4FL/Henle 1 Q - Indirect Questions

[Jen_NH]

We're on Lesson 13 in 4FL (doing the assigned exercises in the Henle book). When we're translating indirect questions, esp from English into Latin, how do you know whether to use a form of quaero or rogo?
Thanks

[Jon Christianson]

Hello,

In the typical English to Latin translation exercise, there is not enough information to decidedly say quaero is preferable to rogo, or vice versa. You may comfortably accept either verb as long as they are inflected correctly - that is, with the right person, number, tense, etc.

If you want to be as precise as possible, quaero typically takes the thing asked for as the direct object, while rogo typically takes the person asked as the direct object. If you imagine the indirect question as acting something like the verb's direct object, then that means an indirect question that doesn't specify whom you ask is more likely to have quaero, while an indirect question that does specify whom you ask is more likely to have rogo.

I ask whether the slaves are free. Quaero num servi sint liberi.
I ask you whether the slaves are free. Te rogo num servi sint liberi.

This is not a hard and fast rule, but a tendency only; expect to see exceptions!

- Jon

[Jen_NH]

Hello,

In the typical English to Latin translation exercise, there is not enough information to decidedly say quaero is preferable to rogo, or vice versa. You may comfortably accept either verb as long as they are inflected correctly - that is, with the right person, number, tense, etc.

If you want to be as precise as possible, quaero typically takes the thing asked for as the direct object, while rogo typically takes the person asked as the direct object. If you imagine the indirect question as acting something like the verb's direct object, then that means an indirect question that doesn't specify whom you ask is more likely to have quaero, while an indirect question that does specify whom you ask is more likely to have rogo.

I ask whether the slaves are free. Quaero num servi sint liberi.
I ask you whether the slaves are free. Te rogo num servi sint liberi.

This is not a hard and fast rule, but a tendency only; expect to see exceptions!

- Jon

Thank you! That is a hugely helpful guideline to have in mind.