Questions & Answers about Equus altus in horto stat.
Why is “altus” in the same case and number as “equus”?
In Latin, adjectives must agree with their nouns in gender, number, and case. Since equus is masculine singular nominative, altus also appears in the masculine singular nominative.
Is it normal for the adjective to come after the noun in Latin?
Yes. Latin has a flexible word order, and adjectives can come before or after the noun. It's common to see adjectives follow the noun, especially when they are descriptive.
Which case is “horto”?
Horto is in the ablative case, governed by the preposition in to express a location (i.e., “in the garden”).
Why is “stat” in the third-person singular form?
Stat is a third-person singular verb because its subject (equus altus) is singular. Latin verbs must agree with their subject in person and number, just as in English.
Does “equus altus” imply only tallness, or could “altus” imply something else?
Typically, altus means tall or high when referencing a physical object’s height. However, it can also mean deep in other contexts (like describing water depths). Here, it straightforwardly describes the horse as being tall.