Breakdown of Si timidus es, studere potes in urbe, sed si fortis es, potes dormire in horto.
esse
to be
in
in
hortus
the garden
sed
but
Questions & Answers about Si timidus es, studere potes in urbe, sed si fortis es, potes dormire in horto.
Why does the sentence begin with si?
Si means if. It introduces a condition.
So:
- Si timidus es = If you are timid
- si fortis es = if you are brave
This sentence has two parallel conditional clauses joined by sed (but).
Why does Latin use es with timidus and fortis?
Es is the 2nd person singular of esse, meaning to be.
So:
- timidus es = you are timid
- fortis es = you are brave
In Latin, just as in English, an adjective like timidus or fortis often needs a form of to be when it describes someone in a full statement.
Where is the word you in the sentence?
Latin usually does not need to state the subject pronoun if the verb ending already shows it.
For example:
- es = you are
- potes = you can
So the you is built into the verb forms. If Latin added tu, it would usually be for emphasis: you in particular.