Mox puer fortis erit, et miles erit.

to be

Breakdown of Mox puer fortis erit, et miles erit.

• puer: the boy
• et: and
• mox: soon
• miles: the soldier
• fortis: brave

Questions & Answers about Mox puer fortis erit, et miles erit.

Why is erit used instead of another verb form?

Erit is the future tense of the verb sum (meaning “to be”). It indicates that something will happen in the future. In this sentence, it shows that the state of being strong and a soldier is upcoming, not happening right now.

Why is erit repeated in the sentence?

In Latin, it’s quite common to repeat verbs to give separate clues about each clause, even if the meaning is similar. Here, each erit emphasizes a different future role or quality for the boy (first becoming strong, then becoming a soldier), offering clarity and rhythm.

What part of speech is fortis, and how does it agree with puer?

Fortis is an adjective meaning “brave” or “strong.” It is in the nominative singular masculine form here, matching puer (also nominative singular masculine). In Latin, adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe in case, number, and gender.

Why is there an et before the second miles erit?

Et simply means “and.” It connects two future statements: the boy will be strong and he will be a soldier. Latin often uses et to join elements that are of equal importance in a sentence.

Does the placement of mox affect the meaning of the sentence?

Mox means “soon” and usually appears near the beginning of a clause, but Latin word order is flexible. It signals that the boy’s transformation into someone strong and then a soldier is going to happen before long. Even if the position of mox shifts, it would still convey that sense of imminence.