Breakdown of Domina servum iterum iubet consilium sequi et epistulam mittere.
et
and
mittere
to send
servus
the servant
iterum
again
Questions & Answers about Domina servum iterum iubet consilium sequi et epistulam mittere.
Why is domina in the nominative, and how do I know it’s the subject?
Domina is nominative singular, which is the standard case for the subject of a finite verb. The finite verb here is iubet (she orders), so domina is the person doing the ordering.
Why is servum in the accusative?
With iubere (to order), Latin commonly uses the construction accusative + infinitive: you “order someone (accusative) to do something (infinitive).”
So servum is the person being ordered.
What exactly is the grammar pattern with iubet in this sentence?
It’s: iubet + accusative person + infinitive(s).
Here: iubet servum sequi … et mittere … = “she orders the slave to follow … and to send …”
Why are sequi and mittere in the infinitive instead of an imperative?
Because the sentence is reporting an order in the third person (“the mistress orders…”), not directly giving a command (“follow!” “send!”). Latin typically uses infinitives after iubere to express what the ordered person is to do.
Why does iterum appear where it does, and what does it modify?