Nunc orare in templo melius est.

to be

Breakdown of Nunc orare in templo melius est.

• in: in
• templum: the temple
• orare: to pray
• melior: better
• nunc: now

Questions & Answers about Nunc orare in templo melius est.

Why is the verb "orare" in the infinitive?

"Orare" is in the infinitive because "melius est" (meaning "it is better") regularly takes an infinitive to express "it is better to do something." So "orare" here means "to pray" in a general sense.

Why does the sentence use "melius" instead of "melior"?

"Melius" is the neuter comparative of "bonus" and can function adverbially or as a predicative complement, meaning "better" in a general or abstract sense. "Melior" is the masculine/feminine comparative adjective. Here, "melius" modifies the act of praying rather than describing a noun.

What case is "templo," and why is it used?

"Templo" is in the ablative case. After the preposition "in," which suggests location (where something happens), Latin requires the ablative case (in templo = in the temple).

Why is "nunc" at the beginning of the sentence?

Latin word order is flexible, and placing "nunc" (meaning "now") at the beginning emphasizes the idea of "now" or "at the present time." It highlights the temporal nuance before the rest of the statement.

Can I change the word order, for example "nunc in templo orare melius est"?

Yes. Latin allows for considerable flexibility in word order. You can say "Nunc in templo orare melius est" or "In templo nunc orare melius est" without changing the core meaning. However, each variation can slightly shift the emphasis—for instance, moving "nunc" in front or "in templo" around may alter which word is emphasized.