Latin question

[Vegitto]

I've got a little problem with the explaining coniunctivus..

For example, the following sentence:

Ego, qui poeta non sim, versus scribere non possum.
I, who am not a poet, cannot write poems.

In some situations, this gives crappy sentences. Could you translate it as a participium when you've got something like that (ie, translate as: I, not being a poet, cannot write poems.)?

 

[Vegitto]

Anyone?

 

[CaptnKirk]

Ego, qui poeta non sim, versus scribere non possum

"I don't like to brag, but I stay slim by ordering salads without possum"

 

[MrChad]

Depends on the situation. If your instructor is looking for precise translation skills, you'll want to keep the literal translation. But in my advanced Latin classes, rewording helped improve the readability of the translation and also demonstrated a greater understanding of the content.

 

[Rufus12]

Don't you actually have to translate it word for word?

 

[EngenZerO]

why not write... as asked, here is an exact literal translation <insert translation>, but i feel it would sound better worded as this <insert fixed literal translation>.

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Depends on the situation. If your instructor is looking for precise translation skills, you'll want to keep the literal translation. But in my advanced Latin classes, rewording helped improve the readability of the translation and also demonstrated a greater understanding of the content.

Well, he doesn't really care. But I wanna know if it'd be incorrect to use the participium..