There are a number of ways to ask a question in Latin.

• Place a question mark at the end of a declarative sentence
• Add ne to an emphatic word at the start of the sentence
• Begin the sentence with either nonne or an
• Begin the sentence with num or numquid
• Begin the sentence with si
• Begin the sentence with an interrogative pronoun such as quis, quid, cur, quem.

Asking questions by the use of ne

Using this method, the verb is often moved to the beginning of the sentence and affixed with ne. This method is for direct questions which are answered either by ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and is more common in Classical Latin.

Ecclesiastical Latin, as found in the Vulgate, more commonly relies on context to ask questions.

Asking questions using nonne, an, num, numquid, si

This method is used when the answer ‘yes’ is expected. Classical Latin is more likely to use nonne while Ecclesiastical prefers an.

When the answer ‘no’ is expected, Classical Latin may introduce a question with num, while Ecclesiastical Latin uses numquid.

Direct and indirect questions may be introduced with si.

Asking questions using interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns such as quis, quid, cur, quem can be used at the beginning of a question. Sometimes, these pronouns are combined with other words.

• To ask ‘why’ – use quid, ut quid or cur
• To ask ‘which’ – use quem

These tables show the correct interrogative pronouns used for the various cases;

SINGULAR

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	quis who?	quis/quae who?	quid what?
Genitive	cuius whose?	cuius whose?	cuius of what?
Dative	cui to whom?	cui to whom?
Accusative	quem whom?	quam whom?
Ablative	quo by whom?	qua by whom?

Asking an alternative or double question

“Quem vultis dimittam vobis: Barabbam, an Jesum qui dicitur Christus? “Which do you wish that I should release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?” (Matt. 26, 17)

• Note the use of an preceding the alternative posed by the questioner, Pilate.
• Another way of asking a double question is to use utrum …..an
• Utrum is more common in Classical Latin whereas quem is the norm in Ecclesiastical Latin

REFERENCES: An Introduction to Ecclesiastical Latin by HPV Nunn; English Grammar for Students of Latin by Norma Goldman