Learn Hardcore Latin: Multi homines pacem amant, sed populus interdum bellum non timet. - Many people love peace, but the people sometimes do not fear war.

Multi homines pacem amant, sed populus interdum bellum non timet.

Many people love peace, but the people sometimes do not fear war.

Breakdown of Multi homines pacem amant, sed populus interdum bellum non timet.

Questions & Answers about Multi homines pacem amant, sed populus interdum bellum non timet.

Why is it pacem and not pax?

Pax is the basic dictionary form (nominative singular), used for the subject: pax venit = peace comes.
In pacem amant, pacem is the direct object of amant (they love), so it must be in the accusative case.
For pax, pacis (a 3rd‑declension noun), the accusative singular is pacem, so multi homines pacem amant = many people love peace.

What case is bellum, and how can it be both subject and object in different sentences?

Bellum belongs to the 2nd declension, neuter gender. In neuter nouns, the nominative singular and accusative singular have the same form: bellum.
In this sentence, populus is the subject and bellum is the direct object: populus bellum non timet = the people are not afraid of war.
So here bellum is accusative, even though it looks like the nominative; the function in the sentence (what the verb is acting on) tells you it’s the object.

Why is amant plural but timet singular?

Latin verbs must agree with their subjects in person and number.

Multi homines is plural (many people), so the verb must be 3rd person plural: amant (they love).