Translate into English: equum lupus celeriter cepit.

As ever, the first step is to find the subject, verb and object of the sentence. The subject is in the nominative case, the object in the accusative case and the verb will agree with the subject in number. In this sentence the ending -m of equum is a strong indication that it is the object of the sentence and the -s of lupus tells us that it is the subject (as both of these words are 2nd declension masculine). Our very is cepit. Since Latin can be in a different word order to English it is important to establish which order you will translate the words. In English we normally follow the order 'subject verb object...' and hence we will translate this sentence in the order 'lupus cepit equum celeriter'. Lupus means wolf and equus means horse. Cepit is the 3rd person singular perfect active indicative form of capio - I capture. Thus the sentence translates 'the wolf captured the horse'. The -iter endind of celeriter tells us that it is adverbial and hence modifies cepit. The final translation of this sentence should be 'the wolf captured the horse quickly'.

RC
Answered by Richard C. Latin tutor

4783 Views

See similar Latin GCSE tutors

Related Latin GCSE answers

All answers ▸

'illo tempore, urbs Roma a Gallis oppugnabatur' (line 1). What was happening at that time?


Why are different cases of the personal pronoun use in the two parts of the sentence "si enim amici me in caelo videbunt, omnes tandem mihi credent" and what do they mean?


This exercise is based on adverbs in Latin. Translate the following into English, identifying the subject, object, verb and adverb: puella donum laete accepit.


Servi subito senserunt se in maximo periculo esse


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning