Words Far From Their Partners

Level 6

Look for endings that match, then join the words in your head.

How It Works

LineWords that belong together
At regina gravi iamdudum saucia curagravi ... cura (ablative singular, by heavy care) and regina ... saucia (nominative singular, the wounded queen)
Vides ut alta stet nive candidum Soractealta ... nive (ablative singular, with deep snow) and candidum ... Soracte (nominative singular, white Soracte)

Poets use the freedom to fit the meter, to put a word where it stands out, or to make a pattern of sound.

When you are unsure which words pair up, compare endings. Gravi and cura are both ablative singular, so they belong together even with two other words between them.

Prose keeps related words closer together, but it also allows some separation.

Examples (4)

  1. At regina gravi iamdudum saucia cura

    But the queen, long since wounded by heavy care

    Aeneid 4.1. Gravi and cura are both ablative singular, with saucia and iamdudum between them.

  2. Vides ut alta stet nive candidum Soracte

    You see how Soracte stands white with deep snow

    Horace, Odes 1.9.1-2. Alta nive is the ablative phrase, and candidum goes with Soracte.

  3. Nec venenatis gravida sagittis, Fusce, pharetra,

    nor with a quiver heavy with poisoned arrows, Fuscus,

    Horace, Odes 1.22.3-4. Gravida and pharetra are both ablative singular, and the other words stand between them.

  4. Carthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe ostia

    Carthage, far opposite Italy and the mouth of the Tiber

    Aeneid 1.13-14. Tiberina and ostia belong together, and longe stands between them.

How It Connects

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

Words Far From Their PartnersLevel 6

Learn This First

Poets use free word order to the full, so the hexameter, free word order and adjective position come first.