What is a Participle?

It’s a verbal adjective: an hybrid of verb and adjective.English has 2 participles (present and past) while Latin

has 3 (present, past and future)

English vs. LatinEnglish Latin

It is easy to recognize because of the –ing of the verbIt has 3 functions:1) As progressive form: ex. Theseus is

entering the Labirynth2) As adjective of a noun or pronoun: ex.

Theseus was an inspiring hero3) An adjective introducing a participial

phrase. Ex.Theseus, seeing the Minotaur, was not afraid (the entire phrase killing the Montaur works as adjective that modifies Theseus )

It is formed with the present stem of the verb + -ns (Nom sing) , -ntis (gen sing).It is an adjective of the III declension declined in all cases singular and plural. Being an adjective must agree in case gender and number with the noun that modifies. It has two functions (vd English #2 and #3). Ex#2. Theseus erat heros inspirans (Theseus is the noun modified, heros is the predicate masc. Nom. singular and inspirans is adjective masc. Nom. Sing.)#3 Theseus (subject Nom sing masc) Minotaurum videns (same as subject +followed by Direct Object) non timebat

Dominus servum vinum bibentem viditthe master saw the slave drinking the wine

Dominus servum vino capto viditthe master saw the slave having been taken/after he took / the wine

dominus servum vinum capturum viditthe master saw the slave about to take the wine

ANALYSIS

• Sextum arborem ascendentem desilire iussi (iubeo, iubere, iussi, iussum):

• What ‘s the subject?__________________• What’s the infinitive?_________________• What’s the direct object?______________• What’s the participle?_________________• What tense is the verb?________________• What is the participial phrase?___________• What word does the participle modify?

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