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Magistra dicit discipulas paratas esse et pacem servare velle, quamquam opus grave est.

Magistra dicit discipulas paratas esse et pacem servare velle, quamquam opus grave est.
The teacher says that the female students are ready and want to preserve peace, although the task is serious.
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Questions & Answers about Magistra dicit discipulas paratas esse et pacem servare velle, quamquam opus grave est.

Why is discipulas in the accusative case?

Because it’s the subject of an indirect statement after dicit. Latin often reports what someone says with an accusative + infinitive construction (called oratio obliqua). So magistra dicit discipulas ... = “The teacher says that the (female) students ...”

What exactly is the structure after dicit?

It’s two coordinated parts inside the indirect statement:

  • discipulas paratas esse = “that the students are prepared”
  • (discipulas) pacem servare velle = “and (that the students) want to keep peace”

The second part keeps the same implied subject discipulas, even though it isn’t repeated.

Why do we get paratas esse instead of something like paratae sunt?

Because reported speech uses an infinitive rather than a finite verb.
So the direct statement discipulae paratae sunt becomes, after dicit:

  • discipulas paratas esse (accusative subject + infinitive esse)
What is paratas grammatically?

paratas is a perfect passive participle (PPP) from parare, agreeing with discipulas:

  • gender: feminine
  • number: plural
  • case: accusative

So it means “prepared/ready,” describing the students.

Why is velle at the end, and what does servare velle mean?

velle is the infinitive “to want.” In Latin, infinitives often come late, and velle commonly follows another infinitive to make a “want to …” idea:

  • pacem servare velle = “to want to keep peace”

So servare supplies the action, and velle supplies the desire.

Why is pacem accusative?

Because servare (“to keep/preserve”) takes a direct object, and direct objects are in the accusative:

  • pacem servare = “to keep peace”
Does et connect two infinitives or two whole clauses?

It connects two coordinated pieces of the indirect statement:

1) discipulas paratas esse
2) pacem servare velle

So it’s effectively “... says [A] and [B].”

What does quamquam do here, and why is it followed by est (indicative)?

quamquam means “although.” It introduces a concession clause, and it typically takes the indicative in Latin (especially in straightforward prose):

  • quamquam opus grave est = “although the work is heavy/difficult”

It’s a comment added by the narrator/speaker, not part of the indirect statement.

Is opus grave est inside the indirect statement too?

Normally, no: quamquam sets it off as a separate (concessive) clause.
If it were pulled into indirect speech, you’d expect an infinitive construction like opus grave esse (depending on context). As written, est suggests it’s stated directly by the sentence’s narrator rather than reported through dicit.

Why is it opus grave est and not opera gravia sunt?

opus is a singular neuter noun meaning “work, task, effort.” Here it’s one task/undertaking, so singular:

  • opus (subject, nominative singular)
  • grave (adjective, nominative singular neuter)
  • est (3rd singular)

So: “the work is difficult/heavy.”

How is time/tense understood in paratas esse and servare velle?

In indirect statement, the infinitive’s tense is relative to the main verb (dicit, present):

  • esse (present infinitive) = “are” at the same time as the saying
  • velle (present infinitive) = “want” at the same time as the saying

So it’s “The teacher says that they are prepared and (that they) want to keep peace …”