Laetus sum, quia magister meus me laudat.

I am happy because my teacher praises me.

Breakdown of Laetus sum, quia magister meus me laudat.

• ego: I
• esse: to be
• laetus: happy
• magister: the teacher
• me: me
• meus: my
• quia: because
• laudare: to praise

Questions & Answers about Laetus sum, quia magister meus me laudat.

Why is laetus in the masculine form here?

This form, laetus, matches the speaker’s gender. It is a masculine singular nominative adjective describing “I” (the speaker). If a female speaker were talking, it would be laeta sum.

Is there a reason quia is used here instead of quod for “because”?

Quia and quod both mean “because” in Latin and can often be used interchangeably. Quia is a straightforward way to express causation. Some authors might choose quod or even quoniam. In most simple sentences, quia works perfectly well to indicate the cause or reason.

Why is the verb laudat at the end of the second clause?

Latin syntax allows more freedom in word order compared to English. A common pattern is to put the verb at the end of the clause or sentence (SOV: subject - object - verb). Here, the subject is magister meus and the object is me, so the verb laudat naturally comes last.

What person and tense is the verb sum and the verb laudat?

• Sum is the first-person singular present indicative form of esse (“to be”). It means “I am.”
• Laudat is the third-person singular present indicative of laudare (“to praise”). It means “he/she/it praises.”

How does me function in the clause magister meus me laudat?

Me is the direct object in the accusative case. It shows that the teacher’s action (laudat = praises) is being received by the speaker (me = me).