Learn Hardcore Latin: Pater in horto laborat. - The father works in the garden.

Pater is the subject of the sentence. In Latin, the subject is typically in the nominative case. Here, pater is nominative, indicating that the father is the one performing the action (working).

Why is it in horto instead of in hortum?

Latin uses in with the ablative case (horto) to show location without implying movement. If motion into the garden were indicated, the accusative case (hortum) would be used. So in horto means "in the garden," while in hortum would mean "into the garden."

What does the ending -t on laborat signify?

The -t ending in Latin verbs indicates the third-person singular (he/she/it). In this case, laborat means "he (the father) works."

Do we need an article before pater or horto in Latin?

Latin does not use articles (like "the" or "a"). Words stand on their own without needing articles. So there is no separate word for "the father" or "the garden"; we simply say pater and horto.

Could we use a pronoun instead of pater?

Latin often omits personal pronouns if the subject is understood from the verb ending, but if you need to specify "he" in Latin, you could use , for example, ("He works in the garden"). However, using is more explicit and clarifies who is performing the action.