MCT Four-Level Sentence Analysis of a 14th‑Century Latin Sentence — Student guide (Age 13)

What we are doing

This lesson shows a clear, step-by-step MCT four-level analysis of a 14th‑century Latin sentence. MCT four levels = 1) parts of speech, 2) parts of sentence, 3) phrases, 4) clauses. I give a simple English translation, then two student-facing models: a proficient model (shorter, clearer) and an exemplary model (more detailed). I also give quick tasks you can try.

The original sentence (broken into lines)

Quoniam de civitatis utriusque, terrenae scilicet et caelestis, debitis finibus, deinceps mihi uideo disputandum; prius exponenda sunt quantum operis huius terminandi ratio patitur, argumenta mortalium quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere in huius vitae infelicitate moliti sunt, ut ab eorum rebus vanis spes nostra quid differat quam deus nobis dedit; res ipsa, hoc est vera beatitudo, quam dabit non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione qualem propter infideles possumus adhibere, clarescat.

Simple English translation (one-sentence summary)

Because I must now discuss the proper limits of both cities, the earthly and the heavenly, first the arguments of mortal people must be explained — to the degree that reason allows — the arguments by which they tried to make happiness for themselves in this unhappy life, so that it becomes clear how our hope differs from what God has given us; and the thing itself, that is true beatitude, should be made clear not only by divine authority but also by reason used in the way we can use it because of unbelievers.

How to approach the four levels

1. Level 1: Parts of speech — name the words: nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions, participles/gerunds.
2. Level 2: Parts of sentence — mark subject(s) and predicate(s); label main verb groups (action/linking/being), direct objects, complements.
3. Level 3: Phrases — find prepositional phrases, appositive phrases, and verbal phrases (gerunds, participles, infinitives).
4. Level 4: Clauses — find independent and dependent clauses, and label clause types (relative, purpose, subordinate causal, etc.).

Proficient student model (clear and direct)

Use this model if you are practicing working clearly: identify the big pieces and their functions.

1. Parts of speech (key words)

• nouns: civitatis (city), finibus (limits), operis (work), ratio (reason), argumenta (arguments), mortalium (of mortals), beatitudinem (blessedness), vita (life), spes (hope), deus (God), res (thing), auctoritate (authority), ratione (reason)
• verbs/verbals: uideo (I see), disputandum (to be argued / verbal idea), exponenda sunt (must be explained), patitur (permits), moliti sunt (they tried/endeavoured), differat (differs), dedit (gave), clarescat (may be made clear)
• adjectives: terrenae (earthly), caelestis (heavenly), vanis (vain), vera (true)
• prepositions: de (about), in (in), ab (from), propter (because of)
• conjunctions/relatives: quoniam (since/because), quibus (by/which), ut (so that), quam (than/which)

2. Parts of sentence (main idea and support)

• Main structure: primary requirement = "prius exponenda sunt argumenta mortalium" = "first the arguments of mortals must be explained" (this is the main clause)
• Cause/introduction: "Quoniam ... deinceps mihi uideo disputandum" gives the reason or setting: because I must now discuss these limits
• Purpose/sub-idea: a relative clause and purpose clause explain why the mortal arguments should be explained (so that we see how our hope differs from God-given hope)

3. Phrases (notice the groups that act like single units)

• prepositional phrases: "de civitatis utriusque" (about both cities), "in huius vitae infelicitate" (in the unhappiness of this life), "ab eorum rebus vanis" (from their vain things), "propter infideles" (because of unbelievers)
• appositive phrase: "hoc est vera beatitudo" (that is, true beatitude) — explains res ipsa
• verbal phrases: "disputandum" and "exponenda sunt" are verbal forms that carry necessity/obligation meaning (must be argued / must be explained)

4. Clauses (label the ideas)

• Subordinate causal/setting clause: "Quoniam ... deinceps mihi uideo disputandum" — gives the reason and sets up the discussion
• Main (independent) clause: "prius exponenda sunt ... argumenta mortalium" — the central instruction
• Relative clause (describing the arguments): "quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere ... moliti sunt" — describes how mortals tried to make their own happiness
• Purpose/result clause: "ut ab eorum rebus vanis spes nostra quid differat quam deus nobis dedit" — shows the goal: to see how our hope differs
• Final clause about true beatitude: "res ipsa ... clarescat" with the phrase "non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione ..." — says how beatitude will be shown (both by divine authority and by reason)

Exemplary student model (detailed t-model style and commentary)

Use this model when you want to show deep, careful analysis. It includes labels for functions, clause types, and phrase types with short explanation.

Step A: Identify the sentence nucleus (main clause)

Main nucleus = "prius exponenda sunt argumenta mortalium"

• Subject (implied word group): argumenta mortalium (the arguments of mortals) — noun phrase
• Predicate: exponenda sunt (passive periphrastic/necessity) — meaning 'must be set forth / must be explained first'
• Complement: prius (first) — adverb modifying the predicate

Step B: Surrounding clauses and their roles

• Causal/setting clause at start: 'Quoniam de civitatis utriusque ... deinceps mihi uideo disputandum' = subordinate clause giving reason/setting; function: explains why the arguments must be explained ("since I see that I must next discuss the limits of both cities"). Notice 'disputandum' is a verbal idea meaning discussion/arguing is required.
• Relative clause modifying 'argumenta mortalium': 'quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere ... moliti sunt' — describes the arguments: by these they sought their own happiness in this life's miseries.
• Purpose/result clause linked to explanation need: 'ut ... quid differat quam deus nobis dedit' — 'so that it is clear how our hope differs from what God gave us.' This explains the reason for exposing mortal arguments.
• Final clarifying clause about the thing itself: 'res ipsa, hoc est vera beatitudo, quam dabit ... clarescat' — 'the very thing, that is true beatitude, which will be made clear ...' This is a further independent idea but connected by meaning to the main clause; it states how the true beatitude will be confirmed: 'not only by divine authority but also by reason applied as we can apply because of unbelievers'.

Step C: Phrase map (t-model style, simple circles in words)

Think of putting groups that act together into boxes or circles:

• [de civitatis utriusque, terrenae scilicet et caelestis] = prepositional phrase + appositive adjectives describing 'both cities' (earthly and heavenly)
• [debitis finibus] = prepositional phrase 'proper/owed limits' (completes idea about what will be discussed)
• [argumenta mortalium] = noun phrase (subject of main clause)
• [quibus ... moliti sunt] = relative clause attached to 'argumenta' (describes how mortals tried to gain beatitude)
• [res ipsa, hoc est vera beatitudo] = noun + appositive definition
• [non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione qualem ... possumus adhibere] = contrast phrase showing two ways of proving/clarifying: divine authority and applied human reason

Step D: Clause diagram in words (left = subject side, right = predicate side)

For the main clause (t-model style):

[ argumenta mortalium ]  |  [ prius  |  exponenda sunt  |  (so that) ut ... clarescat ]
(subject group)          |  (time)  (main verb)    (purpose / result and final clarification)

Notes: the opening causal phrase 'Quoniam ... deinceps mihi uideo disputandum' sits before the main nucleus and gives reason/setting; the relative clause 'quibus ... moliti sunt' sits with the subject group and explains 'argumenta'.

Step E: Short comments on style and meaning

• The writer is planning a careful argument: first expose mortal arguments, show how people tried to make happiness in this life, then show how true beatitude differs and how it can be shown by both divine authority and reason.
• Verbal forms like 'exponenda sunt' and 'disputandum' give obligation and the structure of a planned discussion — they show the writer's method.
• Appositive 'hoc est vera beatitudo' helps the reader know exactly what 'res ipsa' means — a good writing technique: define important terms right away.

Short practice tasks (try these)

1. Find three prepositional phrases in the sentence and say what word each one modifies. (Hint: 'de civitatis utriusque' modifies 'disputandum' topic; 'in huius vitae infelicitate' modifies 'moliti sunt'; 'ab eorum rebus vanis' links to the clause about how our hope differs.)
2. Underline the main verb idea in the English translation. Which clause is the main instruction? (Answer: 'first the arguments of mortals must be explained' is the main instruction.)
3. Explain in one sentence why the writer thinks he must expose mortal arguments first. Use the word 'so that' in your sentence.

Final tip

When you analyse a long sentence, find the main verb or main nucleus first (what must be done? what is stated?). Then attach the pieces: phrases that belong to a noun, clauses that give reason or purpose, and small word-groups that act as single units. This makes even very long sentences simple to read.

If you want, I can now: a) highlight every phrase in colour, b) produce a simplified t-model diagram as a picture, or c) give answers to the three practice tasks. Which would you like?