Filius vinum non bibit, sed aquam petit.

the wine

Breakdown of Filius vinum non bibit, sed aquam petit.

• non: not
• sed: but
• filius: the son
• bibere: to drink
• aqua: the water
• petere: to ask for

Questions & Answers about Filius vinum non bibit, sed aquam petit.

Why is vinum spelled the same in both the nominative and accusative cases?

Vinum belongs to the second declension and is a neuter noun. Neuter nouns have the same form in the nominative and accusative singular, hence vinum appears unchanged whether it is the subject or the object. In this sentence, it is the direct object of bibit.

What is the grammatical function of Filius here?

Filius is the subject of the sentence. It is in the nominative case, indicating who is performing the action (not drinking wine, but instead asking for water).

Why does non come before bibit?

In Latin, non is an adverb meaning not, and it generally precedes the verb it negates. Here, it clarifies that the action of drinking wine does not occur. The sentence’s literal reading would be “The son does not drink wine, but seeks water.”

What does petit mean in this context?

Petit can mean seeks, asks for, heads for, or requests. In context, it shows that the son is requesting or seeking water.

Why is aquam used, and not aqua?

Aqua is the nominative form, typically used as the subject, whereas aquam is the accusative form. Since water here is the direct object of petit, it must be in the accusative case.