The problems in this chapter usually ask you to give both the form of the word missing from the quote and then also the three nominative singular forms of it.
We shall be better by ourselves.
is the m/f nominative plural form of (3): better—the comparative form of (1/2). Erimus is the first person plural future form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Singulī is the masculine nominative plural form of singulus/singula/singulum (1/2): single, separate, alone; (in pl.) one each; one by one; each individually.
But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.
More literally: But a more powerful torture looms for the more powerful.
is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of : braver; stronger, more powerful—the comparative form of fortis/fortis/forte (3). Autem (particle): on the other hand, but, however; and, moreover. : see earlier entry. Īnstat is the third person singular form of īnstō, īnstāre, īnstitī, īnstātūrus (1): to stand on; threaten, loom, be upon; harass (with dative). Cruciātus, cruciātūs (4m): torture.
What could be stupider?
More literally: Than which what (is) stupider?
Quō is the m/n (here n) ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what—the ablative of comparison. Quis/quis/ quid (interrog pron.): who? what? is the neuter nominative singular form of (3): stupider, more foolish—the comparative form of stultus/stulta/stultum (1/2).
I see the better and approve it, but I follow the worse.
Videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. is the neuter accusative plural form of (3): better—the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2). Probōque, probāre, probāvī, probātum (1): to prove; approve; test; the enclitic conjunction – que adds the meaning and. is the neuter accusative plural form of dēterior/dēterior/dēterius (3): worse (it has no noncomparative or “positive” form). Sequor, sequī, secūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow.
He also increased the number of minor officials.
is the m/f/n genitive plural form of (3): smaller, lesser; minor, less important—the comparative form of parvus/parva/parvum (1/2): small. Etiam (particle): still; even; also. Magistrātuum is the genitive plural form of magistrātus, magistrātūs (4m): magistracy; magistrate. Numerum is the accusative singular form of numerus, numerī (2m): number. Ampliāvit is the third person singular perfect form of ampliō, ampliāre, ampliāvī, ampliātum (1): to enlarge; increase; magnify.
For they were stronger than I.
Quoniam (conj.): since, seeing that; for, because. is the m/f nominative plural form of (3): stronger, more robust—the comparative form of rōbustus/rōbusta/rōbustum (1/2). Mē is the ablative form of ego: I (the ablative of comparison). Erant is the third person plural imperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself.
Nōlī: do not—the singular imperative form of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to be unwilling, refuse (it is completed by an infinitive). Faeneror, faenerārī, faenerātus sum (1, deponent): to lend money at interest. Hominī is the dative singular form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human. is the m/f/n dative singular form of (3): braver; stronger, mightier—the comparative form of fortis/fortis/forte (3). Tē is the ablative form of tū: you (the ablative of comparison).
Overt acts make known latent thoughts. (Or: Acts indicate the intention.)
More literally: Outer acts reveal inner secrets.
Ācta is the nominative plural form of āctum, āctī (2n): act—originally the neuter perfect passive participle of agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, put in motion; do; act. is the neuter nominative plural form of exterior/exterior/exterius (3): outer, exterior—the comparative form of exter/extera/exterum (1/2): outside. Indicant is the third person plural form of indicō, indicāre, indicāvī, indicātum (1): to indicate; reveal. is the neuter accusative plural form of interior/interior/interius (3): inner, interior (it has no noncomparative or “positive” form). Sēcrēta is the neuter accusative plural form of sēcrētum, sēcrētī (2n): secret—originally the neuter perfect passive participle of sēcernō, sēcernere, sēcrēvī, sēcrētum (3): to separate, set aside.
Our affairs seem in better shape.
More literally: Our affairs seemed (i.e., at the time of writing) in a better position.
Nostrae is the feminine nominative plural form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. Rēs is the nominative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. (or, more rarely, meliōrī) is the m/f/n ablative singular form of (3): better—the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2). Locō is the ablative singular form of locus, locī (2m): place, position. Vidēbantur is the third person plural imperfect passive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem.
He said to the elders:
is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of senior/senior/— (3): older, elder—the comparative form of senex, senis (3, adj.). Ait is the third person singular form of aiō (3, defective): to say (ait = he/she says or said).
I never saw such a coxcomb.
Alt. : I never met such a rascal.
More literally: I never saw a more rascally man.
(He’s talking about Vedius, a friend of Pompey.) Numquam (adv.): never. Videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Hominem is the accusative singular form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human. is the m/f accusative singular form of nēquior/nēquior/nēquius (3): more worthless, more rascally, more depraved—the comparative form of nēquam (indeclinable adjective): worthless, bad, rascally, depraved.
You are demanding more frequent letters from me.
Exigis is the second person singular form of exigō, exigere, exēgī, exāctum (3): to require; demand. Ab/ ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Mē is the ablative form of ego. is the m/f accusative plural form of (3): more frequent—the comparative form of frequēns, frequentis (3, adj.). Epistulās is the accusative plural form of epistula, epistulae (1f): letter.
Last year’s harvest was always better.
(The verb is implied.) Semper (adv.): always. is the m/f/n genitive singular form of (3): higher; previous—the comparative form of superus/supera/superum (1/2): upper, of above. Annus, annī (2m): year. Prōventus, prōventūs (4m): harvest, crop. /melior/melius (3): better—the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2).
A lives for many years and B for fewer.
More literally: This one lived more years, this one fewer.
(Who cares? What matters is how well they lived.) Hic /haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. is the m/f/n ablative form of (3): more numerous, more (in number); many. Annīs is the ablative plural form of annus, annī (2m): year. Vīxit is the third person singular perfect form of vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live. is the ablative plural form of (3): fewer—the comparative form of paucus/pauca/paucum (1/2) (the singular forms are rare).
We have all sinned—some in serious, some in trivial things.
Alt. : We have all done wrong, some in serious ways, others more trivially.
Peccāvimus is the first person plural perfect form of peccō, peccāre, peccāvī, peccātum (1): to sin, do wrong. is the m/f nominative plural form of (3): every; all. (used twice here) is the masculine nominative plural form of (1/2, irreg.): other, another [(aliī. . . aliī = some. . . others)]. Gravia is the neuter accusative plural form of (3): heavy; hard; grave, serious. is the masculine nominative plural form of (1/2, irreg.): other, another. is the neuter accusative plural form of (3): lighter; more trivial—the comparative form of levis, levis, leve (3).
Whom will they make more brave, whom more just, whom more noble-minded?
(He’s talking about random historical facts and the uselessness of knowing them.) Quem is the masculine accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? is the m/f accusative singular form of (3): braver; stronger—the comparative form of fortis/fortis/forte (3). is the m/f accusative singular form of (3): more just—the comparative form of iūstus/iūsta/iūstum (1/2). is the m/f accusative singular form of (3): more dignified, more liberal, more noble-minded—the comparative form of līberālis/līberālis/līberāle (3). Facient is the third person plural future form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.