← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Today we will learn the demonstrative pronoun "hic haec hoc" meaning "this" or "these". This is a crucial word for pointing out people, things, or ideas that are near to the speaker.
7.1 Hic puer this boy in scholā in school est is
7.2 Haec puella this girl librum a book legit reads
7.3 Hoc templum this temple magnum large est is
7.4 Hic vir this man bonus good est is
7.5 Haec femina this woman sapiens wise est is
7.6 Hoc verbum this word difficile difficult est is
7.7 Hi pueri these boys in viā in the street sunt are
7.8 Hae puellae these girls cantant sing
7.9 Haec templa these temples antiqua ancient sunt are
7.10 Hic liber this book meus my est is
7.11 Haec terra this land magnī great est is
7.12 Hoc bellum this war longum long est is
7.13 Hi viri these men fortes brave sunt are
7.14 Hae feminae these women doctae learned sunt are
7.15 Haec verba these words vera true sunt are
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7.1 Hic puer in scholā est. This boy is in school.
7.2 Haec puella librum legit. This girl reads a book.
7.3 Hoc templum magnum est. This temple is large.
7.4 Hic vir bonus est. This man is good.
7.5 Haec femina sapiens est. This woman is wise.
7.6 Hoc verbum difficile est. This word is difficult.
7.7 Hi pueri in viā sunt. These boys are in the street.
7.8 Hae puellae cantant. These girls sing.
7.9 Haec templa antiqua sunt. These temples are ancient.
7.10 Hic liber meus est. This book is mine.
7.11 Haec terra pulchra est. This land is beautiful.
7.12 Hoc bellum longum est. This war is long.
7.13 Hi viri fortes sunt. These men are brave.
7.14 Hae feminae doctae sunt. These women are learned.
7.15 Haec verba vera sunt. These words are true.
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7.1 Hic puer in scholā est.
7.2 Haec puella librum legit.
7.3 Hoc templum magnum est.
7.4 Hic vir bonus est.
7.5 Haec femina sapiens est.
7.6 Hoc verbum difficile est.
7.7 Hi pueri in viā sunt.
7.8 Hae puellae cantant.
7.9 Haec templa antiqua sunt.
7.10 Hic liber meus est.
7.11 Haec terra pulchra est.
7.12 Hoc bellum longum est.
7.13 Hi viri fortes sunt.
7.14 Hae feminae doctae sunt.
7.15 Haec verba vera sunt.
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For English speakers learning Latin, "hic haec hoc" is a demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" (singular) or "these" (plural). Here's how it works:
Singular: -
Masculine: hic (this) -
Feminine: haec (this) -
Neuter: hoc (this)
Plural: -
Masculine: hi (these) -
Feminine: hae (these) -
Neuter: haec (these)
Key points for English speakers: -
Unlike English "this/these", Latin changes form based on gender and number -
Must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case -
Used for things near to the speaker (contrast with "ille" for "that")
Common patterns seen in our examples: -
With esse (to be): "Hic puer bonus est" (This boy is good) -
As subject: "Haec puella legit" (This girl reads) -
With adjectives: "Hoc templum magnum" (This large temple)
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding "hic haec hoc" connects to Roman cultural practices of pointing and referring to nearby objects. In Roman courts, lawyers would use "hic" to refer to their client (present) versus "ille" for the opposition. In literature, authors use these demonstratives to create vivid scenes, bringing objects and people close to the reader.
The precision of Latin demonstratives reflects the Roman love of order and clarity. While English makes do with "this" and "that", Latin's detailed system shows how Romans viewed their world with greater grammatical precision.
In Roman education, students learned these pronouns through repetitive exercises, often writing them on wax tablets - a practice that helped cement the gender and number distinctions we still study today.
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Part F-A (Interleaved text)
From Cicero's First Catilinarian Oration: Hic this tamen nevertheless vivit lives. Vivit? Lives? immo vero indeed etiam even in senatum into the senate venit comes.
"This man nevertheless lives. Lives? Indeed, he even comes into the senate."
Cicero uses "hic" dramatically to point at Catiline, who is present in the Senate. The demonstrative creates immediacy and tension, showing how Latin demonstratives can build dramatic effect.
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"Hic" is nominative masculine singular -
Functions as subject of "vivit" -
Demonstrates typical use pointing to someone present -
Shows emotional force of demonstrative pronouns
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7.16 Hic homo this man suspectus suspicious est is
7.17 Haec epistula this letter secreta secret continet contains verba words
7.18 Hoc signum this sign in parietē on the wall scriptum est was written
7.19 Hi testēs these witnesses vērum the truth dīcunt tell
7.20 Hae clāvēs these keys mystērium the mystery aperiunt unlock
7.21 Haec vestigia these tracks in hortō in the garden sunt are
7.22 Hic gladius this sword cruentus bloody est is
7.23 Haec femina this woman omnēs all rēs things vidit saw
7.24 Hoc cubiculum this room clausum locked erat was
7.25 Hi servī these slaves dominum the master quaerunt seek
7.26 Hae fenestrae these windows fractae broken sunt are
7.27 Haec indicia these clues culpam guilt demonstrant show
7.28 Hic index this informer vēritātem the truth scit knows
7.29 Haec nox this night perīculōsa dangerous est is
7.30 Hoc documentum this document fūrtum the theft explicat explains
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7.16 Hic homo suspectus est. This man is suspicious.
7.17 Haec epistula secreta continet verba. This letter contains secret words.
7.18 Hoc signum in parietē scriptum est. This sign was written on the wall.
7.19 Hi testēs vērum dīcunt. These witnesses tell the truth.
7.20 Hae clāvēs mystērium aperiunt. These keys unlock the mystery.
7.21 Haec vestigia in hortō sunt. These tracks are in the garden.
7.22 Hic gladius cruentus est. This sword is bloody.
7.23 Haec femina omnēs rēs vidit. This woman saw all things.
7.24 Hoc cubiculum clausum erat. This room was locked.
7.25 Hi servī dominum quaerunt. These slaves seek the master.
7.26 Hae fenestrae fractae sunt. These windows are broken.
7.27 Haec indicia culpam demonstrant. These clues show guilt.
7.28 Hic index vēritātem scit. This informer knows the truth.
7.29 Haec nox perīculōsa est. This night is dangerous.
7.30 Hoc documentum fūrtum explicat. This document explains the theft.
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7.16 Hic homo suspectus est.
7.17 Haec epistula secreta continet verba.
7.18 Hoc signum in parietē scriptum est.
7.19 Hi testēs vērum dīcunt.
7.20 Hae clāvēs mystērium aperiunt.
7.21 Haec vestigia in hortō sunt.
7.22 Hic gladius cruentus est.
7.23 Haec femina omnēs rēs vidit.
7.24 Hoc cubiculum clausum erat.
7.25 Hi servī dominum quaerunt.
7.26 Hae fenestrae fractae sunt.
7.27 Haec indicia culpam demonstrant.
7.28 Hic index vēritātem scit.
7.29 Haec nox perīculōsa est.
7.30 Hoc documentum fūrtum explicat.
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In mystery narratives, demonstrative pronouns like "hic haec hoc" play a crucial role in pointing out evidence and suspects. Note how they're used in this section: -
Physical Evidence: -
With objects: "hic gladius" (this sword) -
With locations: "hoc cubiculum" (this room) -
With clues: "haec vestigia" (these tracks) -
Witness Statements: -
People: "hi testēs" (these witnesses) -
Observations: "haec femina vidit" (this woman saw) -
Documents: -
Written evidence: "haec epistula" (this letter) -
Official records: "hoc documentum" (this document)
The demonstrative pronouns help create immediacy and draw attention to key elements in the mystery narrative, making them essential tools for building suspense and revealing clues.
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Characters:
Mārcus Marcus et Lūcius and Lucius
M: Quid what est is hic this liber book novus new?
L: Hic this liber book est is de bellō about war.
M: Estne is hic this liber book bonus good?
L: Ita yes, hic this liber book bonus good est is. Et and haec these verba words magnī great sunt are.
M: Ubi where hunc this librum book invenīstī did you find?
L: In in illā that bibliothēcā library. Haec this bibliothēca library multa many nova new volumina volumes habet has.
M: Hoc this est is optimum excellent! Visne do you want mihi to me hunc this librum book dare to give?
L: Nōn not hodiē today. Hoc this tempore time librum book legō I am reading. Crās tomorrow tibi to you dabō I will give.
M: Grātiās thanks tibi to you agō I give. Hi these librī books novī new mē me dēlectant delight.
L: Hae these litterae letters omnēs all studiōsōs studious people dēlectant delight.
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M: Quid est hic liber novus? What is this new book?
L: Hic liber est de bellō. This book is about war.
M: Estne hic liber bonus? Is this book good?
L: Ita, hic liber bonus est. Et haec verba pulchra sunt. Yes, this book is good. And these words are beautiful.
M: Ubi hunc librum invenīstī? Where did you find this book?
L: In illā bibliothēcā. Haec bibliothēca multa nova volumina habet. In that library. This library has many new volumes.
M: Hoc est optimum! Visne mihi hunc librum dare? This is excellent! Do you want to give this book to me?
L: Nōn hodiē. Hoc tempore librum legō. Crās tibi dabō. Not today. At this time I am reading the book. Tomorrow I will give it to you.
M: Grātiās tibi agō. Hi librī novī mē dēlectant. I give thanks to you. These new books delight me.
L: Hae litterae omnēs studiōsōs dēlectant. These writings delight all studious people.
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M: Quid est hic liber novus?
L: Hic liber est de bellō.
M: Estne hic liber bonus?
L: Ita, hic liber bonus est. Et haec verba pulchra sunt.
M: Ubi hunc librum invenīstī?
L: In illā bibliothēcā. Haec bibliothēca multa nova volumina habet.
M: Hoc est optimum! Visne mihi hunc librum dare?
L: Nōn hodiē. Hoc tempore librum legō. Crās tibi dabō.
M: Grātiās tibi agō. Hi librī novī mē dēlectant.
L: Hae litterae omnēs studiōsōs dēlectant.
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This Corderius dialogue demonstrates several important grammatical features: -
Uses of "hic, haec, hoc": -
Nominative singular masculine: "hic liber" (this book) -
Accusative singular masculine: "hunc librum" (this book) -
Nominative plural masculine: "hi librī" (these books) -
Nominative plural feminine: "hae litterae" (these writings) -
Case Usage: -
Dative of indirect object: "mihi" (to me), "tibi" (to you) -
Accusative of direct object: "librum" (book) -
Ablative of time: "hoc tempore" (at this time) -
Verb Forms: -
Present tense: "est" (is), "legō" (I read) -
Future tense: "dabō" (I will give) -
Perfect tense: "invenīstī" (you found) -
Question Formation: -
"-ne" questions: "Estne" (is it?) -
Question word: "Quid" (what) -
Indirect questions with "vis" + infinitive
The dialogue follows typical Corderius style with: -
Short, clear exchanges -
Natural progression of thought -
Practical vocabulary -
Common everyday situations -
Educational content
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