Breakdown of Puer domi matrem exspectat; pluvia cadit, igitur foris ludere non vult.
Questions & Answers about Puer domi matrem exspectat; pluvia cadit, igitur foris ludere non vult.
Domi is the locative case of domus and means “at home”.
Latin uses a special locative form mainly with a few nouns, especially:
- names of cities: Romae = “in/at Rome”
- small islands: Delphi = “at Delphi”
- some common nouns: domi = “at home”, ruri = “in the countryside”
So puer domi literally means “the boy (is) at home.” You could say in domo, but domi is the most idiomatic way to say “at home.”
- Puer is nominative singular: it is the subject of the verb exspectat (“waits for”).
- Matrem is accusative singular: it is the direct object of exspectat (“waits for [whom?] the mother”).
So the core structure is: puer (subject) matrem (object) exspectat (verb) = “the boy waits for (his) mother.”
Latin has two related but different verbs:
- spectat (from spectāre) = “he/she looks at, watches”
- exspectat (from exspectāre) = “he/she waits for, expects”
The prefix ex- here gives the idea of “looking out (for something)” → “waiting/expecting.”
So puer matrem exspectat means “the boy is waiting for his mother,” not “watching his mother.”
Latin often omits possessive pronouns (like “my, your, his”) when the relationship is obvious from context, especially with close family members:
- matrem video = “I see (my) mother”
- fratrem amat = “He loves (his) brother”
If you really need to emphasize whose mother it is, you can add suam:
- puer domi suam matrem exspectat = “The boy is waiting at home for his own mother.”
But in a simple context, matrem alone is understood as “his mother.”
Latin word order is flexible; grammatical roles are shown by endings, not position.
The most “neutral” order is often Subject–Object–Verb: puer matrem exspectat.
Placing domi earlier gives it a bit of emphasis or sets the scene first: “At home, the boy is waiting for his mother.”
All of these are grammatically fine:
- Puer domi matrem exspectat.
- Puer matrem domi exspectat.
- Domi puer matrem exspectat.
The meaning stays essentially the same; the nuance of focus can shift slightly.
Igitur means “therefore, so, consequently.” It connects the rain with the boy’s decision not to play.
It is often postpositive: it tends to appear after the first word (or phrase) of its clause rather than at the very beginning.
So instead of:
- Igitur foris ludere non vult,
Latin very often says:
- … pluvia cadit, igitur foris ludere non vult.
Both are possible; the “after-first-word” position is just more typical for igitur.
Pluvia cadit literally means “rain is falling” (pluvia = rain, cadit = falls).
It’s a perfectly good, clear sentence.
Another very common expression is the impersonal verb pluit = “it is raining”:
- Pluit, igitur foris ludere non vult. = “It’s raining, so he doesn’t want to play outside.”
So you may see pluit by itself, or a more descriptive phrase like pluvia cadit. Both are normal.
Here foris is an adverb meaning “outside” (locative sense: “outdoors, out of doors”).
So foris ludere = “to play outside.”
Latin also has foras (“to the outside, outwards”), which is more about motion to the outside, but foris in this sentence just states the location: playing outside (rather than inside).
Ludere is the present active infinitive of ludere (3rd conjugation), meaning “to play.”
Latin uses the infinitive with verbs of wishing, wanting, being able, beginning etc.
After vult (“he wants”), an infinitive gives what he wants to do:
- vult ludere = “he wants to play”
- non vult ludere = “he does not want to play”
So foris ludere non vult = “he does not want to play outside.”
Non vult means “he/she does not want.”
Vult is the 3rd person singular present of the irregular verb velle (“to want”):
- volō = I want
- vīs = you (sg.) want
- vult = he/she wants
- volumus = we want
- vultis = you (pl.) want
- volunt = they want
So non vult ludere = “he/she does not want to play.”
Yes. The Latin present tense can cover simple present and progressive present in English:
- puer matrem exspectat can be:
- “the boy waits for his mother”
- “the boy is waiting for his mother”
- sometimes even “the boy does wait for his mother” (for emphasis)
Context decides which English form sounds best; grammatically, they all reflect the same Latin present.
Classical Latin manuscripts originally had little or no punctuation as we know it today.
The semicolon and comma in printed texts are a modern editorial convention to make reading easier.
Here the editor is marking:
- First clause: puer domi matrem exspectat
- Second clause: pluvia cadit
- Consequence clause: igitur foris ludere non vult
The punctuation helps you see the structure, but the grammar and meaning are determined by words and endings, not by the punctuation marks.