Breakdown of Puer matrem quaerit et rogat: “Cur ad forum festinas?”
puer
the boy
et
and
mater
the mother
forum
the forum
festinare
to hurry
ad
to
rogare
to ask
cur
why
quaerere
to look for
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Questions & Answers about Puer matrem quaerit et rogat: “Cur ad forum festinas?”
Why is matrem in the accusative case?
Because it’s the direct object of quaerit (puer … quaerit = “the boy looks for …”). The verb quaerere commonly takes a direct object in the accusative: matrem = “(his/the) mother.”
What case is puer, and how do I know it’s the subject?
Puer is nominative singular, and nominative is the normal case for the subject of a finite verb. Here it naturally goes with the 3rd‑singular verbs quaerit and rogat.
Why are there two verbs, quaerit and rogat, and how does et work here?
Et simply coordinates two actions with the same subject:
- puer matrem quaerit = “the boy looks for his mother”
- (puer) rogat = “(he) asks”
Latin often omits repeating the subject the second time.
Does quaerit mean “asks” or “seeks”? I’ve seen it translated both ways.
It can mean either depending on context:
- quaerere + accusative often means “seek/look for” (as here: matrem quaerit).
- It can also mean “ask” (especially with something like quaerit quid… = “he asks what…”).
Here the sentence already uses rogat for “asks,” so quaerit is clearly “looks for.”
Why is there a colon before the quoted words?
The colon marks that direct speech follows. Latin texts often use punctuation like this (especially in modern editions) to introduce a direct quotation: rogat: …
Why is the question written as direct speech (Cur ad forum festinas?) instead of indirect speech?
Because it’s presented as the exact words spoken (direct question). If it were indirect, Latin would typically use an infinitive construction or a subordinate clause depending on the verb. With rogat, you often get direct speech in narratives, or an indirect question like rogat cur ad forum festinet (“he asks why she is hurrying…”).
What does cur do in the sentence, grammatically?
Cur is an interrogative adverb meaning “why?” It introduces a question and doesn’t take a case (it’s not a noun/adjective), so there’s no declension to memorize for it.
Why is it ad forum and what case is forum?
Ad is a preposition meaning “to/toward,” and it takes the accusative. So forum is accusative singular. (It just looks the same as nominative because forum is a 2nd‑declension neuter noun: nominative and accusative are identical.)
What tense and person is festinas, and who is being addressed?
Festinas is 2nd person singular present active indicative: “you hurry/are hurrying.”
So the boy is addressing one person directly (most likely his mother, from context).
Why doesn’t Latin use a separate word for “you” here?
Because the person and number are already built into the verb ending. Festin-as = “you (singular) hurry.” Latin adds tu only for emphasis or contrast.
Should there be a vocative like mater! if the boy is talking to his mother?
It’s optional. Latin can include a vocative for direct address (mater!), but it doesn’t have to. Here, the context already makes it clear whom he’s speaking to, and many sentences omit the vocative unless it adds emphasis.
Why is the word order Puer matrem quaerit and not Matrem puer quaerit?
Both are possible. Latin word order is flexible because case endings show roles. Puer matrem quaerit is a straightforward, common order (subject–object–verb). Moving matrem forward could add emphasis: Matrem puer quaerit = “It’s his mother that the boy is looking for.”