Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Latin grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Tu es laetus.
Why is the pronoun tu included if Latin often omits subject pronouns?
Latin verbs typically contain information about who performs the action (person and number). However, including tu can add emphasis or clarity. In a simple sentence like Tu es laetus, it highlights you in particular rather than someone else.
How is the verb es conjugated?
Es is the second-person singular present tense form of esse (to be). It corresponds to you are in English.
Why does laetus end in -us?
Laetus is the nominative masculine singular form of the adjective meaning happy. Since tu is masculine or generic in this example, the adjective agrees in gender, case, and number with the subject.
Would the sentence change if I were talking to a female?
Yes. If you are addressing a female, you would say Tu es laeta, because the adjective must agree in gender with the person described.
Is word order important here?
In Latin, word order is generally flexible, though Tu es laetus is a common straightforward arrangement (Subject–Verb–Complement). You could also say Laetus es tu, but the emphasis might shift slightly to happy. The core meaning remains the same.