← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
13.1 The student discipulus walks ambulat to ad the temple templum
13.2 The messenger nuntius runs currit to ad the city urbem
13.3 We come venimus to ad the river flumen
13.4 The soldier miles marches graditur to ad the camp castra
13.5 The boy puer goes it to ad the market forum
13.6 They walk ambulant to ad the shore litus
13.7 The girl puella runs currit to ad the house domum
13.8 The farmer agricola walks ambulat to ad the field agrum
13.9 The sailors nautae sail navigant to ad the port portum
13.10 The women feminae hurry properant to ad the temple templum
13.11 The children pueri run currunt to ad the school ludum
13.12 The priest sacerdos walks ambulat to ad the altar aram
13.13 The teacher magister goes it to ad the forum forum
13.14 The shepherd pastor walks ambulat to ad the hills colles
13.15 The merchants mercatores travel iter faciunt to ad the city urbem
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13.1 Discipulus ad templum ambulat. The student walks to the temple.
13.2 Nuntius ad urbem currit. The messenger runs to the city.
13.3 Ad flumen venimus. We come to the river.
13.4 Miles ad castra graditur. The soldier marches to the camp.
13.5 Puer ad forum it. The boy goes to the market.
13.6 Ad litus ambulant. They walk to the shore.
13.7 Puella ad domum currit. The girl runs to the house.
13.8 Agricola ad agrum ambulat. The farmer walks to the field.
13.9 Nautae ad portum navigant. The sailors sail to the port.
13.10 Feminae ad templum properant. The women hurry to the temple.
13.11 Pueri ad ludum currunt. The children run to the school.
13.12 Sacerdos ad aram ambulat. The priest walks to the altar.
13.13 Magister ad forum it. The teacher goes to the forum.
13.14 Pastor ad colles ambulat. The shepherd walks to the hills.
13.15 Mercatores ad urbem iter faciunt. The merchants travel to the city.
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13.1 Discipulus ad templum ambulat.
13.2 Nuntius ad urbem currit.
13.3 Ad flumen venimus.
13.4 Miles ad castra graditur.
13.5 Puer ad forum it.
13.6 Ad litus ambulant.
13.7 Puella ad domum currit.
13.8 Agricola ad agrum ambulat.
13.9 Nautae ad portum navigant.
13.10 Feminae ad templum properant.
13.11 Pueri ad ludum currunt.
13.12 Sacerdos ad aram ambulat.
13.13 Magister ad forum it.
13.14 Pastor ad colles ambulat.
13.15 Mercatores ad urbem iter faciunt.
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The preposition "ad" is one of the most common prepositions in Latin. Key points for English speakers: -
Usage: -
Always takes the accusative case -
Indicates motion towards something -
Can indicate purpose or intention -
Used with verbs of motion (like ambulare, currere, ire) -
Case Requirements: -
The noun following "ad" must be in the accusative case -
Examples: -
templum → ad templum -
urbs → ad urbem -
portus → ad portum -
Common Combinations: -
With verbs of motion -
With nouns indicating places -
With time expressions (to indicate "up to" a point in time) -
Important Notes for English Speakers: -
Unlike English "to," "ad" is never used for indirect objects -
Cannot be used for possession (use dative case instead) -
Always appears directly before its object (unlike English prepositions)
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding "ad" requires cultural context: -
Roman Urban Life: -
Cities were centers of activity -
Regular movement between important locations (temple, forum, market) -
Fixed routes and destinations were important in Roman life -
Social Context: -
Different social classes moved to different locations -
Priests to temples -
Merchants to markets -
Students to schools or teachers -
Historical Perspective: -
Romans were great builders of roads -
Movement and direction were precisely described -
Destinations were important in Roman writing and record-keeping -
Modern Parallels: -
Similar to English "to" in physical movement -
Different from English in abstract uses -
Important in understanding Roman spatial concepts
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Caesar's "De Bello Gallico" (Book 1.7):
Caesar Caesar hurries contendit to ad the largest city maximam urbem of the Sequani Sequanorum
Caesar ad maximam urbem Sequanorum contendit. Caesar hurries to the largest city of the Sequani.
This passage demonstrates Caesar's typical style: direct, clear movement descriptions using "ad" with military precision. The preposition shows purposeful movement toward a strategic location.
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"ad" takes accusative "urbem" -
"maximam" modifies "urbem" (accusative feminine singular) -
"Sequanorum" is genitive plural showing possession -
"contendit" is present tense showing immediate action
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13.16 The general dux marches ducit the army exercitum to ad battle proelium
13.17 The soldiers milites advance procedunt to ad the walls muros
13.18 The commander imperator sends mittit troops copias to ad the camp castra
13.19 The legion legio moves movetur to ad the river flumen
13.20 The cavalry equites ride equitant to ad the hill collem
13.21 The messenger nuntius runs currit to ad headquarters praetorium
13.22 The scouts exploratores return redeunt to ad the fortifications munitiones
13.23 The centurion centurio leads ducit his men suos to ad the gate portam
13.24 The allies socii march gradiuntur to ad the battlefield campum proelii
13.25 The officers duces advance procedunt to ad the front line primam aciem
13.26 The archers sagittarii move se movent to ad the towers turres
13.27 The auxiliaries auxilia rush properant to ad the defense defensionem
13.28 The tribune tribunus hurries festinat to ad the rampart vallum
13.29 The veterans veterani march gradiuntur to ad their positions stationes suas
13.30 The reinforcements subsidia advance procedunt to ad the battle line aciem
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13.16 Dux exercitum ad proelium ducit. The general leads the army to battle.
13.17 Milites ad muros procedunt. The soldiers advance to the walls.
13.18 Imperator copias ad castra mittit. The commander sends troops to the camp.
13.19 Legio ad flumen movetur. The legion moves to the river.
13.20 Equites ad collem equitant. The cavalry ride to the hill.
13.21 Nuntius ad praetorium currit. The messenger runs to headquarters.
13.22 Exploratores ad munitiones redeunt. The scouts return to the fortifications.
13.23 Centurio suos ad portam ducit. The centurion leads his men to the gate.
13.24 Socii ad campum proelii gradiuntur. The allies march to the battlefield.
13.25 Duces ad primam aciem procedunt. The officers advance to the front line.
13.26 Sagittarii ad turres se movent. The archers move to the towers.
13.27 Auxilia ad defensionem properant. The auxiliaries rush to the defense.
13.28 Tribunus ad vallum festinat. The tribune hurries to the rampart.
13.29 Veterani ad stationes suas gradiuntur. The veterans march to their positions.
13.30 Subsidia ad aciem procedunt. The reinforcements advance to the battle line.
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13.16 Dux exercitum ad proelium ducit.
13.17 Milites ad muros procedunt.
13.18 Imperator copias ad castra mittit.
13.19 Legio ad flumen movetur.
13.20 Equites ad collem equitant.
13.21 Nuntius ad praetorium currit.
13.22 Exploratores ad munitiones redeunt.
13.23 Centurio suos ad portam ducit.
13.24 Socii ad campum proelii gradiuntur.
13.25 Duces ad primam aciem procedunt.
13.26 Sagittarii ad turres se movent.
13.27 Auxilia ad defensionem properant.
13.28 Tribunus ad vallum festinat.
13.29 Veterani ad stationes suas gradiuntur.
13.30 Subsidia ad aciem procedunt.
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The Standard Pattern: When the verb takes a direct object: Subject (Nominative) plus Direct Object (Accusative) plus ad plus Destination (Accusative) plus Verb Example: Dux (Nom.) exercitum (Acc.) ad proelium (Acc.) ducit Translation: "The general leads the army to battle" -
Alternative Pattern with Intransitive Verbs: When the verb doesn't take a direct object: Subject (Nominative) plus ad plus Destination (Accusative) plus Verb Example: Milites (Nom.) ad muros (Acc.) procedunt Translation: "The soldiers advance to the walls"
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The Accusative Case: Everything following "ad" must be in accusative case Showing endings: -
First declension: munitiones becomes ad munitiones -
Second declension: vallum becomes ad vallum -
Third declension: aciem becomes ad aciem -
Common Military Noun Endings in Accusative: First declension: -am (singular), -as (plural) Second declension: -um (singular), -os (plural) Third declension: -em (singular), -es (plural)
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Present Tense Patterns: First conjugation: properant ("they hurry") Second conjugation: movent ("they move") Third conjugation: ducunt ("they lead") Fourth conjugation: veniunt ("they come") -
Movement Verbs with "ad": -
procedere (to advance): procedunt (they advance) -
ducere (to lead): ducit/ducunt (he leads/they lead) -
movere (to move): movet/movent (he moves/they move) -
currere (to run): currit/currunt (he runs/they run) -
festinare (to hurry): festinat/festinant (he hurries/they hurry)
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Adjective Agreement: Example: "primam aciem" (the first battle line) prima (feminine nominative) becomes primam (feminine accusative) acies (feminine nominative) becomes aciem (feminine accusative) -
Demonstrative Adjectives: Example: "has munitiones" (these fortifications) hae (feminine nominative plural) becomes has (feminine accusative plural) munitiones (feminine accusative plural)
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Collective Nouns: -
legio (feminine) takes a singular verb but means multiple people -
exercitus (masculine) follows the same principle Example: "Legio ad flumen movetur" (The legion moves to the river) -
Commands vs. Statements: Present Indicative: "Milites procedunt" (The soldiers advance) Imperative: "Procedite!" (Advance!)
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Convert to Plural: Singular: "Miles ad murum procedit" Plural: "Milites ad muros procedunt" -
Change the Destination: Original: "Dux ad castra venit" New: "Dux ad proelium venit" -
Add an Adjective: Basic: "ad aciem" With Adjective: "ad primam aciem"
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Word Order: Incorrect: "Ad exercitum dux ducit" Correct: "Dux exercitum ducit" or "Dux ad exercitum ducit" -
Case Errors: Incorrect: "ad castra" (where castra is nominative) Correct: "ad castra" (where castra is accusative) -
Verb Agreement: Incorrect: "Legio procedunt" Correct: "Legio procedit"
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