← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
The word "an" serves as both an interrogative particle in direct questions and a conjunction introducing indirect questions or alternatives. This lesson explores its various uses with gradually increasing complexity.
94.1 Nescit he does not know pater father an whether fīlius son vīvat lives
94.2 Rogāvit he asked mē me an whether parātus ready essem I was
94.3 Dūx leader quaerit asks an whether hostēs enemies appropinquent approach
94.4 Incertum uncertain est it is an whether victōrēs victors erimus we will be
94.5 Videt he sees nē whether an or amīcus friend veniat comes
94.6 Dubitat he doubts an whether hoc this vērum true sit might be
94.7 Māter mother rogat asks an whether fīlia daughter dormiat sleeps
94.8 Magister teacher nescit does not know an whether discipulī pupils intellegant understand
94.9 Dēlīberāmus we deliberate an whether castra camp moveāmus we should move
94.10 Rogāvērunt they asked an whether tempus time venisset had come
94.11 Utrum whether pāx peace an or bellum war futūrum about to be sit is
94.12 Senātus senate quaerit asks an whether lēgātī ambassadors mittendī to be sent sint are
94.13 Dīc tell mihi to me an whether hoc this facere to do possis you can
94.14 Dubitō I doubt an whether epistulam letter acceperis you have received
94.15 Mīles soldier quaerit asks an whether tempestas weather bona good futūra about to be sit is
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94.1 Nescit pater an fīlius vīvat. The father does not know whether his son lives.
94.2 Rogāvit mē an parātus essem. He asked me whether I was ready.
94.3 Dūx quaerit an hostēs appropinquent. The leader asks whether the enemies are approaching.
94.4 Incertum est an victōrēs erimus. It is uncertain whether we will be victors.
94.5 Videt nē an amīcus veniat. He sees whether or not his friend is coming.
94.6 Dubitat an hoc vērum sit. He doubts whether this might be true.
94.7 Māter rogat an fīlia dormiat. The mother asks whether her daughter is sleeping.
94.8 Magister nescit an discipulī intellegant. The teacher does not know whether the pupils understand.
94.9 Dēlīberāmus an castra moveāmus. We are deliberating whether we should move camp.
94.10 Rogāvērunt an tempus venisset. They asked whether the time had come.
94.11 Utrum pāx an bellum futūrum sit. Whether there will be peace or war.
94.12 Senātus quaerit an lēgātī mittendī sint. The senate asks whether ambassadors should be sent.
94.13 Dīc mihi an hoc facere possis. Tell me whether you can do this.
94.14 Dubitō an epistulam acceperis. I doubt whether you have received the letter.
94.15 Mīles quaerit an tempestas bona futūra sit. The soldier asks whether the weather will be good.
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94.1 Nescit pater an fīlius vīvat.
94.2 Rogāvit mē an parātus essem.
94.3 Dūx quaerit an hostēs appropinquent.
94.4 Incertum est an victōrēs erimus.
94.5 Videt nē an amīcus veniat.
94.6 Dubitat an hoc vērum sit.
94.7 Māter rogat an fīlia dormiat.
94.8 Magister nescit an discipulī intellegant.
94.9 Dēlīberāmus an castra moveāmus.
94.10 Rogāvērunt an tempus venisset.
94.11 Utrum pāx an bellum futūrum sit.
94.12 Senātus quaerit an lēgātī mittendī sint.
94.13 Dīc mihi an hoc facere possis.
94.14 Dubitō an epistulam acceperis.
94.15 Mīles quaerit an tempestas bona futūra sit.
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The particle "an" has several important uses that English speakers need to understand: -
Indirect Questions: -
Follows verbs of asking, knowing, doubting -
Takes subjunctive mood -
Examples from our lesson: -
"Nescit pater an fīlius vīvat" (after verb of knowing) -
"Rogāvit mē an parātus essem" (after verb of asking) -
Alternative Questions: -
Used with utrum... an -
Can mean "whether... or" -
Example: -
"Utrum pāx an bellum futūrum sit" -
Common Verb Constructions: -
After dubitō: "Dubitō an epistulam acceperis" -
After quaerō: "Dūx quaerit an hostēs appropinquent" -
After rogō: "Māter rogat an fīlia dormiat" -
Sequence of Tenses: -
Present subjunctive after primary tenses -
Imperfect subjunctive after secondary tenses -
Examples: -
Primary: "quaerit an... appropinquent" -
Secondary: "rogāvit an... essem"
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Understanding how Romans used "an" requires cultural context: -
Legal Language: -
Formal deliberations often used an-clauses -
Senate discussions frequently employed alternative questions -
Judicial inquiries used indirect questions with an -
Military Communications: -
Scouts' reports often contained an-clauses -
Battle planning used alternative questions -
Command decisions often hinged on an-clauses -
Social Context: -
Polite questions often used an -
Diplomatic language frequently employed an-clauses -
Family discussions used softer an-questions -
Literary Usage: -
Rhetorical questions often employed an -
Historical works used an for deliberations -
Poetry used an for dramatic effect
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From Cicero's Pro Roscio Amerino (7.18):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quaerō I ask abs from tē you, T. Rōscī, Titus Roscius, quamobrem, for what reason, cum when dē about possessiōne possession plūrēs several diēs days quaererētur was being inquired et and dubium doubtful esset it was an whether is this homō man possīdēret, would possess, repente suddenly recesseris you withdrew.
"Quaerō abs tē, T. Rōscī, quamobrem, cum dē possessiōne plūrēs diēs quaererētur et dubium esset an is homō possīdēret, repente recesseris."
I ask you, Titus Roscius, why, when there was an inquiry about possession for several days and it was doubtful whether this man would possess it, you suddenly withdrew.
Cicero uses "an" here in a complex sentence showing: -
Indirect question construction -
Subjunctive mood in dependent clause -
Legal context of property dispute -
Rhetorical force in courtroom speech
-
"an" introduces indirect question -
"esset" imperfect subjunctive in cum-clause -
"possīdēret" imperfect subjunctive with an -
Complex sentence structure typical of Cicero
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94.16 Iūdex judge interrogat asks an whether testis witness vēra true things dīcat says
94.17 Accūsātor prosecutor quaerit asks an whether reus defendant culpam guilt fateātur admits
94.18 Patria country quaerit asks an whether cīvis citizen lēgēs laws servāverit has kept
94.19 Senātōrēs senators dēlīberant deliberate an whether nova new lēx law necessāria necessary sit is
94.20 Cōnsul consul rogat asks an whether senātus senate conventūrus about to meet sit is
94.21 Quaerimus we ask an whether testēs witnesses adsint are present
94.22 Scīre to know volunt they want an whether iūdex judge aequus fair sit is
94.23 Dubitant they doubt an whether poena punishment iūsta just sit is
94.24 Praetor praetor rogat asks an whether omnia all things parāta prepared sint are
94.25 Quaeritur it is asked an whether lēx law nova new valeat is valid
94.26 Cōnsul consul incertus uncertain est is an whether cīvēs citizens lēgem law probent approve
94.27 Iūdex judge quaerit asks an whether verba words testis of witness crēdenda to be believed sint are
94.28 Senātōrēs senators nesciunt do not know an whether pāx peace servārī to be preserved possit can
94.29 Accūsātor prosecutor dubitat doubts an whether crīmen crime probārī to be proved possit can
94.30 Magistrātus magistrate quaerit asks an whether iūstitia justice servāta preserved sit has been
94.16 Iūdex interrogat an testis vēra dīcat. The judge asks whether the witness is telling the truth.
94.17 Accūsātor quaerit an reus culpam fateātur. The prosecutor asks whether the defendant admits guilt.
94.18 Patria quaerit an cīvis lēgēs servāverit. The country asks whether the citizen has kept the laws.
94.19 Senātōrēs dēlīberant an nova lēx necessāria sit. The senators deliberate whether a new law is necessary.
94.20 Cōnsul rogat an senātus conventūrus sit. The consul asks whether the senate is going to meet.
94.21 Quaerimus an testēs adsint. We ask whether the witnesses are present.
94.22 Scīre volunt an iūdex aequus sit. They want to know whether the judge is fair.
94.23 Dubitant an poena iūsta sit. They doubt whether the punishment is just.
94.24 Praetor rogat an omnia parāta sint. The praetor asks whether everything is prepared.
94.25 Quaeritur an lēx nova valeat. It is asked whether the new law is valid.
94.26 Cōnsul incertus est an cīvēs lēgem probent. The consul is uncertain whether the citizens approve the law.
94.27 Iūdex quaerit an verba testis crēdenda sint. The judge asks whether the witness's words should be believed.
94.28 Senātōrēs nesciunt an pāx servārī possit. The senators do not know whether peace can be preserved.
94.29 Accūsātor dubitat an crīmen probārī possit. The prosecutor doubts whether the crime can be proved.
94.30 Magistrātus quaerit an iūstitia servāta sit. The magistrate asks whether justice has been preserved.
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94.16 Iūdex interrogat an testis vēra dīcat.
94.17 Accūsātor quaerit an reus culpam fateātur.
94.18 Patria quaerit an cīvis lēgēs servāverit.
94.19 Senātōrēs dēlīberant an nova lēx necessāria sit.
94.20 Cōnsul rogat an senātus conventūrus sit.
94.21 Quaerimus an testēs adsint.
94.22 Scīre volunt an iūdex aequus sit.
94.23 Dubitant an poena iūsta sit.
94.24 Praetor rogat an omnia parāta sint.
94.25 Quaeritur an lēx nova valeat.
94.26 Cōnsul incertus est an cīvēs lēgem probent.
94.27 Iūdex quaerit an verba testis crēdenda sint.
94.28 Senātōrēs nesciunt an pāx servārī possit.
94.29 Accūsātor dubitat an crīmen probārī possit.
94.30 Magistrātus quaerit an iūstitia servāta sit.
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The legal dialogue section demonstrates several important grammatical features: -
Indirect Questions in Legal Context: -
After verba interrogandī (verbs of asking): -
interrogat an... (asks whether...) -
quaerit an... (inquires whether...) -
rogat an... (asks whether...) -
Always take subjunctive mood -
Example: "Iūdex interrogat an testis vēra dīcat" -
Sequence of Tenses: -
Present subjunctive after primary tenses: -
quaerit an fateātur (asks whether he admits) -
rogat an sint (asks whether they are) -
Perfect subjunctive for completed action: -
quaerit an servāverit (asks whether he has kept) -
Future participle with subjunctive esse: -
rogat an conventūrus sit (asks whether it will meet) -
Passive Voice in Legal Language: -
Impersonal passive: -
quaeritur an... (it is asked whether...) -
Gerundive of obligation: -
crēdenda sint (ought to be believed) -
Perfect passive: -
servāta sit (has been preserved) -
Common Legal Vocabulary Patterns: -
Technical terms: -
reus (defendant) -
testis (witness) -
iūdex (judge) -
Abstract nouns: -
iūstitia (justice) -
poena (punishment) -
culpa (guilt) -
Complex Sentence Structure: -
Main clause + indirect question: -
"Accūsātor dubitat an crīmen probārī possit" -
Passive infinitive in indirect questions: -
"servārī possit" (can be preserved) -
Compound subjects and objects: -
"an cīvēs lēgem probent"
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