← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
96.1 Hic this homō man tam so doctus learned est is ut that omnēs all eum him laudent praise
96.2 Frāter brother tam so sapiēns wise nōn not est is quam as pater father
96.3 Tam so multī many mīlitēs soldiers vēnērunt came ut that castra camp plēna full essent were
96.4 Senex old man tam so fessus tired erat was ut that ambulāre to walk nōn not posset was able
96.5 Nēmō no one tam so fortis brave est is ut that numquam never timeat fears
96.6 Tam so magnī great est is rōsa rose ut that omnēs all eam it spectent look at
96.7 Puella girl nōn not tam so laeta happy est is quam as soror sister
96.8 Hostēs enemies tam so prope near erant were ut that tēla weapons vidērēmus we could see
96.9 Tam so grave heavy onus burden portābat he carried ut that dēfessus exhausted esset he was
96.10 Magister teacher nōn not tam so sevērus strict est is quam as vidētur he seems
96.11 Tam so validus strong ventus wind flat blows ut that arbōrēs trees cadant fall
96.12 Puer boy tam so bene well cantat sings ut that omnēs all audiant listen
96.13 Mūrus wall nōn not tam so altus high est is quam as putāvimus we thought
96.14 Tam so dūra hard pugna battle fuit was ut that multī many cadērent fell
96.15 Ager field nōn not tam so lātus wide est is quam as vidētur it seems
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
96.1 Hic homō tam doctus est ut omnēs eum laudent. This man is so learned that everyone praises him.
96.2 Frāter tam sapiēns nōn est quam pater. The brother is not as wise as the father.
96.3 Tam multī mīlitēs vēnērunt ut castra plēna essent. So many soldiers came that the camp was full.
96.4 Senex tam fessus erat ut ambulāre nōn posset. The old man was so tired that he could not walk.
96.5 Nēmō tam fortis est ut numquam timeat. No one is so brave that they never fear.
96.6 Tam pulchra est rōsa ut omnēs eam spectent. The rose is so beautiful that everyone looks at it.
96.7 Puella nōn tam laeta est quam soror. The girl is not as happy as her sister.
96.8 Hostēs tam prope erant ut tēla vidērēmus. The enemies were so near that we could see their weapons.
96.9 Tam grave onus portābat ut dēfessus esset. He carried such a heavy burden that he was exhausted.
96.10 Magister nōn tam sevērus est quam vidētur. The teacher is not as strict as he seems.
96.11 Tam validus ventus flat ut arbōrēs cadant. The wind blows so strongly that trees fall.
96.12 Puer tam bene cantat ut omnēs audiant. The boy sings so well that everyone listens.
96.13 Mūrus nōn tam altus est quam putāvimus. The wall is not as high as we thought.
96.14 Tam dūra pugna fuit ut multī cadērent. The battle was so fierce that many fell.
96.15 Ager nōn tam lātus est quam vidētur. The field is not as wide as it seems.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
96.1 Hic homō tam doctus est ut omnēs eum laudent.
96.2 Frāter tam sapiēns nōn est quam pater.
96.3 Tam multī mīlitēs vēnērunt ut castra plēna essent.
96.4 Senex tam fessus erat ut ambulāre nōn posset.
96.5 Nēmō tam fortis est ut numquam timeat.
96.6 Tam pulchra est rōsa ut omnēs eam spectent.
96.7 Puella nōn tam laeta est quam soror.
96.8 Hostēs tam prope erant ut tēla vidērēmus.
96.9 Tam grave onus portābat ut dēfessus esset.
96.10 Magister nōn tam sevērus est quam vidētur.
96.11 Tam validus ventus flat ut arbōrēs cadant.
96.12 Puer tam bene cantat ut omnēs audiant.
96.13 Mūrus nōn tam altus est quam putāvimus.
96.14 Tam dūra pugna fuit ut multī cadērent.
96.15 Ager nōn tam lātus est quam vidētur.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The adverb "tam" has two main uses in Latin: -
With Result Clauses: -
"tam" + adjective/adverb + "ut" + subjunctive -
Indicates that something is "so" (to such a degree) that a result follows -
Example: "tam doctus est ut omnēs eum laudent" -
The result clause always uses subjunctive mood -
In Comparisons: -
"tam" + adjective/adverb + "quam" -
Used for comparisons of equality ("as...as") or inequality ("not as...as") -
Example: "nōn tam sapiēns est quam pater" -
Uses indicative mood
Key Grammar Points: -
"tam" modifies adjectives and adverbs, not verbs -
Word order is flexible but "tam" typically precedes what it modifies -
Negative comparisons use "nōn tam...quam" -
Result clauses require subjunctive regardless of primary or secondary sequence
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Understanding "tam" requires awareness of Roman rhetorical style: -
Result Clauses: -
Common in dramatic descriptions -
Used in historical narratives for emphasis -
Important in political speeches -
Comparisons: -
Essential in Roman legal arguments -
Used in philosophical discussions -
Found in poetry for emotional effect -
Modern Connections: -
Similar to English "so" and "as" -
Used in scientific Latin -
Found in church Latin
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From Cicero's "Pro Archia" (8.18):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Tam so parvī small sunt are fructūs the fruits ingeniōrum of talents in in hāc this aetāte age ut that nōs we omnēs all eam it doctissimam most learned dīcāmus call quae which stultissima most foolish est is.
"Tam parvī sunt fructūs ingeniōrum in hāc aetāte ut nōs omnēs eam doctissimam dīcāmus quae stultissima est."
So small are the fruits of talent in this age that we all call that most learned which is most foolish.
Cicero uses "tam" to criticize his contemporary society. The result clause emphasizes the paradox between perceived and actual wisdom.
-
"tam" introduces result clause -
"ut" + subjunctive follows -
Superlatives "doctissimam" and "stultissima" create contrast -
Complex sentence structure typical of Cicero
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
96.16 Hostēs enemies tam so ferōcēs fierce erant were ut that nēmō no one resistere to resist audēret dared
96.17 Tam so multae many nāvēs ships portum harbor intrāvērunt entered ut that omnia all things loca places complērent they filled
96.18 Dux leader tam so fortis brave erat was ut that prīmus first in into pugnam battle īret would go
96.19 Urbs city nōn not tam so bene well mūnīta fortified erat was quam as putābāmus we thought
96.20 Tam so graviter seriously vulnerātus wounded est was ut that arma weapons tenēre to hold nōn not posset he was able
96.21 Legiōnēs legions tam so celeriter quickly prōgressae advanced sunt are ut that hostēs enemies fugerent fled
96.22 Tempestās storm tam so magna great erat was ut that nāvēs ships ad to lītus shore redīrent returned
96.23 Mīlitēs soldiers nōn not tam so multī many erant were quam as hostēs enemies exspectāverant had expected
96.24 Tam so longum long iter journey fēcerunt they made ut that multī many dēficērent gave up
96.25 Castra camp tam so bene well posita placed erant were ut that facile easily dēfendī to be defended possent they could
96.26 Dux leader tam so sapienter wisely imperāvit commanded ut that victōriam victory adipīscerēmur we achieved
96.27 Hostēs enemies nōn not tam so parātī prepared erant were quam as vidēbantur they seemed
96.28 Tam so subitō suddenly hostēs enemies impetum attack fēcērunt made ut that multī many caderent fell
96.29 Mūrī walls tam so altī high erant were ut that nēmō no one trānscendere to climb over posset could
96.30 Pugna battle tam so atrōx fierce erat was ut that multī many fugerent fled
96.16 Hostēs tam ferōcēs erant ut nēmō resistere audēret. The enemies were so fierce that no one dared to resist.
96.17 Tam multae nāvēs portum intrāvērunt ut omnia loca complērent. So many ships entered the harbor that they filled all the spaces.
96.18 Dux tam fortis erat ut prīmus in pugnam īret. The leader was so brave that he would go first into battle.
96.19 Urbs nōn tam bene mūnīta erat quam putābāmus. The city was not as well fortified as we thought.
96.20 Tam graviter vulnerātus est ut arma tenēre nōn posset. He was so seriously wounded that he could not hold his weapons.
96.21 Legiōnēs tam celeriter prōgressae sunt ut hostēs fugerent. The legions advanced so quickly that the enemies fled.
96.22 Tempestās tam magna erat ut nāvēs ad lītus redīrent. The storm was so great that the ships returned to shore.
96.23 Mīlitēs nōn tam multī erant quam hostēs exspectāverant. The soldiers were not as many as the enemies had expected.
96.24 Tam longum iter fēcērunt ut multī dēficērent. They made such a long journey that many gave up.
96.25 Castra tam bene posita erant ut facile dēfendī possent. The camp was so well placed that it could be easily defended.
96.26 Dux tam sapienter imperāvit ut victōriam adipīscerēmur. The leader commanded so wisely that we achieved victory.
96.27 Hostēs nōn tam parātī erant quam vidēbantur. The enemies were not as prepared as they seemed.
96.28 Tam subitō hostēs impetum fēcērunt ut multī caderent. The enemies made their attack so suddenly that many fell.
96.29 Mūrī tam altī erant ut nēmō trānscendere posset. The walls were so high that no one could climb over them.
96.30 Pugna tam atrōx erat ut multī fugerent. The battle was so fierce that many fled.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
96.16 Hostēs tam ferōcēs erant ut nēmō resistere audēret.
96.17 Tam multae nāvēs portum intrāvērunt ut omnia loca complērent.
96.18 Dux tam fortis erat ut prīmus in pugnam īret.
96.19 Urbs nōn tam bene mūnīta erat quam putābāmus.
96.20 Tam graviter vulnerātus est ut arma tenēre nōn posset.
96.21 Legiōnēs tam celeriter prōgressae sunt ut hostēs fugerent.
96.22 Tempestās tam magna erat ut nāvēs ad lītus redīrent.
96.23 Mīlitēs nōn tam multī erant quam hostēs exspectāverant.
96.24 Tam longum iter fēcērunt ut multī dēficērent.
96.25 Castra tam bene posita erant ut facile dēfendī possent.
96.26 Dux tam sapienter imperāvit ut victōriam adipīscerēmur.
96.27 Hostēs nōn tam parātī erant quam vidēbantur.
96.28 Tam subitō hostēs impetum fēcērunt ut multī caderent.
96.29 Mūrī tam altī erant ut nēmō trānscendere posset.
96.30 Pugna tam atrōx erat ut multī fugerent.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
In historical narrative, "tam" serves several key functions: -
Dramatic Intensity: -
"tam" + adjective emphasizes the extreme nature of events -
Often paired with military terms (ferōx, fortis, atrōx) -
Creates vivid imagery of battle scenes -
Causation in History: -
Result clauses show cause and effect -
"tam...ut" structure explains historical consequences -
Subjunctive mood emphasizes resultant action -
Military Reports: -
Used in describing troop movements -
Details battle preparations -
Describes tactical situations -
Comparison Patterns: -
"nōn tam...quam" shows expectations vs. reality -
Important in analyzing military strategy -
Used to describe relative forces
Common Military Vocabulary with tam: -
Physical qualities: fortis, altus, parātus -
Actions: resistere, fugere, cadere -
Battle terms: pugna, impetus, arma
Syntactical Features: -
Position variations: -
Initial position for emphasis -
Medial position in descriptive phrases -
With adverbs in military movements -
Verb sequences: -
Perfect tense for completed actions -
Imperfect for background conditions -
Pluperfect for prior events
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---