What a big cat!

LenCabral

Member

Location:
Newark DE
Hi everyone,

I'm wondering about this type of exclamative. I know that certain types of exclamatives get accusative. Is it enough just to say "felem magnum!" or is something else necessary?

Thanks!
 

R. Seltza

Magnus Oculus

  • Civis Illustris

  • Patronus

Location:
Terra Solis Lapsi
My first thought was something along the lines of Magnam Felem! (or Felem Magnam!).
For "What", you might be able to put Quid before Magnam Felem! but I'm not too sure about that though...
 

syntaxianus

Civis Illustris

  • Civis Illustris

Location:
Massachusetts, USA
Quam grandis feles! = How big a cat! = What a big cat!

Quam grandis, haec feles! = How big this cat [is]!
 

LenCabral

Member

Location:
Newark DE
Is it always 'Quam' regardless of the complement?

i.e. "Quam grande regnum!" = What a big kingdom!
 
 

Dantius

Homo Sapiens

  • Civis Illustris

Location:
in orbe lacteo
Yes, quam here is an adverb meaning "how" or "what a".
 

LenCabral

Member

Location:
Newark DE
Do you need a modifier, or can you get "quam miles!" = what a soldier!
 

Pacifica

grammaticissima

  • Aedilis

Location:
Belgium
After quam, which translates literally to "how", you usually need a modifier (quam grandis feles! = "how big a cat!" = "what a big cat!"). "What a soldier!" would be qui miles! or qualis miles!
 

LenCabral

Member

Location:
Newark DE
Would "qui" match the gender of what succeeds it, or is it an adverb here? "qui camelopardalis!" - what a giraffe!
 

Pacifica

grammaticissima

  • Aedilis

Location:
Belgium
It matches the gender of the noun.
 
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