-ne (Yes-or-No Questions)

Asking Yes-or-No Questions

Level 2

A small ending that turns a statement into a yes-or-no question.

How It Works

StatementQuestion
Amas Romam. You love Rome.Amasne Romam? Do you love Rome?
Marcus venit. Marcus is coming.Venitne Marcus? Is Marcus coming?
Es laetus. You are happy.Esne laetus? Are you happy?

The word that carries -ne is the one the question is about. In Venitne Marcus? the question is about coming. Put -ne on the name and the question is about who comes: Marcusne venit? Is it Marcus who is coming?

A -ne question does not hint at the answer. Level 3 adds num and nonne for questions that expect no or yes.

To answer, a Latin speaker usually repeats the verb: Venit. (He is.) or Non venit. (He is not.)

Examples (5)

  1. Amasne Romam?

    Do you love Rome?

    The -ne sits on the verb amas and makes the question.

  2. Venitne Marcus?

    Is Marcus coming?

    The verb comes first and carries -ne. The subject follows.

  3. Habesne librum?

    Do you have a book?

    Latin has no word for do. The -ne does that job.

  4. Esne laetus?

    Are you happy?

    Es is a form of sum, and -ne is added to it.

  5. Cantasne in ecclesia?

    Do you sing in church?

    The -ne is on cantas. In ecclesia is in plus the ablative.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting -ne at the end, where English puts the question mark.

    Amas Romam ne?
    Amasne Romam?

    The -ne is part of the first word, not a word of its own at the end.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-ne (Yes-or-No Questions)Level 2Asking Yes-or-No Questions

Learn This First

The -ne question is answered with yes or no, so saying yes and no comes first.

Words in This Pattern

-ne