Indefinite Adjectives

Magister HendersonLatin II

What is the Indefinite Adjective?

• The indefinite adjective is an adjective form that is used to point out a particular noun, while conveying a slight sense of indecisiveness.

• In the singular it is translated “a certain”, while in the plural it is translated “some”.

• It is created by combining the form of the relative pronoun quī with the indeclinable suffix –dam.

Forms of the Indefinite AdjectiveSingular Plural

Masc Fem Neuter Masc Fem Neuter

Nom quīdam quaedam quoddam quīdam quaedam quaedam

Gen cuiusdam cuiusdam cuiusdam quōrundam quārundam quõrundam

Dat cuīdam cuīdam cuīdam quibusdam quibusdam quibusdam

Acc quendam quandam quoddam quōsdam quāsdam quaedam

Abl quōdam quādam quōdam quibusdam quibusdam quibusdam

Notice that ending –dam doesn’t change, so to determine the case of the indefinite adjective, look at the ending before the –dam.

In several endings (that would normal end in –m) the ending changes to –n before the suffix –dam.

Changing ‘m” to ‘n’• The -m changes to –n in the forms quendam,

quandem, quōrundam, and quārundam for phonetic reasons.

• The sounds ‘m’ and ‘n’ are both called “nasals”, ‘m’ is made as you close your mouth, ‘n’ as you open it.

• Since the ‘d’ sound begins from an open-mouth position, the ending –m changes to –n for ease of pronunciation.

• This also happens in the word septindecim, a combination of septem + decem.

Translating the Indefinite Adjective

• The indefinite article translates as “a certain” in the singular, but “some” in the plural.

• Compare with omnis, which means “every” in the singular and “all” in the plural.

Aurēlia ad tabernam quandam adīre vult.= Aurelia wants to go to a certain shop.

Vehicula quaedam iter facere nōn poterunt.= Some vehicles will not be able to make the journey.

Example from Real Latin

Lysander, dux Lacedaemoniōrum, militem quendam, viā ēgressum castigābat…

Lysander, the Spartan general, was rebuking a certain soldier who was setting off down the road…