Bartholomew the Englishman

On Infancy


Latin Grammar

Ad hoc dicit Aristoteles lib. 2 quod in infantulis abundat cerebrum, et secundum quantitatem sui corporis est valde magnum. Unde superior pars corporis infantum est maior et ponderosior aliis partibus, et ideo infans in principio sui motus ambulat super pedes et super manus, deinde vero erigit suum corpus paulatim, quia pars anterior diminuitur, et per consequens levior redditur, pars vero inferior crescit, per consequens gravior efficitur.

Notice in this passage an example of the ablative of comparison in line 2:  "...ponderosior allis partibus.." (heavier than the other parts).  The word "than" must be used in  english to show the comparison.  This may be rendered in Latin by quam, but in an ablative of comparison construction, the ablative case used with a comparative adjective has the same effect, and "than" is understood. 

Choose the proper translation for the following ablatives of comparison. Enter the letter corresponding to the appropriate English translation in each box:

1. longior ceteris   a. brighter than day
2. sapienter Bruto   b. better than Brutus
3. levior aere   c. crueler than you
4. clariora die   d. farther than the rest
5.carior mea vita   e. more suitable than you
6. crudeliior te   f. lighter than air
7. propior ceteris   g. longer than the others
8. ulterior ceteris   h. nearer than the rest
9. magis idoneus te   i. wiser than Brutus
10. melior Bruto   j. dearer than my own life

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