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In culina coquus cum servo cenam parat, ut familia post longum diem bene cenet.

In culina coquus cum servo cenam parat, ut familia post longum diem bene cenet.
In the kitchen the cook prepares dinner with the servant, so that the family may dine well after the long day.
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Questions & Answers about In culina coquus cum servo cenam parat, ut familia post longum diem bene cenet.

Why is culina in the ablative after in?

The preposition in can take either the accusative or the ablative:

  • in + accusative = motion into something (e.g. in culinam = into the kitchen)
  • in + ablative = location in/inside something (e.g. in culina = in the kitchen)

Here there is no movement; the cook is already in the kitchen. So culina is ablative to show location: in culina = in the kitchen.

What are the subject and object of the main clause?

Main clause: coquus cum servo cenam parat

  • coquus is nominative singular, so it is the subject: the cook.
  • cenam is accusative singular, so it is the direct object: dinner / the meal.
  • parat is the verb: prepares.

So: The cook prepares dinner (with the slave).

What does cum servo mean, and what case is servo?

cum servo means with the slave.

  • servo is ablative singular of servus (slave).
  • cum here is the preposition with expressing accompaniment.
  • The structure cum + ablative often means together with X.

So coquus cum servo = the cook with the slave / the cook together with the slave.

Why is cenam in the accusative?

cenam is the direct object of the verb parat (prepares).

In Latin:

  • The subject is usually nominative (here: coquus).
  • The direct object is usually accusative (here: cenam).

So cenam parat literally = he prepares dinner.

What kind of clause does ut familia post longum diem bene cenet represent?

This is a purpose clause, introduced by ut:

  • ut
    • subjunctive verb often = in order that / so that (purpose).
  • familia is the subject of the subordinate clause.
  • cenet is in the subjunctive, marking this as a purpose clause.

So ut familia … bene cenet means so that the family may eat well or in order that the family can have a good meal.

Why is cenet in the subjunctive, and what tense is it?

cenet is:

  • Present subjunctive, 3rd person singular of cenare (to dine, eat dinner).

It is in the subjunctive because it is in a purpose clause after ut:

  • Main verb: parat (present indicative).
  • Purpose verb: cenet (present subjunctive).

With a present main verb, a present subjunctive in a purpose clause expresses an action at the same time as, or after, the main verb: he prepares dinner so that the family may eat well (afterwards / later that day).

How are cena and cenet related?

They are related but different parts of speech:

  • cena (noun, 1st declension) = dinner, the main meal.
    • cenam here is its accusative singular: dinner (object of parat).
  • cenet (verb) = present subjunctive, 3rd singular of cenare (to dine).

So in the sentence:

  • cenam parat = he prepares dinner (noun).
  • familia … cenet = the family may dine (verb).
Why is post longum diem in the accusative?

The preposition post (after) always takes the accusative:

  • post
    • accusative = after X (in time or space).

Here:

  • diem is accusative singular of dies (day).
  • longum is an adjective agreeing with diem (accusative singular masculine).

So post longum diem = after a long day.

This is an adverbial phrase telling when the family will eat well.

What is the function of bene in bene cenet?

bene is an adverb meaning well.

  • It modifies the verb cenet (to dine, eat dinner).
  • So bene cenet means may (the family) eat well or may (they) have a good meal.

Adverbs like bene typically answer how? about the action.

Why is familia used here, and what exactly does it mean in Latin?

familia is nominative singular, the subject of cenet.

In Latin, familia often means:

  • The whole household: family members and slaves/servants living under one roof and under one head of household.

So ut familia … bene cenet can be understood as:

  • so that the whole household may eat well, not just the parents and children in the modern narrow sense of “family.”
Why is the word order ut familia post longum diem bene cenet and not more like English?

Latin word order is flexible and often follows emphasis or rhythm rather than strict subject–verb–object order.

In ut familia post longum diem bene cenet:

  • familia (subject) comes early.
  • post longum diem (time phrase) comes in the middle.
  • bene (adverb) is right before the verb, the spot where adverbs often like to sit.
  • cenet (verb) comes at the end, a very common position for the verb in subordinate clauses.

You could also see something like ut familia bene post longum diem cenet or similar orders in Latin, but the given order is very natural.

How does the tense sequence work between parat and cenet?

This is the primary sequence of tenses:

  • Main verb parat = present indicative (primary tense).
  • Subordinate verb cenet = present subjunctive (primary sequence).

In a purpose clause:

  • Present main verb → present subjunctive = action of the subordinate clause is future or contemporaneous with the main action.

So: The cook is preparing dinner so that the family may (later) eat well.

Could this idea be expressed with two simpler sentences instead of an ut clause?

Yes, but some nuance is lost. For example:

  • Coquus cum servo in culina cenam parat. Familia post longum diem bene cenabit.
    The cook with the slave prepares dinner in the kitchen. The family will eat well after a long day.

This states two facts one after another.

The original with ut … cenet explicitly shows purpose:

  • The cook prepares dinner in order that the family may eat well.
    So the second action (family eating) is clearly presented as the goal of the first.