Si via est longa, equus utilis est.

(If the road is long, a horse is useful.)

Breakdown of Si via est longa, equus utilis est.

• esse: to be
• via: the road
• equus: the horse
• longus: long
• utilis: useful

Questions & Answers about Si via est longa, equus utilis est.

Why does "Si" come at the beginning of the sentence?

"Si" is a subordinating conjunction meaning if. In Latin, conjunctions often appear at the start of a conditional clause. Word order in Latin is flexible, but placing Si first makes the condition clear right away.

How do I know that "via" is the subject here?

Latin uses case endings to indicate grammatical function. Via is in the nominative singular form (from the first declension). The nominative case typically signals that the noun is the subject of the sentence, so we know that via is the subject.

Why is "equus" also in the nominative case?

In Si via est longa, equus utilis est, we have two clauses tied by the condition. Equus is also nominative because it is the subject of the second part, equus utilis est. The horse is described or identified as useful, so it becomes the subject of the verb est in that clause.

What does "utilis" agree with?

Utilis is an adjective meaning useful, and it agrees with equus in gender, number, and case. Both are masculine singular nominative forms. Adjectives in Latin must match the nouns they describe in case, number, and gender.

Can "est" be placed elsewhere in the sentence?

Yes, Latin sentences allow quite a bit of flexibility in word order. Est often appears at the end of a clause, but it can also be placed after or before the subject, depending on stylistic or rhetorical choices. The basic meaning doesn’t change, but the emphasis can shift slightly when you move the verb around.