this side of the pool.
“Quō eam?” sēcum cōgitāvit. “Where should I go?” he thought to himself.
Deinde ultrā stagnum prōgressus est. In regiōnem incognitam vēnit. Then he proceeded beyond the pool. He came into an unknown region.
Circā palūdēs obībat — sēmitam quaerēns. He was going around the marshes — seeking a path.
Inter nemora obscūra oberrābat — timēns. He was wandering among the dark groves — fearing.
Nox vēnit. Frīgidus et sōlus erat. Night came. He was cold and alone.
Cibum nōn habēbat. Tēctum nōn habēbat. He had no food. He had no roof.
“Heu!” inquit. “Domī tēctum habēbam. Domī cibum habēbam.” “Alas!” he said. “At home I had a roof. At home I had food.”
“Domī amōrem habēbam — etsi eum nōn agnōscēbam!” “At home I had love — even if I was not acknowledging it!”
Postrīdiē domum rediit. On the next day he returned home.
Parentibus dīxit: “Ergā vōs ingrātus fuī.” He said to his parents: “I was ungrateful towards you.”
“Nunc intellegō quam pretiōsus sit amor vester!” “Now I understand how precious your love is!”
Haec fābula docet: Quī ergā suōs ingrātus est, mox discet quam pretiōsī sint! This fable teaches: He who is ungrateful towards his own, will soon learn how precious they are!
Ultrā domum lībertas nōn est — sed sōlitūdō! Beyond home there is not freedom — but solitude!
Adulēscēns quīdam ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus fuerat. Ergā parentēs quoque impius.
Ōlim ē domō fūgit. “Līber erō!” clāmāvit. “Nēmō mihi imperābit!”
Iuxtā viam currēbat. Ad stagnum vēnit. Citrā stagnum cōnstitit. “Quō eam?” sēcum cōgitāvit.
Deinde ultrā stagnum prōgressus est. In regiōnem incognitam vēnit.
Circā palūdēs obībat — sēmitam quaerēns. Inter nemora obscūra oberrābat — timēns.
Nox vēnit. Frīgidus et sōlus erat. Cibum nōn habēbat. Tēctum nōn habēbat.
“Heu!” inquit. “Domī tēctum habēbam. Domī cibum habēbam. Domī amōrem habēbam — etsi eum nōn agnōscēbam!”
Postrīdiē domum rediit. Parentibus dīxit: “Ergā vōs ingrātus fuī. Nunc intellegō quam pretiōsus sit amor vester!”
Haec fābula docet: Quī ergā suōs ingrātus est, mox discet quam pretiōsī sint! Ultrā domum lībertas nōn est — sed sōlitūdō!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable echoes the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The runaway uses the prepositions of the lesson in his journey: iuxtā viam, citrā stagnum, ultrā stagnum, circā palūdēs, inter nemora. He learns that ergā his family he should have been grateful.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Ergā for attitude: ergā parentēs impius — “undutiful towards parents” -
Citrā vs. ultrā: spatial relationship to the pool -
Present participles: currēns, quaerēns, timēns -
Indirect question: quam pretiōsus sit — “how precious [it] is”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō impius, -a, -um adiectīvum undutiful, impious parēns, parentis (m./f.) nōmen parent imperō, imperāre verbum to command regiō, regiōnis (f.) nōmen region incognitus, -a, -um adiectīvum unknown sēmita, -ae (f.) nōmen path obscūrus, -a, -um adiectīvum dark frīgidus, -a, -um adiectīvum cold agnōscō, agnōscere verbum to acknowledge pretiōsus, -a, -um adiectīvum precious sōlitūdō, -inis (f.) nōmen solitude
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quid what significat signifies ergā? towards?
MAGISTER: Ergā towards animum the mind aut or affectum feeling versus towards aliquem someone indicat indicates — nōn — not mōtum motion corporis! of the body! “Ergā “towards praeceptōrem the teacher ingrātus” ungrateful” significat signifies “animō “in spirit ingrātus ungrateful versus towards praeceptōrem.” the teacher.” Nōn not ūtimur do we use ergā towards prō for mōtū motion locī of place — prō — for hōc this ūtimur we use ad! to!
DISCIPULUS: Quid what differunt differ citrā on this side et and ultrā? beyond?
MAGISTER: Contrāria contraries sunt! they are! Citrā on this side significat signifies “in “on hāc this parte” side” — propiōre — nearer ōrantī. to the speaker. Ultrā beyond significat signifies “in “on illā that parte” side” — remōtiōre — more remote ab from ōrante. the speaker. Sī if stās you stand citrā on this side of flūmen, the river, ego I quoque also citrā on this side stō. stand. Sī if trānsīs, you cross, ultrā beyond flūmen the river stābis! you will stand!
DISCIPULUS: Quid what differunt differ circā around et and inter? among?
MAGISTER: Circā around significat signifies “in “in circuitū” a circuit” — circumdāns — surrounding aliquid. something. “Circā “around urbem” the city” significat signifies “circumdāns “surrounding urbem.” the city.” Inter among significat signifies “in “in mediō” the middle” — nōn — not circumdāns surrounding sed but intrā. within. “Inter “among nemora” the groves” significat signifies “in “in mediō the middle nemorum, of the groves, inter between ea.” them.”
DISCIPULUS: Omnia all haec these accūsātīvum the accusative regunt? govern?
MAGISTER: Ita yes vērō! indeed! Ergā, towards, iuxtā, near, citrā, on this side, ultrā, beyond, circā, around, inter among — omnia — all accūsātīvum the accusative regunt. govern. Paucae few praepositiōnēs prepositions ablātīvum the ablative sōlum only regunt; govern; plūrimae most accūsātīvum! the accusative!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid significat ergā? Master, what signifies “towards”?
MAGISTER: Ergā animum aut affectum versus aliquem indicat — nōn mōtum corporis! “Towards” indicates the mind or feeling towards someone — not motion of the body!
“Ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus” significat “animō ingrātus versus praeceptōrem.” “Ungrateful towards the teacher” signifies “ungrateful in spirit towards the teacher.”
Nōn ūtimur ergā prō mōtū locī — prō hōc ūtimur ad! We do not use “towards” for motion of place — for this we use “to”!
DISCIPULUS: Quid differunt citrā et ultrā? What is the difference between “on this side” and “beyond”?
MAGISTER: Contrāria sunt! They are contraries!
Citrā significat “in hāc parte” — propiōre ōrantī. “On this side” signifies “on this side” — nearer to the speaker.
Ultrā significat “in illā parte” — remōtiōre ab ōrante. “Beyond” signifies “on that side” — more remote from the speaker.
Sī stās citrā flūmen, ego quoque citrā stō. Sī trānsīs, ultrā flūmen stābis! If you stand on this side of the river, I also stand on this side. If you cross, you will stand beyond the river!
DISCIPULUS: Quid differunt circā et inter? What is the difference between “around” and “among”?
MAGISTER: Circā significat “in circuitū” — circumdāns aliquid. “Around” signifies “in a circuit” — surrounding something.
“Circā urbem” significat “circumdāns urbem.” “Around the city” signifies “surrounding the city.”
Inter significat “in mediō” — nōn circumdāns sed intrā. “Among” signifies “in the middle” — not surrounding but within.
“Inter nemora” significat “in mediō nemorum, inter ea.” “Among the groves” signifies “in the middle of the groves, between them.”
DISCIPULUS: Omnia haec accūsātīvum regunt? Do all these govern the accusative?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Yes indeed!
Ergā, iuxtā, citrā, ultrā, circā, inter — omnia accūsātīvum regunt. “Towards,” “near,” “on this side,” “beyond,” “around,” “among” — all govern the accusative.
Paucae praepositiōnēs ablātīvum sōlum regunt; plūrimae accūsātīvum! Few prepositions govern the ablative only; most govern the accusative!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid significat ergā?
MAGISTER: Ergā animum aut affectum versus aliquem indicat — nōn mōtum corporis! “Ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus” significat “animō ingrātus versus praeceptōrem.” Nōn ūtimur ergā prō mōtū locī — prō hōc ūtimur ad!
DISCIPULUS: Quid differunt citrā et ultrā?
MAGISTER: Contrāria sunt! Citrā significat “in hāc parte” — propiōre ōrantī. Ultrā significat “in illā parte” — remōtiōre ab ōrante. Sī stās citrā flūmen, ego quoque citrā stō. Sī trānsīs, ultrā flūmen stābis!
DISCIPULUS: Quid differunt circā et inter?
MAGISTER: Circā significat “in circuitū” — circumdāns aliquid. “Circā urbem” significat “circumdāns urbem.” Inter significat “in mediō” — nōn circumdāns sed intrā. “Inter nemora” significat “in mediō nemorum, inter ea.”
DISCIPULUS: Omnia haec accūsātīvum regunt?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Ergā, iuxtā, citrā, ultrā, circā, inter — omnia accūsātīvum regunt. Paucae praepositiōnēs ablātīvum sōlum regunt; plūrimae accūsātīvum!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains the attitude preposition ergā, the spatial pair citrā/ultrā, and the distinction between circā (surrounding) and inter (in the midst of).
All these prepositions govern the __________ case.
(ergā, iuxtā, citrā, ultrā, circā, inter)
Match the opposites:
Praepositiō Contrārium 1. citrā a. outside 2. circā b. ultrā 3. inter c. (no exact opposite)
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Ungrateful towards the teacher. -
Near the road. -
On this side of the pool. -
Beyond the river. -
Among the groves.
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Ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus fuī. -
Citrā stagnum cōnstitit. -
Ultrā stagnum prōgressus est. -
Circā palūdēs obībat. -
Inter nemora oberrābat.
-
Ergā + acc. = towards (attitude) -
Iuxtā + acc. = near, beside -
Citrā + acc. = on this side of; ultrā + acc. = beyond -
Circā + acc. = around -
Inter + acc. = among, between
All these prepositions govern the accusative case.
-
b (citrā ↔ ultrā) -
c (circā has no exact opposite) -
a (inter ↔ outside... though this is approximate)
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Ergā praeceptōrem ingrātus. -
Iuxtā viam. -
Citrā stagnum. -
Ultrā flūmen. -
Inter nemora.
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I was ungrateful towards the teacher. -
He stood on this side of the pool. -
He proceeded beyond the pool. -
He was going around the marshes. -
He was wandering among the groves.
In proximā lectiōne novam partem incipimus: Numerālia! Scīs numerāre? Utique. Tentā igitur quot sunt rēs. Ūnus est cōdex Bibliōrum. Duo sunt testamenta, vetus et novum. Trēs persōnae Sānctae Trīnitātis. Discēmus numerōs Latīnōs!
In the next lesson we begin a new part: Numerals! Do you know how to count? Certainly. Try then how many things there are. One is the volume of the Bible. Two are the testaments, old and new. Three persons of the Holy Trinity. We shall learn Latin numbers!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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