← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
21.1 The young soldier mīles iuvenis was able poterat to lift tollere the heavy shield scūtum grave
21.2 No one nēmō is able potest to live vīvere forever in aeternum
21.3 If sī you are able potes, help iuvā your friends amīcōs tuōs
21.4 The wise doctor medicus sapiēns was not able nōn poterat to cure sānāre all diseases omnēs morbōs
21.5 We shall be able poterimus to see vidēre the stars stellās tonight hāc nocte
21.6 They were able potuērunt to build aedificāre the temple templum in one year ūnō annō
21.7 Would you be able possēsne to teach docēre me mē Greek Graecam?
21.8 The horses equī were not able nōn potuērunt to cross trānsīre the deep river flūmen altum
21.9 I hope spērō that I will be able mē posse to finish perficere this work hoc opus
21.10 You are able potes to understand intellegere these words haec verba now nunc
21.11 The old man senex was able potuit to remember meminisse his youth iuventūtis suae
21.12 Being able posse to read legere Latin Latīnē is useful ūtile est
21.13 Who quis would be able possit to climb ascendere such a high mountain tam altum montem?
21.14 The farmers agricolae were able potuērunt to harvest metere before ante the storm tempestātem
21.15 You will be able poteris to learn discere this hoc with practice exercitātiōne
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21.1 The young soldier was able to lift the heavy shield. Mīles iuvenis scūtum grave tollere poterat.
21.2 No one is able to live forever. Nēmō in aeternum vīvere potest.
21.3 If you are able, help your friends. Sī potes, amīcōs tuōs iuvā.
21.4 The wise doctor was not able to cure all diseases. Medicus sapiēns omnēs morbōs sānāre nōn poterat.
21.5 We shall be able to see the stars tonight. Stellās hāc nocte vidēre poterimus.
21.6 They were able to build the temple in one year. Templum ūnō annō aedificāre potuērunt.
21.7 Would you be able to teach me Greek? Possēsne mē Graecam docēre?
21.8 The horses were not able to cross the deep river. Equī flūmen altum trānsīre nōn potuērunt.
21.9 I hope that I will be able to finish this work. Spērō mē hoc opus perficere posse.
21.10 You are able to understand these words now. Haec verba nunc intellegere potes.
21.11 The old man was able to remember his youth. Senex iuventūtis suae meminisse potuit.
21.12 Being able to read Latin is useful. Latīnē legere posse ūtile est.
21.13 Who would be able to climb such a high mountain? Quis tam altum montem ascendere possit?
21.14 The farmers were able to harvest before the storm. Agricolae ante tempestātem metere potuērunt.
21.15 You will be able to learn this with practice. Hoc exercitātiōne discere poteris.
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21.1 Mīles iuvenis scūtum grave tollere poterat.
21.2 Nēmō in aeternum vīvere potest.
21.3 Sī potes, amīcōs tuōs iuvā.
21.4 Medicus sapiēns omnēs morbōs sānāre nōn poterat.
21.5 Stellās hāc nocte vidēre poterimus.
21.6 Templum ūnō annō aedificāre potuērunt.
21.7 Possēsne mē Graecam docēre?
21.8 Equī flūmen altum trānsīre nōn potuērunt.
21.9 Spērō mē hoc opus perficere posse.
21.10 Haec verba nunc intellegere potes.
21.11 Senex iuventūtis suae meminisse potuit.
21.12 Latīnē legere posse ūtile est.
21.13 Quis tam altum montem ascendere possit?
21.14 Agricolae ante tempestātem metere potuērunt.
21.15 Hoc exercitātiōne discere poteris.
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The verb "possum" (to be able) is one of Latin's most important irregular verbs. Here's how English speakers can master it: -
Basic Forms: -
Present infinitive: posse (to be able) -
Perfect stem: potu- -
No future participle or supine -
Formation Pattern: -
"possum" combines "pot-" (able) + "sum" (I am) -
This explains why it's irregular: it follows "sum" patterns -
pot- + sum = possum -
pot- + es = potes -
pot- + est = potest -
Key Tenses for English Speakers: Present: possum, potes, potest, possumus, potestis, possunt Imperfect: poteram, poterās, poterat, etc. Future: poterō, poteris, poterit, etc. Perfect: potuī, potuistī, potuit, etc. -
Important Usage Notes: -
Always followed by an infinitive -
Negative: nōn possum (not nē) -
Often used with abstract concepts -
Can express both ability and permission -
Common Patterns for English Speakers: -
"Can/am able to" = present possum -
"Could/was able to" = imperfect poteram -
"Will be able to" = future poterō -
"Have been able to" = perfect potuī
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Understanding "possum" in Roman culture provides valuable insights: -
Philosophy and Ethics: -
Romans valued potential and ability -
"possum" often appears in discussions of duty -
Cicero uses it to discuss moral capability -
Stoics emphasized knowing what one "can" do -
Educational Context: -
Students learned "possum" early -
Essential for expressing capability -
Used in classroom exercises -
Found in basic Latin texts -
Literary Usage: -
Frequent in poetry and prose -
Often in dramatic moments -
Used for character development -
Shows personal growth or limitation -
Social Implications: -
Indicates social status and power -
Shows personal and political ability -
Reflects Roman value of capability -
Important in legal contexts -
Modern Relevance: -
Found in scientific terminology -
Used in medical Latin -
Appears in legal phrases -
Essential for reading classics
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Part F-A (Interlinear Analysis)
I can possum because quia I think putō I can mē posse
Vergil, Aeneid VI.117
"I can because I think I can" Possum quia putō mē posse
This famous line from Vergil encapsulates Roman attitudes about willpower and ability. It shows the connection Romans saw between mental determination and physical capability, a theme that runs throughout Latin literature.
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possum: first person singular present -
quia: conjunction explaining reason -
putō: first person singular present -
mē: accusative subject of indirect statement -
posse: present infinitive depending on putō
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21.16 The legion legiō was able potuit to defend dēfendere the walls mūrōs against contrā the enemy hostēs
21.17 No soldier nūllus mīles was able poterat to sleep dormīre before ante the battle proelium
21.18 The general dux will be able poterit to lead dūcere the army exercitum through per the mountains montēs
21.19 The archers sagittāriī were able potuērunt to protect protegere the gate portam from ā attackers oppugnātōribus
21.20 We shall be able poterimus to see vidēre the enemy camp castra hostium from ex this hill hōc colle
21.21 The cavalry equitēs was able potuērunt to arrive advenīre before ante dawn lūcem
21.22 Who quis would be able possit to breach perrumpere such strong defenses tam valida mūnīmenta?
21.23 The scouts explōrātōrēs were able potuērunt to warn monēre us nōs about dē the ambush īnsidiīs
21.24 The commander imperātor hopes spērat to be able sē posse to win vincere without sine bloodshed sanguine
21.25 No ship nūlla nāvis was able potuit to escape effugere from ex the harbor portū
21.26 The soldiers mīlitēs will be able poterunt to rest requiēscere after post the victory victōriam
21.27 Being able posse to fight pugnāre well bene requires requīrit constant training perpetuam exercitātiōnem
21.28 The messengers nūntiī were able potuērunt to reach pervenīre the allied cities ad urbēs sociās
21.29 You will be able poteris to understand intellegere the plan cōnsilium once explained cum explicātum erit
21.30 The veterans veterānī were able potuērunt to teach docēre the recruits tirōnēs battle tactics artēs pugnandī
21.16 The legion was able to defend the walls against the enemy. Legiō mūrōs contrā hostēs dēfendere potuit.
21.17 No soldier was able to sleep before the battle. Nūllus mīles ante proelium dormīre poterat.
21.18 The general will be able to lead the army through the mountains. Dux exercitum per montēs dūcere poterit.
21.19 The archers were able to protect the gate from attackers. Sagittāriī portam ab oppugnātōribus protegere potuērunt.
21.20 We shall be able to see the enemy camp from this hill. Castra hostium ex hōc colle vidēre poterimus.
21.21 The cavalry was able to arrive before dawn. Equitēs ante lūcem advenīre potuērunt.21.22 Who would be able to breach such strong defenses? Quis tam valida mūnīmenta perrumpere possit?
21.23 The scouts were able to warn us about the ambush. Explōrātōrēs nōs dē īnsidiīs monēre potuērunt.
21.24 The commander hopes to be able to win without bloodshed. Imperātor sē sine sanguine vincere posse spērat.
21.25 No ship was able to escape from the harbor. Nūlla nāvis ex portū effugere potuit.
21.26 The soldiers will be able to rest after the victory. Mīlitēs post victōriam requiēscere poterunt.
21.27 Being able to fight well requires constant training. Bene pugnāre posse perpetuam exercitātiōnem requīrit.
21.28 The messengers were able to reach the allied cities. Nūntiī ad urbēs sociās pervenīre potuērunt.
21.29 You will be able to understand the plan once explained. Cōnsilium, cum explicātum erit, intellegere poteris.
21.30 The veterans were able to teach the recruits battle tactics. Veterānī tirōnēs artēs pugnandī docēre potuērunt.
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21.16 Legiō mūrōs contrā hostēs dēfendere potuit.
21.17 Nūllus mīles ante proelium dormīre poterat.
21.18 Dux exercitum per montēs dūcere poterit.
21.19 Sagittāriī portam ab oppugnātōribus protegere potuērunt.
21.20 Castra hostium ex hōc colle vidēre poterimus.
21.21 Equitēs ante lūcem advenīre potuērunt.
21.22 Quis tam valida mūnīmenta perrumpere possit?
21.23 Explōrātōrēs nōs dē īnsidiīs monēre potuērunt.
21.24 Imperātor sē sine sanguine vincere posse spērat.
21.25 Nūlla nāvis ex portū effugere potuit.
21.26 Mīlitēs post victōriam requiēscere poterunt.
21.27 Bene pugnāre posse perpetuam exercitātiōnem requīrit.
21.28 Nūntiī ad urbēs sociās pervenīre potuērunt.
21.29 Cōnsilium, cum explicātum erit, intellegere poteris.
21.30 Veterānī tirōnēs artēs pugnandī docēre potuērunt.
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Understanding "possum" in military contexts requires attention to specific patterns: -
Military Command Structures: -
Often uses potential subjunctive (possit) -
Frequent in strategic planning -
Common in reporting capabilities -
Used in conditional military scenarios -
Technical Military Terms with "possum": -
dēfendere posse (to be able to defend) -
pugnāre posse (to be able to fight) -
perrumpere posse (to be able to breach) -
effugere posse (to be able to escape) -
Time Expressions in Military Context: -
ante proelium (before battle) -
post victōriam (after victory) -
ante lūcem (before dawn) -
Used with various tenses of possum -
Strategic Applications: -
Assessing military capabilities -
Planning operations -
Evaluating enemy strengths -
Reporting mission success/failure -
Common Military Constructions: -
Indirect statements with posse -
Purpose clauses -
Result clauses -
Conditional sentences in military planning -
Special Military Vocabulary: -
legiō (legion) -
exercitus (army) -
castra (camp) -
mūnīmenta (defenses) -
All commonly used with forms of possum
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