Questions & Answers about Puer fessus domi dormit.
Why is there no word for “the” in this Latin sentence?
Latin does not have separate words for “the” or “a/an”.
Whether we translate puer as “the boy” or “a boy” depends on context, not on any special word in Latin.
- puer fessus domi dormit can be:
- “The tired boy sleeps at home.”
- or “A tired boy sleeps at home.”
Both are possible; the Latin sentence itself does not force one or the other.
What case and role does puer have?
puer is:
- Case: nominative
- Number: singular
- Gender: masculine
In this sentence, the nominative shows that puer is the subject of the verb dormit:
- puer dormit = “the boy sleeps.”
Why is it fessus and not fessum or fessa?