Magnus discipulus in via scribit.

The great student writes in the road.

Breakdown of Magnus discipulus in via scribit.

• scribere: to write
• discipulus: the student
• in: on
• via: the road
• magnus: great

Questions & Answers about Magnus discipulus in via scribit.

Why is Magnus discipulus in the nominative case?

In Latin, the nominative case is used for the subject of the sentence. Here, Magnus discipulus (meaning “the great student”) is the subject performing the action of scribit (“writes”), hence it appears in the nominative case.

What does in via mean, and why is via in the ablative case?

In via means “on the road” or “in the road,” and via is in the ablative case because the preposition in can take the ablative when indicating location (as opposed to taking the accusative when indicating motion into something). Thus in via tells us the location where the action is happening.

Why is scribit in the third-person singular present tense?

Latin verbs conjugate to show person and number. Since the subject is Magnus discipulus—a singular, third-person subject—the verb must match it, so scribit is the third-person singular form. The present tense indicates that the action is happening right now.

Can we rearrange the word order without changing the meaning?

Generally, yes. Latin’s inflected endings allow flexibility in word order without changing the essential meaning. For instance, In via Magnus discipulus scribit or In via scribit Magnus discipulus would convey the same idea. However, some word orders are more standard (e.g., subject-object-verb or subject-verb-object in simpler sentences).

Does in via always mean “on the road,” or can it have other nuances?

It usually means “on the road” or “in the street,” describing a location. Depending on context, it might suggest being out in public or traveling. But in most basic contexts, it implies simply writing while located physically on the road.