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The old Instrumental Case (cf. II. 65) of qui and quis retains its instrumental function in lines like Curc. 705 “A. quodne promisti? B. quî promisi? A. linguā. B. eādem nunc nego”; but its transition to a mere Conjunction is patent in its frequent association with a Plural Antecedent, e.g. Aul. 502 “vehicla quî vehar”. And it has already in Plautus' time sunk to this last stage, e.g. quî fit ut . .? (see below, VIII. 2). With the Particle (Interrogative, and perhaps also Negative) -nĕ, it becomes the Conjunction quin (see below, VIII. 2). But quin may be also Nominative Masc., like quaen or quaene, Nominative Feminine, in quoin Dative Masc. in Mil. 588 “quoin id (sc. quod vidit) adimatur, ne id quod vidit viderit?” (For more examples see Rauterberg: Quaestiones Plautinae. Wilhelmshaven (progr.), 1883.)

Syntax of Plautus. W. M. Lindsay. Anne Mahoney. edited for Perseus. Oxford. J. Parker and Co. 1907.

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