Log inSign up

Discipuli credunt magistram verum dixisse, et eam libenter audiunt.

Discipuli credunt magistram verum dixisse, et eam libenter audiunt.
The students believe that the teacher has spoken the truth, and they gladly listen to her.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Latin grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Latin now

Questions & Answers about Discipuli credunt magistram verum dixisse, et eam libenter audiunt.

Why is magistram in the accusative, even though in English she’s the subject of “said”?

Because Latin often reports what someone thinks/says using an indirect statement (also called accusative + infinitive). In an indirect statement:

  • the “subject” of the reported clause goes into the accusative → magistram
  • the verb becomes an infinitive → dixisse

So Discipuli credunt magistram … dixisse = “The students believe (that) the teacher … said …”.

What exactly is the construction after credunt?

credunt (“they believe”) commonly takes an indirect statement:

  • magistram = accusative subject of the indirect statement
  • dixisse = infinitive verb of the indirect statement
  • verum = what was said (object of dixisse)

So the core pattern is: credunt + [ACC] + [INF].

Why is the verb dixisse (perfect infinitive) instead of dicere (present infinitive)?

Infinitive tense in indirect statement is usually relative to the main verb:

  • present infinitive (dicere) = happening at the same time as the believing
  • perfect infinitive (dixisse) = happening before the believing

Here credunt is present (“they believe [now]”), and dixisse shows the teacher said it earlier (“they believe she has said/said …”).

What does verum mean here grammatically? Why is it neuter?

verum is neuter singular accusative and functions as a substantive adjective: verum = “the truth / what is true.”
With verbs of speaking, Latin can use verum dicere = “to speak the truth.”

So verum dixisse literally is “to have said the truth.”

Why isn’t it vera (feminine) to agree with magistram?

Because verum is not describing magistram. It’s the object of what she said (“the truth”).
Agreement is not with the speaker; it’s a separate accusative thing being said.

If you wanted “she said true things,” you might see vera as neuter plural (“true things”), not feminine singular.

Why does Latin use an infinitive instead of a quod/quia “that”-clause?

Classical Latin most commonly uses accusative + infinitive after verbs like credere, dicere, putare, scire to express “that …”.
A quod/quia clause can appear (especially later Latin or in certain styles), but the default “textbook” pattern is the indirect statement with an infinitive.

What is eam referring to, and why is it accusative?

eam = “her,” referring back to magistram (“the teacher”).
It is accusative because audire (“to hear/listen to”) takes a direct object in the accusative: eam audiunt = “they listen to her / hear her.”

What is the role of libenter, and where can it go?

libenter is an adverb meaning “gladly / willingly / with pleasure.”
It modifies audiunt: libenter audiunt = “they gladly listen.”

Latin adverbs are flexible in position; libenter often appears near the verb but could also be placed earlier for emphasis.

Why is there et plus a new verb audiunt? How is the sentence structured?

The sentence is basically two coordinated clauses joined by et: 1) Discipuli credunt magistram verum dixisse
2) et eam libenter audiunt

Same subject (Discipuli) understood for both verbs, then a second action is added: they believe something, and they gladly listen to her.

Could credunt mean “they trust” instead of “they believe”?

Yes—credere can mean:

  • “to believe (that…)” → common with indirect statement (credunt magistram…dixisse)
  • “to trust (someone)” → often with the dative (credunt magistrae = “they trust the teacher”)

Here, the presence of accusative + infinitive makes the meaning clearly “they believe that …”.