§332. Forms of Interrogation

A question of simple fact, requiring the answer yes or no, is formed by adding the enclitic -ne to the emphatic word:—

• tūne id veritus es (Q. Fr. 1.3.1), did you fear that?
• hīcine vir usquam nisi in patriā moriētur (Mil. 104), shall this man die anywhere but in his native land?
• is tibi mortemne vidētur aut dolōrem timēre (Tusc. 5.88), does he seem to you to fear death or pain?

a. The interrogative particle -ne is sometimes omitted:—

• patēre tua cōnsilia nōn sentīs (Cat. 1.1), do you not see that your schemes are manifest? (you do not see, eh?)

b. When the enclitic -ne is added to a negative word, as in nōnne, an affirmative answer is expected. The particle num suggests a negative answer:—

• nōnne animadvertis (N. D. 3.89), do you not observe?
• num dubium est (Rosc. Am. 107), there is no doubt, is there?

c. The particle -ne often when added to the verb, less commonly when added to some other word, has the force of nōnne:—

• meministīne mē in senātū dīcere (Cat. 1.7), don't you remember my saying in the Senate?
• rēctēne interpretor sententiam tuam (Tusc. 3.37), do I not rightly interpret your meaning?