Learn Hardcore Latin: Pater discipulis panem donat. - The father gives bread to the students.

discipulis is in the dative case, which marks it as the indirect object. In other words, they are the ones receiving the bread (indirectly) from the father’s action of giving.

Why does panem end in -em instead of -us or -um like many Latin nouns?

Latin nouns belong to different declensions. panis (bread) is a third-declension noun. Its accusative singular form is panem, which explains the -em ending.

What person, number, and tense is donat?

The verb donat is third-person singular, present tense. It means “he/she/it gives” or “he/she/it is giving,” depending on context.

Why is there no preposition meaning "to" before discipulis?

In Latin, the dative case often shows the indirect object without using a preposition. The ending of discipulis (the dative form) already conveys the meaning “to/for the students.”

Can we change the word order without altering the meaning?

Yes. Latin word order is flexible. You could say Panem pater discipulis donat or Discipulis panem donat pater, and the sense remains essentially the same because the case endings still indicate each word’s function.