Usages of posse
Nuntius prope ignem sedet et “Possumus multum laborare!” clamat.
(The messenger sits near the fire and shouts: “We can work a lot!”)
Si timidus es, studere potes in urbe, sed si fortis es, potes dormire in horto.
(If you are timid, you can study in the city, but if you are brave, you can sleep in the garden.)
Nos non possumus orare in urbe, sed possumus orare in villa.
(We cannot pray in the city, but we can pray in the villa.)
Discipulus clamat: “Magister, possum studere, sed dormire non possum!”
(The student shouts: “Teacher, I can study, but I cannot sleep!”)
Dea bellum non amat, imperator pacem amat, et nos omnes possumus dormire.
(The goddess does not love war, the emperor loves peace, and we all can sleep.)
Magistra dicit: “Sine libris bonis bene vivere non possumus.”
The teacher says: “Without good books we cannot live well.”
Post quietam noctem corpus discipulae non est triste, sed laborare vult et studere potest.
After a quiet night the female student's body is not sad, but it wants to work and is able to study.
Puer fessus matrem rogat: "Quid hodie in horto facere possumus, si avia non cantat?"
The tired boy asks mother: "What can we do in the garden today, if grandmother does not sing?"
Mater respondet: "Nonne potestis ludere aut legere? Quomodo sine avia tristes esse potestis?"
Mother answers: "Can you not play or read? How can you be sad without grandmother?"
Magistra dicit: "Hic liber facilis est, ille liber difficilis; tamen vos potestis multum discere."
The (female) teacher says: "This book is easy, that book is difficult; nevertheless you can learn a lot."
Vespere discipula libros et tabulam parat, ut cras in schola bene discere possit.
In the evening the female student prepares her books and her board, so that tomorrow she can learn well at school.
Puer solus in cubiculo sedet ut aviam in horto audire possit.
The boy sits alone in the bedroom so that he can hear grandmother in the garden.
Puer hodie foris exire non potest, quia pluvia lente cadit.
Today the boy cannot go outside, because the rain is falling slowly.
Mane mater opus incipit; vespere tamen finire potest.
In the morning mother begins the work; in the evening, however, she can finish it.
Servus aquam calidam ad cubiculum ferre non potest, quia fessus est.
The servant cannot carry warm water to the bedroom, because he is tired.
Domi tacemus, ut aviam audire possimus.
At home we are silent, so that we can hear grandmother.
Hodie ad forum ire non possum, quia pluvia frigida cadit.
Today I cannot go to the forum, because cold rain is falling.
Servus in culina manet, ut cenam finire possit.
The servant stays in the kitchen so that he can finish the dinner.
Coquus in culina manet, ut cenam magnam finire possit.
The cook stays in the kitchen so that he can finish the large dinner.
Civis dicit: “Nummos non multos habeo; potesne mihi pretium minuere?”
A citizen says: “I do not have many coins; can you lower the price for me?”
Vespere pater lucernam accendit, ut filia in cubiculo legere possit.
In the evening father lights a lamp, so that his daughter can read in the bedroom.
Medicus dicit puerum mox sanari posse.
The doctor says that the boy can soon be healed.
Nos in bibliotheca tacemus, ut veritatem facilius audire possimus.
We are silent in the library, so that we can hear the truth more easily.
Servus lucernam accendere debet, ut domina in atrio epistulam legere possit.
The servant must light the lamp so that the mistress can read a letter in the atrium.
Caupo respondet se pretium minuere non posse, quia amphora vini iam vacua est.
The innkeeper answers that he cannot lower the price, because the jar of wine is already empty.
Avia respondet lanam utilem esse, quia ex lana tunicam texere potest.
Grandmother answers that wool is useful, because from wool she can weave a tunic.
Servus cito lucernam accendit, ut domina epistulam legere possit.
The servant quickly lights the lamp, so that the mistress can read the letter.
Fortasse bellum in provincia mox fieri potest.
Perhaps war can soon happen in the province.
Mater carrum parat, ut puer ad villam aviae ire possit.
Mother prepares the cart, so that the boy can go to grandmother’s villa.
Uxor dicit aliquem ante portam stare; maritus autem dicit neminem intrare posse.
The wife says that someone is standing before the gate; the husband, however, says that no one can enter.
Vicinus marito consilium tradit, ut officina melius custodiri possit.
The neighbor gives advice to the husband, so that the workshop can be guarded better.
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