quid ni

• quidni

quid (“what”) +‎ nī (“unless, not”)

quid nī? (not comparable)

1. why not? what else?

   Hem, Clinia haec fieri videbat? -- Quid ni? Mecum una simul.

   Well, did Clinia see all this going on? - How shouldn't he? He was with me.

   Quid ni? Quo verba facilius dentur mihi.

   Why not? That I may be imposed upon the more easily.

   Omnem rem tenes? - Quid ego ni teneam?

   You understand the whole affair? - Why should I not understand it?

   Quid illam ni abducat?

   Why should he not take her?

   Quid ego ni ita censeam?

   Why shouldn't I think so?

   Quid ego ni fleam?

   Why shouldn't I cry?

   Quidni, inquit, meminerim?

   Why mustn't I remember, says he?

2. of course

   Quid ni meminerim.

   Of course I remember.

   Quid ni possim.

   Of course I can.

   Quid ni laudet.

   Why should he not praise him! (of course he should praise him)

   Quid ni esset.

   Of course he was.

• While cūr nōn? (“why not”) expects an answer, quid ni is rather used in rhetorical questions.
• Quid ni takes the subjunctive.
• Can be used pleonastically:

  Quid ni non.