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Questions & Answers about Ego multum laboro.
Why is ego used here when Latin verbs already include the subject in their ending?
In Latin, the personal ending on the verb (-o in laboro) indicates that the subject is I. Using ego is not strictly necessary, but it adds emphasis. It’s a way of saying I work a lot, stressing that I am doing the work.
What part of speech is multum, and how is it being used in this sentence?
Multum is an adverb here, meaning a lot or much. It modifies the verb laboro, telling us how much the speaker works.
Why is the verb laboro in the first-person singular form?
Latin verbs include person and number in their endings. The -o ending in laboro signifies the first-person singular (...) meaning I work. This is why the subject ego is optional.
Does multum need to match ego in gender, number, or case since it comes after the pronoun?
No. Because multum is functioning adverbially, it doesn’t need to agree with ego. In Latin, an adverb has no gender, number, or case – it modifies the verb independently.
Can the word order change? For example, could I say multum laboro ego?