Like alter … alter [pronominal adjectives [8](2); alter … alter: the one … the other] alius … alius indicates, for example, what one person is doing and what the other person is doing; in the plural aliī … aliī translates as some (for example, do one thing), others (for example, do another thing)
Alius hodiē venit, alius crās veniet. │ One comes today, another will come tomorrow.
Aliud est āctiō bona, aliud ōrātiō │ A good action is one thing, and good talk another.
Aliī gladiōs, aliī scūta portant │ some carry swords, others shields.
Aliīs virīs illa fēmina levis multum placēbat, aliīs odiō erat eadem. │ That funny woman was very pleasing to some men, but to others, the same woman was a source of hatred.
The construction can be repeated several times:
illī ad dēprecandum perīculum prōferēbant aliī purpuram Tyriam, tūs aliī atque odōrēs vestemque linteam, gemmās aliī et margarītās (Cicero) │ They brought him presents to gain his protection from danger; some brought him Tyrian purple, others brought frankincense, perfumes, and linen robes; others gave jewels and pearls;
qua minus tūta erant alia fossīs, alia vāllō, alia turribus mūniēbat (Livy) │ the less secure (places) he strengthened, some with trenches, some with ramparts, and others with towers.
Exercise: complete the Latin sentences with the appropriate forms of alius ... alius ...
[1] But it is one thing to speak ill of (one), another to make an accusation. │ Sed _____ est male dīcere, _____ accūsāre.
[2] Some write, others read, (and) others sing. │ _____ scrībunt, _____ legunt, _____ cantant.
[3] But you, who are defending the acts of Caesar, what reason can you give for defending some, and disregarding others? │ sed tū quī ācta Caesaris dēfendis quid potes dīcere cūr _____ dēfendās, _____ nōn cūrēs? (Cicero)
[4] Quotidian* fevers, however, vary and have many forms. For some begin straightaway with a feeling of heat, others of chill, others with shivering. │ Quotīdiānae vērō variae sunt, et multiplicēs. _____ enim prōtinus ā calōre incipiunt, _____ ā frīgore, _____ ab horrōre. (Celsus)
*A fever that occurs at daily intervals
[5] Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another. │ Numquam _____ nātūra, _____ sapientia dīcit. (Juvenal)
aliī … aliī … aliī …; aliud … aliud …; aliae … aliae … aliae …; aliud … aliud …; alia … alia …
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[1] Sed aliud est male dīcere, aliud accūsāre.
[2] Aliī scrībunt, aliī legunt, aliī cantant.
[3] … quid potes dīcere cūr alia dēfendās, alia nōn cūrēs?
[4] Quotīdiānae vērō variae sunt, et multiplicēs. Aliae enim prōtinus ā calōre incipiunt, aliae ā frīgore, aliae ab horrōre.
[5] Numquam aliud nātūra, aliud sapientia dīcit. (Juvenal)
