Four-level t-model sentence analysis (age 13): Latin sentences — parts of speech, parts of sentence, phrases, clauses (Michael Clay Thompson)

Step-by-step, student-friendly t-model (circle) diagrams for six Latin sentences. For a 13‑year‑old: clear English glosses, parts of speech, sentence parts, phrase groups, and clause structure shown with SVG circle diagrams following Michael Clay Thompson's t-model idea.

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Four-level t-model sentence analyses (age 13)

Below are six Latin sentences. For each sentence you get:

  1. Simple translation (short English gloss)
  2. Level 1: Parts of speech (each main word labeled)
  3. Level 2: Parts of the sentence (subject side vs. predicate side in a t-model)
  4. Level 3: Phrases (groups of words that act together)
  5. Level 4: Clauses (main clause and any subordinate clauses)
I show each level with a small circle diagram (SVG) so you can see the groups visually the way Michael Clay Thompson recommends. Explanations are short and friendly for a 13‑year‑old.

Sentence 1
Latin: Quoniam de civitatis utriusque, terrenae scilicet et caelestis, debitis finibus, deinceps mihi uideo disputandum

Short gloss: Since concerning the proper limits of both city-states, earthly and heavenly, I see that I must argue further.

Level 1 — Parts of speech
(each small circle = a word labeled with part of speech)
Quoniam conj. de prep. civitatis noun (gen.) utriusque adj./pron. deinceps adv. mihi dat. pron. uideo verb disputandum gerundive
Level 2 — Parts of sentence (t-model)
(left = topic/subject side, right = predicate side — the vertical line is the t)
[Topic] Quoniam + prepositional phrase de civitatis utriusque, terrenae scilicet et caelestis, debitis finibus [Predicate] deinceps mihi uideo disputandum

Explanation: The conjunction Quoniam introduces a clause about a topic (the limits of both cities — left circle). The right side is the predicate: what the speaker sees/decides (uideo disputandum = "I see that (it is) to be discussed").

Level 3 — Phrases (groups)
(circles group words that act together)
Prep. phrase: de civitatis utriusque Apposition: terrenae scilicet et caelestis Verb phrase: mihi uideo Gerundive phrase: disputandum (must be discussed)

Explanation: On the left are phrase groups that describe the topic; on the right the verb phrase and the gerundive that tell what must be done.

Level 4 — Clauses Main clause (subordinate in meaning): Quoniam ... deinceps mihi uideo disputandum — a causal clause ("since ...")

Explanation: The whole sentence is one clause introduced by Quoniam (since), giving a reason-like idea; inside that clause the gerundive phrase functions as the thing seen/decided.

Sentence 2
Latin: prius exponenda sunt quantum operis huius terminandi ratio patitur, argumenta mortalium

Short gloss: First must be explained how much of this work of finishing its plan allows — the arguments of mortals.

Level 1 — Parts of speech prius adv. exponenda gerundive sunt verb quantum rel./interrog. operis noun (gen.) argumenta noun (nom.)
Level 2 — Parts of sentence (t-model) [Subject/What will be explained] argumenta mortalium (the mortal arguments) [Predicate] prius exponenda sunt quantum ... patitur (must first be explained how much ... allows)

Explanation: The sentence says that some arguments (left) must be explained first (right). The embedded clause starting with quantum explains "how much" and describes the scope.

Level 3 — Phrases Noun phrase (subject): argumenta mortalium Adverb/verb phrase: prius exponenda sunt Embedded relative/indirect clause: quantum operis huius terminandi ratio patitur

Explanation: The subject is the noun phrase "argumenta mortalium." The verb idea is "must first be explained." The long embedded phrase beginning with quantum tells "how much."

Level 4 — Clauses Main idea: prius exponenda sunt argumenta mortalium + embedded clause quantum ... patitur

Explanation: Main clause = "arguments of mortals must be explained first." The embedded clause starting with quantum answers "how much" — it modifies what must be explained.

Sentence 3
Latin: quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere in huius vitae infelicitate moliti sunt

Short gloss: By which they themselves strove to make happiness for themselves in the unhappiness of this life.

Level 1 — Parts of speech quibus rel. pron. (abl.) sibi dat. refl. ipsi emph. beatitudinem acc. noun facere infinitive moliti partic./verb sunt aux. verb
Level 2 — Parts of sentence (t-model) [Modifier / Circumstance] quibus (by which) [Predicate] sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere ... moliti sunt

Explanation: The word quibus begins a relative clause ("by which / by whom"). The predicate shows what they did: they strove to make happiness for themselves.

Level 3 — Phrases Ablative phrase (means): quibus Infinitive phrase (what they sought): beatitudinem facere Circumstance: in huius vitae infelicitate

Explanation: The infinitive phrase ("to make happiness") is the goal; the ablative quibus tells the means; the prepositional phrase tells where (in this life's unhappiness).

Level 4 — Clauses Relative clause: quibus ... moliti sunt — describes the people (from the previous sentence)

Explanation: This is a relative clause ("by which / by whom"). Often it ties back to a noun in the previous sentence — it explains how those people acted.

Sentence 4
Latin: ut ab eorum rebus vanis spes nostra quid differat quam deus nobis dedit

Short gloss: how our hope differs from their vain things, compared with what God gave us.

Level 1 — Parts of speech ut conj./subord. ab prep. eorum poss. pron. rebus noun (abl.) spes noun quid interr./rel. dedit verb
Level 2 — Parts of sentence (t-model) [Circumstance/From whom] ab eorum rebus vanis [Predicate / Question] spes nostra quid differat quam deus nobis dedit

Explanation: The clause introduced by ut asks or states how our hope differs from their empty things, compared to what God gave us.

Level 3 — Phrases Prepositional phrase: ab eorum rebus vanis Noun phrase: spes nostra Comparative clause: quid differat quam deus nobis dedit

Explanation: The prepositional phrase sets the comparison source. The comparative clause (with quid differat) tells in what way hope differs from God's gift.

Level 4 — Clauses Subordinate clause (purpose / result/indirect ques.): ut ... quid differat ...

Explanation: This is a clause introduced by ut. It contains a small question-like idea (quid differat = "how/what degree it differs") and compares our hope to God's gift.

Sentence 5
Latin: res ipsa, hoc est vera beatitudo, quam dabit

Short gloss: The thing itself, that is true happiness, which he will give.

Level 1 — Parts of speech res noun ipsa demonstr. hoc est phrase vera beatitudo appos. quam rel. pron.
Level 2 — Parts of sentence (t-model) [Subject] res ipsa, hoc est vera beatitudo [Predicate / Relative clause] quam dabit

Explanation: The subject is the noun phrase (the thing itself = true happiness). The relative clause quam dabit tells what will happen to it ("which he will give").

Level 3 — Phrases Noun phrase + apposition: res ipsa, hoc est vera beatitudo Relative clause: quam dabit

Explanation: The appositive phrase hoc est vera beatitudo renames res ipsa. The relative clause tells the action on that thing.

Level 4 — Clauses Main NP with relative clause: res ipsa ... quam dabit

Explanation: This is a short sentence where the main idea is the noun phrase and the relative clause modifies it.

Sentence 6
Latin: non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione qualem propter infideles possumus adhibere, clarescat

Short gloss: Let it be made clear not only by divine authority, but also by reason applied, what kind we can use because of the unbelievers.

Level 1 — Parts of speech non tantum correl. auctoritate abl. noun divina adj. sed ... etiam correl. adhibita ratione abl. abs.
Level 2 — Parts of sentence (t-model) [Circumstance / Means] non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione [Predicate] clarescat (let it be clear) + embedded clause

Explanation: The sentence asks that something be made clear. The left side gives the ways it should be clear (not only by divine authority but by reason too). The right side is the main verb clarescat.

Level 3 — Phrases Correlative phrase: non tantum ... sed ... etiam Ablative absolute: adhibita ratione (reason having been applied) Embedded content clause: qualem propter infideles possumus adhibere (what kind we can apply because of unbelievers)

Explanation: The correlative structure sets two means. The ablative absolute gives an action in the background. The embedded clause asks "what kind (of thing)" we can use.

Level 4 — Clauses Main clause: ... clarescat (let it be made clear) with embedded clause: qualem ... possumus adhibere

Explanation: The main clause is an optative/subjunctive use (clarescat = "may it be clear"). Inside it sits an embedded clause asking what kind of thing we may apply — and there are adverbial phrases telling by what means it should be clear.

Notes for the student: Michael Clay Thompson’s t-model emphasizes a vertical separation (subject side vs predicate side). Circles group words that belong together (phrases, appositives, clauses). For practice, try drawing shorter t-models yourself: put the subject or topic in a left circle and the verb/what-is-said-about-it in a right circle, then add smaller circles for phrases and label parts of speech beneath.

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