Four Kinds of Categorical Proposition

Taking into account both the quality and quantity of the proposition at the
same time results to four kinds of categorical proposition. These are the (1)
universal/singular affirmative; (2) universal/singular negative; (3)
particular affirmative; and (4) particular negative. Since the early Middle
Ages these four kinds of categorical proposition have commonly been
designated by letter symbols corresponding to the first four vowels of the
Roman alphabet: A, E, I, O. Symbol A stands for the universal/singular
affirmative proposition, E for the universal/singular negative proposition, I for
the particular affirmative proposition, and O for the particular negative
proposition. The four letters were said to have been derived from the first two
vowels in the Latin word affirmo (“I affirm”) and nego (“I deny), thus:

n
Universal A E
f
f g
Particular I O
r
m
o

Using the letter symbols, four types of the categorical proposition can be
diagrammed as follows:

QUALITY
QUANTITY

Affirmative Negative
Universal/Singular A E
Particular I O

The following are examples of categorical proposition with certain quality

and quantity represented by symbols A, E, I, O.

Proposition Symbol Quantity Quality

1. All men are mortal beings. A Universal Affirmative
2. Some men are God-fearing. I Particular Affirmative
3. Jesus Christ is the son of God. A Singular Affirmative
4. Cows are not horses. E Universal Negative
5. Some houses are not strong. O Particular Negative
6. That dog is not mine. E Singular Negative
7. Every person is rational. A Universal Affirmative
8. Some horses are black. I Particular Affirmative
9. No X are Y. E Universal Negative
10. Some roses are not white. O Particular Negative
Note:

A: All X are Y./ All men are rational beings.

E: No X are Y.
I: Some X are Y.
O: Some X are not Y.