Learn Hardcore Latin: Magister dicit: “Discipuli multum student, et eorum mentes manent fortes.” - The teacher says: “The students study a lot, and their minds remain strong.”

Eorum is the third-person plural genitive pronoun meaning of them/their, referring here to the students. If the sentence said suorum, it would typically imply something belonging to the subject itself (which can imply reflexive possession in Latin). Since the speaker (the teacher) is talking about the students’ minds, the appropriate genitive pronoun is eorum.

Why is the verb student in the present tense?

Because it describes an ongoing action: they study. Latin uses the present tense to indicate current, habitual, or ongoing actions. There’s no need for a separate auxiliary like are studying in English; student alone signals they are studying or they study.

How does multum function in this sentence?

Multum here is an adverbial accusative meaning much or a lot. It modifies student, indicating they study a lot, rather than just they study.

What is the role of et in this sentence?

Et is a coordinating conjunction meaning and, linking the two statements: Discipuli multum student (the students study a lot) and eorum mentes manent fortes (their minds remain strong).

Why does fortes agree with mentes?

Fortes is an adjective in the plural nominative form, agreeing with mentes, which is a plural nominative noun. In Latin, adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. Since mentes is feminine plural nominative, fortes must also be plural nominative.

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