How should I tackle a really long and complicated unseen passage?

Firstly identify the main clause! Find the verb, then the subject (if there is one) and then the object. Look for any particular 'signpost' words that might suggest there is a subordinate clause (e.g. 'cum', 'qui' or 'ut') and bracket these off. Annotate the passage by parsing each word and then seeing what agrees. If there is any vocab you are unsure about, see if it looks similar to any other Latin words as they might share a root or if there is an English word that is similar. Once you can see the basic structure of the sentence, solve each clause separately and then link them together to form the whole sentence. Don't try to tackle it all at once!

CC
Answered by Charlotte C. Latin tutor

1892 Views

See similar Latin A Level tutors

Related Latin A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is the best way to approach an unseen translation?


What are the uses of the subjunctive in main clauses?


In what ways does Virgil present Dido as an increasingly desperate individual in these lines? How does he communicate to the reader that the outcome will be disastrous for her?


Comment on Ovid's use of humour with respect to poetic metre in the following lines of Amores 1.1: "par erat inferior versus; risisse Cupid / dicitur atque unum suripuisse pedem."


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