Latin Translation Help (3rd Form Latin)

[RootAnn]

I haven't been able to keep up with dd#1 in Latin since the end of First Form. She's in Third Form this year. I need some help with what difference there is between the answer key's translation of the following sentence & her translation. 

 

Erat regina sápiens

(Lesson 11 quiz, section c #1)

 

Answer key says:  She was a wise queen.

DD says:  The queen was wise.

 

 

Obviously, 'queen' in dd's sentence is in the nominative (subject) case. Queen in the answer key is a predicate nominative -- so wouldn't they both be the same case? How to know which way to phrase the translation? Or, am I splitting hairs & it doesn't matter?

 

Help!

[KrissiK]

I wish I could help you. We're still only in Second Form, but... here are my thoughts. Generally, the verb is at the end of the sentence. And the pronoun ending is used as the subject unless there is another noun at the beginning of the sentence that serves as the subject. It looks to me like "erat" is used as a linking verb, and it's pronoun ending is the subject - "she is", with "regina" as the predicate nominative and "sapiens" as an adjective modifying it. I am thinking it is this way because of the positioning of the verb in the sentence.

 

I have no idea if my reasoning is right. I'm still learning this stuff. In some ways, I think we need to translate for meaning, rather than word for word. And word position isn't as important in Latin as it is in English. But I do think that sentence complements come after the linking verb in Latin.

Edited February 28, 2016 by KrissiK

[Critterfixer]

I think if I was trying to translate The queen was wise, I would translate that as Regina erat sapiens.  That way there would be no confusion between the subject and the predicate adjective. If I wanted to say She was a wise queen, I would do as the sentence does. Stick that adjective right next to the noun and keep the linking verb in a position of prominence. 

There seems to be some weirdness with the adjective sapiens. It's not even by itself in the dictionary as an adjective. It is right with the verb sapio, and there is a comment that sapiens is a substantive. I don't know enough about these things to say whether or not that has anything to do with the translation, though.

[EmseB]

I am sure there is a ton of help here, but also if you ask on the MP forums some of their Latin experts and people who developed/teach the Forms chime in too and it is super helpful.

Edited February 29, 2016 by JodiSue

[KrissiK]

I am sure there is a ton of help here, but also if you ask on the MP forums some of their Latin experts and people who developed/teach the Forms chime in too and it is super helpful.

If you do this, RootAnn, would you mind reporting back? I would sure like to know if I reasoned that out correctly or if I am completely off base! Thanks!

[Classic Mom]

Either translation is correct.  "Wise Queen" is either nominative and the subject or nominative and the predicate nominative.  Either way the meaning of the sentence is the same.