How should I approach translating a complex sentence?
It is tempting when presented with a long complex sentence to feel overwhelmed. However by breaking the sentence into smaller clauses it makes the translation more approachable.
Having broken the sentence down into clauses then sort the words into nouns, verbs and any pronouns or adjectives. Identify the subject and then the object of the sentence. Next - the verb - what tense is the verb in? Identify the adjectives and link them to the nouns they are describing. This requires rope learning of the declensions.
Finally put it together, if it doesn't make sense shuffle the phrase about so it reads smoothly in English.
UB
Related Latin GCSE answers
All answers ▸What is the ablative absolute and how do you use it?
How is the Latin future participle formed?
rex Aegypti duos liberos habebat. hi liberi erant Cleopatra et Ptolemaeus. per multos annos liberi vitam laetam cum patre habebant. deinde post mortem patris Cleopatra erat regina. [passage taken from sample paper, own questions below]
How does Ovid, by his style of writing, show that Niobe is fortunate? You should make two points and refer to the Latin. (Taken from a sample paper)