(The Girl and the Bird)
For A1 learners who are still absorbing endings and syntax.
Text
1. Puella parva in horto sedet.
The little girl sits in the garden.
2. Avis in ramo canit.
A bird sings on a branch.
3. Puella avēn panem parvum dat.
The girl gives the bird a small piece of bread.
4. Avis laeta est et volat in caelum.
The bird is happy and flies into the sky.
5. Puella ridet et manum levat.
The girl smiles and raises her hand.
6. Sol lucet, et ventus molliter spirat.
The sun shines, and the wind blows gently.
Literal Vocabulary Notes
| Latin word | Meaning | Grammar / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| puella, puellae (f.) | girl | 1st declension, nominative singular subject |
| parvus, -a, -um | small, little | adjective agreeing with puella |
| hortus, hortī (m.) | garden | 2nd declension, ablative in horto = “in the garden” |
| sedeō, sedēre, sēdī, sessum | to sit | 2nd conjugation, present sedet = “(she) sits” |
| avis, avis (f.) | bird | 3rd declension, nominative subject |
| ramus, ramī (m.) | branch | ablative in ramo = “on a branch” |
| canō, canere, cecinī, cantum | to sing | 3rd conjugation, present canit |
| panis, panis (m.) | bread | accusative panem = “bread” |
| dō, dare, dedī, datum | to give | 1st conjugation, present dat |
| laetus, -a, -um | happy | adjective, nominative feminine singular |
| sum, esse, fui | to be | est = “is” |
| volō, volāre, volāvī, volātum | to fly | 1st conjugation, volat |
| caelum, caelī (n.) | sky, heaven | accusative in caelum = “into the sky” |
| rīdeō, rīdēre, rīsī, rīsum | to smile, laugh | 2nd conjugation, ridet |
| manus, manūs (f.) | hand | accusative manum |
| levō, levāre, levāvī, levātum | to raise | 1st conjugation |
| sōl, sōlis (m.) | sun | nominative subject |
| luceō, lucēre, luxī | to shine | 2nd conjugation, lucet |
| ventus, ventī (m.) | wind | nominative subject |
| molliter | softly, gently | adverb from mollis |
| spirō, spīrāre, spīrāvī, spīrātum | to blow, breathe | 1st conjugation |
Grammar Focus
- Present tense of regular verbs (1st–3rd conjugation): sedet, canit, dat, volat, ridet, levat, lucet, spirat.
- Prepositions with ablative: in horto, in ramo.
- Preposition with accusative (motion): in caelum.
- Adjective agreement: puella parva, avis laeta.
Comprehension Questions
- Ubi puella sedet?
- Quid avis facit in ramo?
- Quid puella dat avī?
- Quomodo se habet avis?
- Quid facit ventus?
(Answers: in horto; canit; panem parvum; laeta est; molliter spirat.)
Mini Exercise: Fill and Translate
Complete the sentences and translate.
a. Sōl ________ et ventus ________.
b. Puella ________ avī panem.
c. Avis ________ et ________ in caelum.
d. Puella ________ et ________ manum.
(Key: lucet, spirat; dat; laeta est, volat; ridet, levat.)
Extension for A2 Revisit
Later at A2 level, this same story can be rewritten with imperfect and perfect tenses:
Puella parva in horto sedēbat. Avis in ramo cantābat…
— thus illustrating narrative tense contrast.