What is a T?model (quick)?
The t?model groups words into circles to show how words travel together in a sentence. Each sentence is read as two sides (left = subject side, right = predicate side) with a vertical line between them. Michael Clay Thompson uses four levels to study sentences:
- Parts of speech � what each word is (noun, verb, adjective�)
- Parts of sentence � subject, predicate, object, complement, modifier
- Phrases � groups of words acting together (noun phrase, prepositional phrase, etc.)
- Clauses � independent and dependent clauses and how they connect
Notes before we start:
- I give a short, simple English gloss for each Latin sentence so you can see the meaning.
- Parsing Latin exactly can be tricky; these diagrams are simplified to teach the t?model idea � they show how words group and how clauses relate.
Sentence (1)
Latin: Quoniam de civitatis utriusque, terrenae scilicet et caelestis, debitis finibus, deinceps mihi uideo disputandum
Gloss: Since concerning the proper bounds of both states, earthly and heavenly, I see that henceforth I must discuss.
- Level 1 (parts of speech): nouns and adjectives group together; verbs and function words group together.
- Level 2 (parts of sentence): left side gives the topic (about the states), right side is the predicate (I see / must discuss).
- Level 3 (phrases): "de civitatis utriusque" is a prepositional phrase; "terrenae et caelestis" is an appositive adjective pair renaming the two states; predicate phrase on the right contains the verb sense.
- Level 4 (clauses): a dependent causal clause (Quoniam...) explains reason; main clause states the action (I see I must debate).
Sentence (2)
Latin: prius exponenda sunt quantum operis huius terminandi ratio patitur, argumenta mortalium
Gloss: First must be explained how much of the work of finishing this reason allows � the arguments of mortals (are to be considered).
- Level 1: nouns (operis, ratio) vs. verbs and function words (prius, exponenda sunt, patitur, quantum).
- Level 2: the phrase "quantum operis huius terminandi" acts as the thing to be explained; "prius exponenda sunt" is the predicate that tells us to explain first.
- Level 3: "quantum...terminandi" is a noun-like phrase (how much of the work of finishing); "exponenda sunt" is the impersonal/passive predicate.
- Level 4: main idea: something must be explained first; embedded content: the measure (quantum) that reason allows.
Sentence (3)
Latin: quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere in huius vitae infelicitate moliti sunt
Gloss: By which things they strove to make happiness for themselves in the unhappiness of this life.
- Level 1: pronouns and nouns (quibus, sibi, beatitudinem) vs. verbs (moliti sunt, facere).
- Level 2: "quibus" and its phrase show the means; predicate shows the action they took (moliti sunt = they endeavored).
- Level 3: "in huius vitae infelicitate" is a prepositional phrase (where/how they tried); "moliti sunt facere beatitudinem" is the verbal idea.
- Level 4: This is a relative/dependent clause (often modifying something earlier in context): it describes how they sought happiness.
Sentence (4)
Latin: ut ab eorum rebus vanis spes nostra quid differat quam deus nobis dedit
Gloss: how our hope differs from what God gave us because of their vain things.
- Level 1: "ab eorum rebus vanis" is a prepositional phrase; "spes nostra" is a noun phrase; "quid differat" is the verb idea (what differs).
- Level 2: left circle holds the circumstance (from their vain things); right circle holds the comparison/question (how our hope differs).
- Level 3: right side contains a comparative idea linked to "quam deus nobis dedit" (than what God gave us).
- Level 4: this is a complex idea combining a circumstantial modifier with a main clause expressing comparison.
Sentence (5)
Latin: res ipsa, hoc est vera beatitudo, quam dabit
Gloss: The thing itself, that is true beatitude, which (he) will give.
- Level 1: "res ipsa" is a noun phrase; "hoc est vera beatitudo" is apposition (it renames the noun); "quam dabit" is a relative clause attached to the noun.
- Level 2: left side = the subject/topic; right side = the relative clause describing what will be given.
- Level 3: apposition condenses a longer idea into a short phrase � a good example of MCT's point about beautiful economy.
- Level 4: simple structure: noun + apposition + relative clause.
Sentence (6)
Latin: non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione qualem propter infideles possumus adhibere, clarescat
Gloss: Let it be made clear not only by divine authority but also by reason applied, of the sort we can use because of unbelievers.
- Level 1: nouns and reason words (auctoritate, ratione) are kept on the left; the main verb "clarescat" stays on the predicate side.
- Level 2: left circle shows a not-only / but-also contrast between divine authority and applied reason; right circle is the main idea (let it be made clear).
- Level 3: embedded relative phrase "qualem ... possumus adhibere" specifies the sort of reason being applied (the practical kind because of unbelievers).
- Level 4: the sentence as a whole asks for clarity supported by both authority and reason; the subordinate relative clause tells the kind of reason.
If you want, I can:
- mark every single word’s part of speech in each Latin line (word-by-word)
- produce Reed-Kellogg style diagrams for comparison
- make higher-resolution SVGs for printing or classroom handouts
Quick tip for a 13-year-old student: focus first on Levels 2�4: find the subject and predicate, then spot the big phrases (prepositional, noun), then see if there are extra clauses. T?models help you see groups of words that travel together rather than getting lost in single-word lines.