Breakdown of Nos laeti sumus, et multum laboramus.
esse
to be
laetus
happy
laborare
to work
et
and
multum
a lot
nos
we
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Questions & Answers about Nos laeti sumus, et multum laboramus.
Why do we use Nos at the start if sumus already implies "we"?
In Latin, the first-person plural verb sumus ("we are") already conveys the idea of "we." However, adding Nos can add emphasis or clarity to the subject. Latin often omits pronouns when the subject is clear from the verb, but here Nos is included to highlight that we (as opposed to someone else) are the ones who are happy.
Why is it laeti and not laetus or laetas?
The form laeti is a plural nominative masculine form of the adjective laetus. Since it is describing multiple people (mixed group or unknown gender group), the ending -i is used to match the plural subject in the masculine nominative case.
• laetus is singular masculine.
• laeti is plural masculine.
• laeta (singular) or laetae (plural) are feminine forms.
Can Latin word order be changed, for example, Laeti sumus nos?
Yes, Latin has a relatively flexible word order because grammatical relationships are indicated by endings. While Nos laeti sumus is a perfectly normal sequence, Laeti sumus nos could also be used, though it might sound more emphatic or poetic. The most common order in simple sentences tends to be Subject–Complement–Verb (Nos laeti sumus).
What is the role of et in Nos laeti sumus, et multum laboramus?
The word et simply connects the two clauses:
• First clause: Nos laeti sumus ("We are happy.")
• Second clause: multum laboramus ("We work a lot.")
et means "and" in Latin, linking them into one coordinated sentence.
Why multum and not an adjective form like multus?
multum is an adverb here, meaning "a lot" or "much" in the sense of manner or degree. It describes how we work—"we work a lot." If you were using an adjective like multus (masculine nominative singular), you would need a noun it modifies, which is not the case here. multum laboramus focuses on the amount or extent of the work.