Is This English Grammar Rule Germanic or Latin?

By: Ruby Scalera
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Is This English Grammar Rule Germanic or Latin?
Image: Sam Edwards / OJO Images / Getty Images

About This Quiz

"If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with the shortage of flowers." 

While this quote by columnist Doug Larson is certainly humorous, it hits on just how complicated and interesting the English language can be. Words often don't mean as they sound, and certain rules are applied at seemingly arbitrary times. That's because English is an amalgam of languages and root sources, and takes a lot of its foundation grammar, spelling, and language rules from two uniquely different sources: Germanic and Latin. 

Because of these two different but equally important influences, as well as the introduction of words from languages around the world as communication and travel became easier, English can be particularly challenging to learn, and even more difficult to understand. As it is, many native language speakers know instinctively when and how to apply the rules of grammar, without even knowing what they are. 

How well do you think you know the roots and origins of these English rules of grammar? Put your knowledge of Germanic and Latin origins—as well as other important language influences—to the test by taking this quiz. See if you can correctly apply the rules—and even understand why they're there in the first place. Good luck! 

Q 01 Avoid splitting infinitives
Juana Mari Moya / Moment / Getty Images
Why do we avoid splitting infinitives?
Latin language rules
Germanic langue rules
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When we place an adverb (a word ending in "ing") between the word "to" and the following verb, we have split an infinitive. In the Latin language, infinitives cannot be split, so the rule carried over to English, though it currently faces debate.

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Q 04 Classical compounds
PeopleImages / E+ / Getty Images
Classical compounds combine two forms from which language?
Latin
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Classic compounds are words that combine two forms from classic Greek or Latin vocabulary to create another word. They appear often in the medical fields and might look like "bio" and "graphy" coming together for "biography" or the study and recording of life.

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Q 02 Wanderlust
martin-dm / E+ / Getty Images
What is the origin of the word wanderlust?
Germanic
Latin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Travel lovers will be familiar with the word "wanderlust" which indicates a desire or pleasure to explore the world. While this is a romantic theme, the word wanderlust is Germanic in origin.

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Q 21 Concealer
Elizabeth Fernandez / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these Old French words no longer exists in French but does in English?
Handkerchief
Beuf
Concealer
Comment
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While some English words are taken directly from languages where they still exist, there are others two that remain the only current use of those words. Concealer is a commonly used word in English, but no longer exists in French, from where it originated.

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Q 03 Around
Liyao Xie / Moment / Getty Images
Why does "circum" translate to "around" in English?
Latin
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A great many of our words, particularly our prefixes and suffixes, come from the Latin language. When we add the Latin prefix "circum" to the front of a word, we get options like "circumvent," "circumference," and "circumnavigate."

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Q 05 Humans
skynesher / E+ / Getty Images
Why is the word "humans" not "humen"?
Latin
German
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "human" plays by both sets of rules, which means everything is a little bit chaotic. If the word were entirely Latin, it would be "humens," but because "mann" or "man" comes from Germanic root, we have "mans" instead.

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Q 06 Brotherly
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Is the word "brotherly" Latin or Germanic in origin?
Latin
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When Latin and Germanic words appear in the English language, there is often a related version. In this case, the word "brotherly" come from Germanic and the Latin equivalent would be "fraternal."

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Q 07 false friend
ROBERTO PERI / Cultura / Getty Images
What is a "false friend" in linguistics?
When words in different languages look/sound similar, but have a different meaning
When words in different languages look/sound similar, but mean the opposite.
When words in different languages are overly familiar
When words in different languages have been translated too many times
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Anyone who has studied languages has come across a "false friend" or two in their time. It often happens when the second language keeps the word of the first and the first language changes its meaning. In French, an example would be "egre" which means "sour" but sounds like "eager."

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Q 08 Vulpine
Unsplash by Francisco Moreno
Which of these words does not have the same meaning?
Royal
Vulpine
Kingly
Regal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oftentimes, English ends up with several different words that mean the same thing but have different origins. Royal is Latin, regal comes from Old French, and kingly is Germanic in root. Vulpine means "foxlike."

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Q 09 Cobalt
Ani_Ka / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images
What language is etymologically responsible for the colorful word, "cobalt"?
Latin
Germanic
Dutch
French
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cobalt is a word that seems so at home in the English language, it's hard to believe there was ever a point when it didn't belong. In this case, the word cobalt is Germanic in origin.

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Q 10 Bluff
Orbon Alija / E+ / Getty Images
What is the language origin of "bluff"?
French
Latin
Dutch
Greek
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dutch has many similar words to English and, in fact, has directly contributed many of the words in the English lexicon. Bluff comes from "bluffen" (to brag, boast) or "verbluffen" (to baffle, mislead).

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Q 11 Cafe loan word
mikroman6 / Moment / Getty Images
Which is the example of a loan word?
Genetori
Cafe
Butter
Telephone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A loan word is a word taken directly from the source language and incorporated without translation. The word "cafe" which in English means a coffee shop comes directly from the word "cafe," which means "coffee" in French.

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Q 12 Portmanteau
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How do you create a portmanteau?
You blend multiple words or their sounds.
You follow the direct path of translation from one language to the next.
You take a word's literal translation for a new language.
You use Germanic nouns and Latin verbs.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A portmanteau is created by the blending of words, parts of words, or their sounds. The word itself is French is origin. An example of a portmanteau would be "motel" made up of "motor" and "hotel."

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Q 13 Nouns
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In doublets, which words are nouns?
Germanic
Latin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Germanic/Latin doublets are words that appear in science that have similar meanings in both Germanic and Latin. In Germanic, the words are nouns—bird. In Latin, the words are adjectives—avian.

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Q 14 Ancient
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Would you find the word "ancient" in Latin or Germanic origins?
Latin
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If it seems like there are many words in English that have the same meaning, that's because there are. "Ancient" is a word that has Latin origins, and the related Germanic word is "old."

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Q 15 Who vs Whom
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The who vs. whom rule can be tricky to follow. What origins does it have?
Latin
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While it's difficult to trace the origins of specific English rules, the whom vs. who rule can relate directly to the words "whom" and "who," which are the product of Germanic root words.

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Q 16 Gallicisms
RichVintage / E+ / Getty Images
To what language do "gallicisms" refer?
Greek
Latin
French
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The English language has begged, borrowed and stolen many words from French. A gallicism can be one of several things: a French idiom, a French mode or custom, a loan word or a loan phrase borrowed from the French.

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Q 17 Barbarism
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What is a barbarism?
A word that has been translated more than once
A non-standard word, often made in error
A word that has been translated and then translated back
A word that is comprised of Germanic and Latin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "barbarism" once referred specifically to the mixing of the Greek and Latin languages, but it expanded—as language often does—to include any error in language that was considered unpolished or rude, specifically in morphology.

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Q 18 Educate
Ariel Skelley / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Where does the word "educate" come from?
Latin roots
German roots
Greek roots
Celtic roots
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "educate" comes from the latin root word "educare." As there are many different words with similar meanings in English, the word with Germanic roots that has a similar meaning is "teach."

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Q 19 Greek and latin
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What two languages most commonly form hybrid words in English?
Latin and Germanic
French and Germanic
Latin and Greek
French and Greek
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If it seems like many hybrid words are easy to define—even if you've never seen them before—that's because they have a lot of similar prefixes and suffixes from Latin and Greek origins. While other hybrids exist, this is the most common combination.

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Q 20 Calque
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What is a "calque"?
A word that is adapted without being translated
A word that has been mistranslated
A word-for-word translation
A word that is exclusively Latin in origin.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

English has a tricky relationship with translations. In some cases, words are adapted without being translated. In other cases, they are loosely translated. When it comes to "calques," the word is translated word-for-word.

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Q 22 Stress the first syllable
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English often stresses the first syllable of a word because of which language?
Germanic
Latin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It would surprise few that Germanic pronunciation is often bold and definitive. This antique shift toward stressing the first syllable ultimately led to many single-syllable words in English.

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Q 23 English tenses
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Which language reduced the number of tenses that appear in English?
Latin
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you have studied the romance languages, then you'll know there are a great many tenses to remember and conjugate. The Germanic language influence on English means we have far fewer tenses.

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Q 24 Numerous
Gregory Adams / Moment / Getty Images
Where do you find the origin of "numerus"?
Greek
Latin
French
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Numerus may come from the Latin, but with the exception of a small shift in spelling, it appears in the English language as "numerous." This word shows up in many mathematical terms.

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Q 25 Memories
narvikk / E+ / Getty Images
"Memor" is a prefix that appears in which language origin?
Latin
German
Dutch
Norse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you thought of the word "memory" or "memorabilia" or "memorial," you're on the right track. "Memor is a Latin prefix related to memory and mindfulness that appears in many English words."

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Q 26 Fricatives and sibilants
Liu Liqun / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images
Fricatives and sibilants appear in which part of language?
Spelling
Origin
Pronunciation
Grammar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you've ever heard someone's speech referred to as "sibilant," this is why. Fricatives and sibilants are used to described the movement of air during the pronunciation of certain words.

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Q 27 Genus
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If a biological species doesn't have a common English name, it is then referred to by what?
Kingdom
Phylum
Order
Genus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many words that appears in biology or in the scientific world are derived from Latin roots. The word "genus" itself is Latin in origin, as are many of the defining names that are colloquially adapted into English.

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Q 28 poltergeist
Annie Otzen / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Where does the word "poltergeist" come from?
Germanic
Latin
French
Dutch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Poltergeist, a word for a type of ghost, looks and sounds like a lot of German words, and that's because it's Germanic in origin. That also explains why it fits so well into the English language.

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Q 29 Blanc
yuanyuan yan / Moment / Getty Images
What is the origin of the French word, "blanc"?
English
Latin
Germanic
Old French
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It might seem like "blanc" for "blank" or "white" has been around forever, but there is a beginning story to every word and in the case of this one, it dates back to Germanic roots.

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Q 30 Etymological twin
Imgorthand / E+ / Getty Images
Another word for "etymological twin" is what?
Doublet
Geminus
Prepost
Waze
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As explained in an earlier question, a double, known also as an etymological twin, is a word with the same roots comprised from two different languages. There can also be triplets or more.

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Q 31 Quarantine
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Where does the word "quarantine" come from?
French
Latin
Dutch
Germanic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you've studied romance languages, you'd be tempted to see the word "quarantine" as relating to "40" in some way—and it does. The word refers to how long people suspected of disease were kept away from civilization—40 days.

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Q 32 Schizophrenia
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"Schizophrenia" came through what language, which influenced its pronunciation?
Germanic
French
Dutch
Latin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If the word "schizophrenia" had followed one of the traditional paths of language adaptation—likely through French, Greek, or Latin—it would be pronounced like "skyzo," rather than "skitso."

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Q 33 Weak verbs
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Germanic weak verbs are what type of verbs?
The oldest group
The largest group
The most often translated group
The most original group
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Germanic weak verbs are the most commonly appearing verbs in the Germanic languages, and often referred to as regular verbs. This does not necessarily mean they are the most important or historic.

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Q 34 Singing
mihailomilovanovic / E+ / Getty Images
Which of the following is an example of a Germanic-inspired "strong verb"?
Sing
Walk
Read
Watch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A strong verb is not necessarily the opposite of a weak verb. You get a strong verb when the conjugation of the verb to fit the subject of the sentence or the tense changes: I sing, I sang, I sung.

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Q 35 Persona
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When you use the word "persona," what language do you have to thank?
Latin
Germanic
French
Dutch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Persona has an incredible number of uses in the English language, including as a standalone word, persona. It can be used in many words — often related to self or person — and it comes from Latin.

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