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Discipula dicit se hoc consilium accipere causa bonae disciplinae.

Discipula dicit se hoc consilium accipere causa bonae disciplinae.
The female student says that she accepts this advice for the sake of good discipline.
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Questions & Answers about Discipula dicit se hoc consilium accipere causa bonae disciplinae.

Why does se mean herself here, and how do I know who it refers to?

Se is the reflexive pronoun in Latin. In an indirect statement after a verb like dicit, se normally refers back to the subject of the main verb—here, discipula.
So discipula dicit se... = The student says that she... (literally, says herself...).

Why is it dicit se ... accipere instead of something like dicit quod ... accipit?

Latin commonly reports what someone says/thinks using an indirect statement:

  • verb of saying/thinking
    • accusative subject
      • infinitive.

So:

  • dicit (she says)
  • se (accusative “subject” of the reported clause)
  • accipere (infinitive “to accept”)

English often uses that + finite verb, but Latin usually uses accusative + infinitive instead.

What case is discipula, and why?

Discipula is nominative singular, because it is the subject of dicit.
Its ending -a marks it as 1st declension nominative singular.

Why is hoc consilium in the accusative?

Because it is the direct object of accipere (to accept).

  • consilium is accusative singular (same form as nominative for many neuter nouns)
  • hoc is a demonstrative adjective agreeing with it: neuter accusative singular.
How can consilium be accusative if it looks like nominative?

Consilium is a 2nd declension neuter noun. Neuter nouns have a key rule:

  • Nominative = Accusative (in singular and plural).

So consilium can be either nominative or accusative based on function, not form. Here its role as the object of accipere makes it accusative.

Why does hoc have to be neuter—what is it agreeing with?

Hoc agrees with consilium in gender, number, and case:

  • consilium = neuter singular (and here accusative by function)
    So hoc must be neuter singular accusative as well.
Is accipere present tense? How can it translate as she accepts?

Accipere is a present infinitive. In an indirect statement, the infinitive’s tense is relative to the main verb:

  • present infinitive = action happening at the same time as dicit.

So dicit se accipere means she says she is accepting / accepts (at the time of speaking).

What does causa mean here, and why is bonae disciplinae in the genitive?

Causa means for the sake of when it follows a noun in the genitive.
So:

  • causa
    • genitive = for the sake of X
  • bonae disciplinae is genitive, meaning of good discipline.

Whole phrase: causa bonae disciplinae = for the sake of good discipline.

Could causa also mean cause/reason? How do I tell?

Yes—causa can mean cause/reason, but the construction gives it away:

  • When causa is used as a preposition-like word meaning for the sake of, it typically comes after its genitive noun: bonae disciplinae causa (or as here, with the genitive following it, which is also common in learners’ texts).
    In this sentence it functions as purpose: for the sake of good discipline.
Why is bonae disciplinae singular—shouldn’t discipline be plural?

Latin disciplina is commonly used as a singular abstract noun, meaning something like discipline / training / instruction as a concept. English often treats such ideas flexibly, but Latin typically keeps it singular here.

Does word order matter here? Why isn’t it closer to English order?

Latin word order is flexible because meaning is carried largely by endings. Still, word order often shows emphasis and grouping:

  • Discipula dicit sets up the speaker.
  • se ... accipere keeps the indirect statement together.
  • hoc consilium is placed as a unit (demonstrative + noun).
  • causa bonae disciplinae is a purpose phrase often placed toward the end.

Different orders are possible without changing the basic meaning.

Could se ever refer to someone else instead of discipula?

Normally, se refers back to the subject of the governing verb (discipula).
If the sentence needed someone else, Latin would usually use a non-reflexive pronoun like eam (her) or the person’s name, depending on context.