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102.1 Mārcus Marcus librōs books in on mēnsā table pōnit places
102.2 Statuam statue ante before templum temple pōsuērunt they placed
102.3 Mīlitēs soldiers arma arms in in terrā ground pōnunt put
102.4 Pater father fīliō for son nōmen name novum new pōsuit gave
102.5 Spem hope in in virtūte virtue pōnimus we place
102.6 Agricola farmer sēmina seeds in in agrō field posuerat had placed
102.7 Castra camp prope near flūmen river pōnent they will place
102.8 Ubi where librōs books meōs my posuistī did you place?
102.9 Rēx king cōrōnam crown in on capite head pōnēbat was placing
102.10 Nautae sailors nāvem ship in in portū harbor pōnent will place
102.11 Servī slaves cibum food in on mēnsā table posuērunt placed
102.12 Senex old man pecūniam money in in arcā chest pōnēbat was placing
102.13 Pōne put! librum book in on mēnsā table
102.14 Ubi where spem hope tuam your pōnis do you place?
102.15 Magistra teacher exempla examples in on tabulā board pōnit places
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102.1 Mārcus librōs in mēnsā pōnit. Marcus places the books on the table.
102.2 Statuam ante templum pōsuērunt. They placed the statue before the temple.
102.3 Mīlitēs arma in terrā pōnunt. The soldiers put their arms on the ground.
102.4 Pater fīliō nōmen novum pōsuit. The father gave his son a new name.
102.5 Spem in virtūte pōnimus. We place our hope in virtue.
102.6 Agricola sēmina in agrō posuerat. The farmer had placed seeds in the field.
102.7 Castra prope flūmen pōnent. They will place the camp near the river.
102.8 Ubi librōs meōs posuistī? Where did you put my books?
102.9 Rēx cōrōnam in capite pōnēbat. The king was placing the crown on his head.
102.10 Nautae nāvem in portū pōnent. The sailors will place the ship in the harbor.
102.11 Servī cibum in mēnsā posuērunt. The slaves placed the food on the table.
102.12 Senex pecūniam in arcā pōnēbat. The old man was placing money in the chest.
102.13 Pōne librum in mēnsā! Put the book on the table!
102.14 Ubi spem tuam pōnis? Where do you place your hope?
102.15 Magistra exempla in tabulā pōnit. The teacher places examples on the board.
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102.1 Mārcus librōs in mēnsā pōnit.
102.2 Statuam ante templum pōsuērunt.
102.3 Mīlitēs arma in terrā pōnunt.
102.4 Pater fīliō nōmen novum pōsuit.
102.5 Spem in virtūte pōnimus.
102.6 Agricola sēmina in agrō posuerat.
102.7 Castra prope flūmen pōnent.
102.8 Ubi librōs meōs posuistī?
102.9 Rēx cōrōnam in capite pōnēbat.
102.10 Nautae nāvem in portū pōnent.
102.11 Servī cibum in mēnsā posuērunt.
102.12 Senex pecūniam in arcā pōnēbat.
102.13 Pōne librum in mēnsā!
102.14 Ubi spem tuam pōnis?
102.15 Magistra exempla in tabulā pōnit.
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The verb pōnō is a 3rd conjugation verb with the following principal parts: -
pōnō (present) -
pōnere (infinitive) -
posuī (perfect) -
positum (supine)
Key grammatical features for English speakers: -
Basic Forms: -
Present: pōnō, pōnis, pōnit, pōnimus, pōnitis, pōnunt -
Imperfect: pōnēbam, pōnēbās, etc. -
Perfect: posuī, posuistī, etc. -
Future: pōnam, pōnēs, etc. -
Common Constructions: -
Often used with in + ablative for location -
Can take accusative direct object -
Frequently uses prepositions to indicate placement -
Special Uses: -
Literal meaning: physical placement -
Metaphorical meaning: establishing, setting up -
Idiomatic uses: giving names, placing trust -
Voice: -
Active forms shown in examples -
Passive possible: pōnitur, pōnuntur -
Perfect passive participle: positus, -a, -um
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For English speakers, understanding pōnō requires cultural context: -
Physical Space: -
Romans were precise about placement -
Religious objects had specific locations -
Military camps followed strict layout -
Public spaces had designated areas -
Metaphorical Uses: -
Setting up institutions -
Establishing customs -
Founding cities -
Creating laws -
Religious Context: -
Placing offerings at temples -
Setting up altars -
Positioning sacred objects -
Ritual placement -
Modern Connections: -
English "position" from positum -
Legal term "posit" -
Scientific "deposition" -
Architectural "composition"
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From Caesar's De Bello Gallico (1.8):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Caesar Caesar quod because omnibus all frūmentī of grain copiīs supplies incēnsīs having been burned, itineribus routes nostrīs our impedītīs, having been blocked, castra camp ēgregīē excellently nātūrā by nature locī of place mūnīta fortified posita placed habēbat had
Caesar quod omnibus frūmentī copiīs incēnsīs, itineribus nostrīs impedītīs, castra ēgregīē nātūrā locī mūnīta posita habēbat.
Caesar, because all the grain supplies had been burned and our routes blocked, had a camp positioned that was excellently fortified by the nature of its location.
Caesar uses the perfect passive participle posita with habēbat to emphasize the strategic placement of the camp. The ablative absolute constructions (copiīs incēnsīs, itineribus impedītīs) show the circumstances.
-
posita: perfect passive participle from pōnō -
Ablative absolutes show circumstances -
habēbat with participle indicates state -
Emphasis on strategic positioning
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102.16 Imperātor commander castra camp in on colle hill pōnī to be placed iussit ordered
102.17 Mīlitēs soldiers arma arms ante before tentōria tents posuērunt placed
102.18 Custōdēs guards in at portīs gates positī placed sunt were
102.19 Dux leader signa standards in in mediō middle agrō field pōnī to be placed iubet orders
102.20 Legiōnēs legions castra camp prope near flūmen river posuērunt placed
102.21 Explōrātōrēs scouts in on montibus mountains positī placed sunt were
102.22 Equitēs cavalry impedīmenta baggage in in vallō rampart pōnunt place
102.23 Dux leader praesidia guards circum around castra camp pōnī to be placed iussit ordered
102.24 Mīlitēs soldiers vallum wall ante before portās gates posuērunt placed
102.25 Cohortēs cohorts arma arms in in ordine order pōnunt place
102.26 Imperātor commander tormenta siege engines in on mūrīs walls pōnī to be placed iubet orders
102.27 Signifer standard bearer aquilam eagle in in mediīs middle castrīs camp posuit placed
102.28 Custōdēs guards in at statiōnibus posts positī placed sunt were
102.29 Tribūnus tribune fossam ditch circum around castra camp pōnī to be placed iubet orders
102.30 Mīlitēs soldiers scālās ladders ad against mūrōs walls pōnunt place
102.16 Imperātor castra in colle pōnī iussit. The commander ordered the camp to be placed on the hill.
102.17 Mīlitēs arma ante tentōria posuērunt. The soldiers placed their arms before the tents.
102.18 Custōdēs in portīs positī sunt. Guards were placed at the gates.
102.19 Dux signa in mediō agrō pōnī iubet. The leader orders the standards to be placed in the middle of the field.
102.20 Legiōnēs castra prope flūmen posuērunt. The legions placed their camp near the river.
102.21 Explōrātōrēs in montibus positī sunt. Scouts were placed in the mountains.
102.22 Equitēs impedīmenta in vallō pōnunt. The cavalry place the baggage on the rampart.
102.23 Dux praesidia circum castra pōnī iussit. The leader ordered guards to be placed around the camp.
102.24 Mīlitēs vallum ante portās posuērunt. The soldiers placed a wall before the gates.
102.25 Cohortēs arma in ordine pōnunt. The cohorts place their arms in order.
102.26 Imperātor tormenta in mūrīs pōnī iubet. The commander orders siege engines to be placed on the walls.
102.27 Signifer aquilam in mediīs castrīs posuit. The standard bearer placed the eagle in the middle of the camp.
102.28 Custōdēs in statiōnibus positī sunt. Guards were placed at their posts.
102.29 Tribūnus fossam circum castra pōnī iubet. The tribune orders a ditch to be placed around the camp.
102.30 Mīlitēs scālās ad mūrōs pōnunt. The soldiers place ladders against the walls.
102.16 Imperātor castra in colle pōnī iussit.
102.17 Mīlitēs arma ante tentōria posuērunt.
102.18 Custōdēs in portīs positī sunt.
102.19 Dux signa in mediō agrō pōnī iubet.
102.20 Legiōnēs castra prope flūmen posuērunt.
102.21 Explōrātōrēs in montibus positī sunt.
102.22 Equitēs impedīmenta in vallō pōnunt.
102.23 Dux praesidia circum castra pōnī iussit.
102.24 Mīlitēs vallum ante portās posuērunt.
102.25 Cohortēs arma in ordine pōnunt.
102.26 Imperātor tormenta in mūrīs pōnī iubet.
102.27 Signifer aquilam in mediīs castrīs posuit.
102.28 Custōdēs in statiōnibus positī sunt.
102.29 Tribūnus fossam circum castra pōnī iubet.
102.30 Mīlitēs scālās ad mūrōs pōnunt.
The use of pōnō in military contexts shows several important grammatical patterns: -
Passive Infinitive Construction: -
pōnī with iubeō (to order) -
Example: "castra pōnī iussit" (ordered the camp to be placed) -
Common in military commands -
Perfect Passive Participle: -
positus, -a, -um -
Used for completed placement -
Example: "custōdēs positī sunt" (guards were placed) -
Prepositional Phrases: -
in + ablative (location where) -
ad + accusative (motion towards) -
ante + accusative (before) -
circum + accusative (around) -
Military Terminology: -
Objects commonly placed: -
castra (camp) -
praesidia (guards) -
signa (standards) -
tormenta (siege engines) -
Locations frequently used: -
in colle (on the hill) -
prope flūmen (near the river) -
ante portās (before the gates) -
in vallō (on the rampart) -
Word Order Patterns: -
Object often precedes pōnō -
Location phrases typically between object and verb -
Varied for emphasis in military context
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